Hello and welcome to the last Good Karma Network Weekly Update of 2008! I hope everyone has enjoyed their holiday season so far. For the past few years I've spent Christmas with one of my best friends and his family and I had a great time!
So, I took a look at my 2008 voiceover career. This is how it breaks down...
The bad news is that my voiceover revenue dropped by 1/3. What the hell happened?! It's pretty simple, really. The Danielle Steel audio book accounts for half of that loss. The Foonz gig (a great company in New England I did hundreds of phone prompts for) accounts for the other half. These were wonderful clients for short-term projects that didn't have work for me this year. Ouch! I guess I won the lottery twice last year. Also, the economy took a serious toll on me this quarter. Many of my clients who said they had work for me just didn't come through since they're having money trouble on their end. I'll just have to tighten the belt and work even harder next year!
This is the good news:
# of new voiceover clients: 18
# of new GKN Members: 47
Types of voiceover gigs: E-learning, audio books, website intros, medical narrations, commercials, podcast intros & outros, promos, radio dramas, PSA's
So, more clients, more GKN members, and a very diverse group of voiceover gigs! What does it mean? It means my marketing & networking action plans are working. Yay!
TIP OF THE WEEK: Aside from the serious financial setback, I had an amazing year! I made new friends, landed many new clients, and most importantly, I learned a few things about life in general. I learned that the only person responsible for your successes & failures is you. Don't be the "I got an A but my teacher gave me an F" kind of person. To be an adult is to be responsible aka "response-able" for ALL of your actions.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. Anonymous
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: How was 2008 for you? What will you do to make 2009 even better?
Have a safe, happy and healthy New Year!!!
The Good Karma Network is an entertainment industry support group. We're here to help each other cast projects, get cast in projects, advertise the projects we get cast in, and share tips and tricks to succeeding in our field.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 12/22/08
Happy Hanukkah!
For those of you who celebrate, I hope you enjoyed the first of your eight gifts. Don't forget to light those candles!
Okay, fun stuff first! The guys at Bunko Studios posted the Cartoon Network pilot I was in. You can see it on Vimeo or YouTube. The Vimeo version is much higher in quality so I recommend that one. I hope you enjoy it!
Comic Book Mania started posting some of my work on their website. If you go to www.cbmania.com and watch the CBMania TV video you can hear me plugging the New York Comic Con. It doesn't come up immediately so enjoy the trailers & interviews while you wait! They'll overhaul the website in the next few weeks. That's when you can check out the reviews & other promos I've been recording.
Besides my usual ETS gig, I had an interesting on-camera audition for Ticketmaster last week. As soon as I walked into the room, the girl asked me to take off my shirt. Bow-chicka-wow-wow! I had to pretend I was shaving my chest so I could body-paint myself for the big football game. I'm more than just another barrel-chested hunk, you know! I'm a human being! Um, hello, I'm up here?
TIP OF THE WEEK: So, 2008 is quickly drawing to a close. It's really not a cliche when they say that time speeds up as you get older! Next week I'll post my Year In Review. It would be great to see you guys post your own versions. I'd love to know how 2008 treated you. Specifically, Did the Good Karma Network have any effect on your business? Were you cast from any notices posted here? Did you make any connections? I strongly recommend taking the time to look back on the year not just for my curiosity but for yourself. Take advantage of this time to reflect on the year.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Life is what happens when you're making other plans. John Lennon
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Did you achieve your goals? Have you started your action plan for next year?
Have a safe and Merry Christmas!
For those of you who celebrate, I hope you enjoyed the first of your eight gifts. Don't forget to light those candles!
Okay, fun stuff first! The guys at Bunko Studios posted the Cartoon Network pilot I was in. You can see it on Vimeo or YouTube. The Vimeo version is much higher in quality so I recommend that one. I hope you enjoy it!
Comic Book Mania started posting some of my work on their website. If you go to www.cbmania.com and watch the CBMania TV video you can hear me plugging the New York Comic Con. It doesn't come up immediately so enjoy the trailers & interviews while you wait! They'll overhaul the website in the next few weeks. That's when you can check out the reviews & other promos I've been recording.
Besides my usual ETS gig, I had an interesting on-camera audition for Ticketmaster last week. As soon as I walked into the room, the girl asked me to take off my shirt. Bow-chicka-wow-wow! I had to pretend I was shaving my chest so I could body-paint myself for the big football game. I'm more than just another barrel-chested hunk, you know! I'm a human being! Um, hello, I'm up here?
TIP OF THE WEEK: So, 2008 is quickly drawing to a close. It's really not a cliche when they say that time speeds up as you get older! Next week I'll post my Year In Review. It would be great to see you guys post your own versions. I'd love to know how 2008 treated you. Specifically, Did the Good Karma Network have any effect on your business? Were you cast from any notices posted here? Did you make any connections? I strongly recommend taking the time to look back on the year not just for my curiosity but for yourself. Take advantage of this time to reflect on the year.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Life is what happens when you're making other plans. John Lennon
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Did you achieve your goals? Have you started your action plan for next year?
Have a safe and Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 15, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 12/15/08
How ya doing, dudes? Another day, another yucky Giants game! Brandon Jacobs had better get back on the field soon...
Anyway, I had a mighty crazy week. It was sorely welcome considering how slow things have been!
First of all, I'd like to welcome our 100th Good Karma Network member! Woo hoo!!! Her name is Christina Rodgriguez. I had the pleasure of meeting her at the VO Mixer and she is a very talented & engaging voice actor. You can see her stuff at www.christinarodriguezonline.com. Stand up and say hello, Christina!
I had four recording sessions in three days! Three for ETS and one for FMP. This was the last session to finish Rider University's "Top Careers In Two Years" video series. I look forward to working with them again soon!
