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Archives for October 2010

Random Acts of Culture – A Good Cause and My Turn

October 26, 2010 by George 2 Comments

KnightArts - Witnessing the Transformational Power of the Arts

If you listen to NPR, you have probably heard of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, if only in the underwriting acknowledgements that are delivered in the dulcet tones of Frank Tavares. One of the programs of the Knight Foundation is KnightArts. From the website:

Knight Foundation invests in artistic excellence, funding arts projects that engage the Knight resident communities in collective cultural experiences. We look for innovative, high-quality ideas. Our grantees represent both emerging artists and organizations and the oldest and most venerable institutions. The projects all have one thing in common: they enrich and engage the communities that produce them.

The program is in its first year, and emerging areas of interest include digitization of museum collections, development of arts incubator spaces, arts contests in which all community members are eligible for funding and a Random Acts of Culture program that brings fine art to the population and breaks down barriers that prevent consistent engagement in the arts.

Charlotte, NC is one of the eight resident Knight communities that receive funding for these efforts. And multiple arts organizations in the city, under the umbrella of the Arts and Science Council, have been involved in executing the goal of Random Acts of Culture, including Opera Carolina, the Charlotte Symphony, and North Carolina Dance Theatre.

I have been singing with Opera Carolina since 1998, both in the chorus and in roles in productions like Macbeth, Amahl & the Night Visitors, Susannah, and Tosca (check out those costumes). And the chorus has contributed to the Random Acts this year, though I was not able to participate. This past weekend, it was my turn.

On Saturday, Melinda Whittington, John Kaneklides and I were asked to go to SouthPark Mall, and give a Random Act in the Belk department store. Melinda performed “O mio babbino” from La boheme by Puccini, John sang “Una furtiva lagrima” from The Elixir of Love by Donizetti, and I sang “Votre toast” from Carmen by Bizet. I don’t know why none of Melinda’s performance did not make the video (it should have), but here are John and I.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW8PZ_Xqfpw]

This was not as easy to do as you would think: singing with a recording is tough enough since it will not adjust to your tempos, but it’s even harder when you can’t always hear the music. Still, it was a fun time, I think we entertained, and I was especially glad that my daughters were there to see it (you see both of them as the camera pans by them a couple of times).

Random Acts of Culture is a good program, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I hope you all get a chance to experience one sometime.

Filed Under: Music, Random Thoughts

A good music resource

October 25, 2010 by George Leave a Comment

[picapp align=”center” wrap=”false” link=”term=Music&iid=292566″ src=”http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/292566/cds/cds.jpg?size=500&imageId=292566″ width=”234″ height=”325″ /]

My friend David Houston points out a great music and SFX resource in his blog “Do That Voice!” It is JewelBeat.com, and it offers free music and sound effects that are royalty free, a big key for using either in your voiceover productions. Check it out, and stop by David’s blog too. It will be well worth your time!

Filed Under: Sound Resources, Tip o' the Hat

Clients, agents and being in the middle

October 22, 2010 by George 2 Comments

[picapp align=”center” wrap=”false” link=”term=between&iid=5283680″ src=”http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/5283680/husband-and-wife-fighting/husband-and-wife-fighting.jpg?size=500&imageId=5283680″ width=”380″ height=”375″ /]
Like most voice artists, I have a number of agents. My agent here in Charlotte however generally only represents me for on camera work. Last week I had the opportunity to audition for an industrial video. I didn’t get the part, but my agent was kind enough to mention to the clients after I left that I also do voiceover. This resulted in me having the opportunity to audition for and win the narration job for the video. Good news!

As I waited for the script, I got a call directly from the client asking about my rate. This confused me, as though I do offer rates directly to clients, I felt that since my agency found this gig, it was not my place to set the rate, especially since there was a rate previously mentioned (if not agreed to in total) in emails that had moved back and forth. I did hem and haw well enough to make sure I was still getting the gig, but deferred to my agent for pricing. It has since been cleared up, and will be done soon.

This situation does bring this point up: how do you handle this kind of situation? I say honor your agreement with your agent. Don’t undercut them, don’t take things away from them, ESPECIALLY in the instance where you would not have gotten the gig without them. In general, your agent has your best interests in mind: in this case, they were able to get a gig for me even beyond the on camera aspect of the original audition. I am not so naive to think there is not self interest involved. Indeed, they were able to book an additional talent for the job they weren’t even planning on having available, and that is direct revenue to them. But the truth is, that revenue is also coming to me through their efforts. That is good enough to earn my loyalty when dealing directly with the client, and in the end, strengthens my relationship with the agency.

I would love to hear from others how they have dealt with similar situations. I’m sure this isn’t a rare situation, and I think that people new to the field and dealing with agents would find additional input valuable.

Have a great weekend….and thanks, Mary Kay!

Filed Under: Agents, Voiceover - Work

Going viral

October 18, 2010 by George 1 Comment

So this is fun: I did a web ad with Terry Daniel and and ad firm in Minnesota for a Senate candidate in Alaska. It was a spoof of the Old Spice ads everyone loved so much (me included). It got enough attention that it made the Today Show this morning.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21p0anYBsFc]

Honestly, I don’t know if you can beat that kind of exposure.

Here’s the full ad. Thanks to Michael Wilson at Odd Lamps and Terry Daniel from Voice Over Club for bringing me onboard!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEL5UKQxsUE]

Filed Under: Career Development, Pat on the Back

He’s not an octopus

October 15, 2010 by George 2 Comments

I haven’t met David Houston in person. We are linked on most social networking platforms, but I haven’t yet had the pleasure of shaking his hand. Regardless of that fact, David Houston is a funny man. And he is not, in fact, an octopus.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfRgoS2GiA8&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3]

Follow him on Twitter. Because he’s not an octopus.

Filed Under: Voice Artists

Networking: A Must Do

October 13, 2010 by George 2 Comments

As voice artists, and as ordinary working folk, we have been given an enormous number of tools at our disposal to connect with others, particularly in our field. Years ago, we didn’t get in contact with each other unless we ran into one another at a studio or over an ISDN connection.

[picapp align=”left” wrap=”true” link=”term=networking&iid=5286660″ src=”http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/5286660/networking/networking.jpg?size=500&imageId=5286660″ width=”484″ height=”353″ /]

Now we have what seems to be every conceivable tool to stay in touch and see what everyone is up to. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Foursquare, the VO-BB, Voiceover Universe…the list is dizzying, and probably a bit overwhelming even if you have sat yourself down and tried to make sense of it all. Where do you start? How do you do it? And do you even have to?

Let me make one part of this very simple: yes, you do have to do it. This is how the world works nowadays, and you need to be a part of it. And no, you are not going to generate lots of jobs and money directly from your efforts there, at least not quickly. But you must integrate the use of social media, and the networking with other artists, studios, and production houses into your plans to make sure you are not missing out.

Dave Courvoisier and Terry Daniel have put together a very helpful and complete listing of social media resources for the voice actor at Social Media VO. It includes links to all the biggies, and some techniques to try in the social media space. But don’t forget the most important part of this social media experience: the people you are connecting with.

In all of the areas you need to explore, it is not enough to be a “lurker,” someone who watches, but never participates. You can gain information, hints and tips by lurking, no doubt about it. But you will not gain the connections you want and need without participating. For instance, on Twitter, you must follow the #vo and #voiceover hashtags. But don’t just watch: comment, compliment, retweet. Pass along opportunities that you can’t fulfill, but one of your followers or someone you are following can. Make sure you are out there doing something, not just passively observing. That person you congratulate on their latest gig may know someone you need to talk to.

Back to the overwhelming nature of the social media world: it’s hard to manage it all. However, there are people who have great ideas about how to stay on top of it. Michael Stelzner runs the Social Media Examiner website and daily email newsletter, and it is packed solid with information and tactics for using the social networks. My favorite article so far is “5 Easy Steps to a Winning Social Media Plan”  by Emily Soares Proctor. It give you a framework for what to update when, definite strategies, and even provides you with a calendar.

What can I point to that shows this can work? How about a job I did for Terry today. Or the great conversations I have had with Pamela Vanderway of Dialect411.com, and the very cool project she pushed me into working on. Or the studios I have found and signed up with for messaging on hold, commercials and e-learning. Or even just the fact that I now know Monte Bratten, Cia Court, Jud Niven, and Lisa Rice.

It’s a lot to do. And I don’t adhere exactly to it yet. But you have to get started somewhere. Go to Dave and Terry’s site and get some pointers. Get on Twitter and start following the hashtags and the people you meet there. Get on VU and VO-BB.  But get started.

Because networking is not optional.

Filed Under: Career Development, Networking

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