The Tom Dheere era of Comic Book Mania has begun! Last week I started reviewing comic books and anime for them, as well as narrating promos for their website. Their site will be overhauled in a few weeks and that's when you'll see my stuff on there.
TIP OF THE WEEK: 100 GKN members! I can't tell you how proud I am. It's a testament to all of the wonderful people who are a part of the Good Karma Network as well as the message, which is to network, support each other, and have fun! Please remember to believe not only in your work but to believe in the work of your peers. Support their efforts, encourage them to better themselves, and always be there for them.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin-it's the triumphant twang of a bedspring. S. J Perelman
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: How have you helped your colleagues improve their craft? How often do you refer them to clients so they can get more work?
Have a great week!
Anyway, I had a mighty crazy week. It was sorely welcome considering how slow things have been!
First of all, I'd like to welcome our 100th Good Karma Network member! Woo hoo!!! Her name is Christina Rodgriguez. I had the pleasure of meeting her at the VO Mixer and she is a very talented & engaging voice actor. You can see her stuff at www.christinarodriguezonline.com. Stand up and say hello, Christina!
I had four recording sessions in three days! Three for ETS and one for FMP. This was the last session to finish Rider University's "Top Careers In Two Years" video series. I look forward to working with them again soon!
The Tom Dheere era of Comic Book Mania has begun! Last week I started reviewing comic books and anime for them, as well as narrating promos for their website. Their site will be overhauled in a few weeks and that's when you'll see my stuff on there.
TIP OF THE WEEK: 100 GKN members! I can't tell you how proud I am. It's a testament to all of the wonderful people who are a part of the Good Karma Network as well as the message, which is to network, support each other, and have fun! Please remember to believe not only in your work but to believe in the work of your peers. Support their efforts, encourage them to better themselves, and always be there for them.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin-it's the triumphant twang of a bedspring. S. J Perelman
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: How have you helped your colleagues improve their craft? How often do you refer them to clients so they can get more work?
Have a great week!
Monday, December 8, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 12/8/08
Oh, hello there!
I hope everybody had a great weekend, even you Eagles fans! Man, did the Giants poop their pants yesterday or what? Anyway, on to less distressing topics...
First and foremost, I want to say hello to all of the wonderful people (especially fellow GKN members!) who I saw at the New York Voiceover Mixer this past Friday night. It was great seeing so many people who I've known via the Internet for years but never got the chance to meet face-to-face. Click on the link to see the guest list and photos! If you guys have any photos from that night, feel free to post them here and put them in the "Photos" section of the GKN.
Thanks to those of you who watched 30 Rock last Thursday. I got a ton of Facebook messages & emails saying "I saw you! I saw you!" I think I saw myself about nine times. A lot of them were kind of obscure, but who cares! It was awesome! If you missed the episode you can watch the whole thing at: http://www.nbc.com/30_Rock. It was pretty darn funny!
Another sci-fi audio book I narrated was recently released. This one is called "Guest Law" by John C. Wright. I especially enjoyed this one because I got to use about half a dozen accents! You can hear some of it by going here and clicking on the "excerpt" link. Thanks to Allan Kaster on Infinivox for casting me!
I found a bunch of websites to network and find jobs! They are:
Bodalgo
Zoom Info
Xing
ODesk
If you have any experience with them please let us know!
TIP OF THE WEEK: Wow, that was a lot of cool stuff in one week! It once again reminds me that the most important part of being successful in our industry is relationships. Specifically, networking to forge and develop relationships. You need to get out there, make phone calls, send postcards, and most importantly, meet people face-to-face. It makes all the difference!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: The inside of my mind looks like Denzel’s back in glory. Dave Chapelle
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: When was the last time you attended a networking party? Met a peer for coffee just to talk shop? Or just picked up the phone and chatted with a client?
Have a great week!
I hope everybody had a great weekend, even you Eagles fans! Man, did the Giants poop their pants yesterday or what? Anyway, on to less distressing topics...
First and foremost, I want to say hello to all of the wonderful people (especially fellow GKN members!) who I saw at the New York Voiceover Mixer this past Friday night. It was great seeing so many people who I've known via the Internet for years but never got the chance to meet face-to-face. Click on the link to see the guest list and photos! If you guys have any photos from that night, feel free to post them here and put them in the "Photos" section of the GKN.
Thanks to those of you who watched 30 Rock last Thursday. I got a ton of Facebook messages & emails saying "I saw you! I saw you!" I think I saw myself about nine times. A lot of them were kind of obscure, but who cares! It was awesome! If you missed the episode you can watch the whole thing at: http://www.nbc.com/30_Rock. It was pretty darn funny!
Another sci-fi audio book I narrated was recently released. This one is called "Guest Law" by John C. Wright. I especially enjoyed this one because I got to use about half a dozen accents! You can hear some of it by going here and clicking on the "excerpt" link. Thanks to Allan Kaster on Infinivox for casting me!
I found a bunch of websites to network and find jobs! They are:
Bodalgo
Zoom Info
ODesk
If you have any experience with them please let us know!
TIP OF THE WEEK: Wow, that was a lot of cool stuff in one week! It once again reminds me that the most important part of being successful in our industry is relationships. Specifically, networking to forge and develop relationships. You need to get out there, make phone calls, send postcards, and most importantly, meet people face-to-face. It makes all the difference!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: The inside of my mind looks like Denzel’s back in glory. Dave Chapelle
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: When was the last time you attended a networking party? Met a peer for coffee just to talk shop? Or just picked up the phone and chatted with a client?
Have a great week!
Monday, December 1, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 12/1/08
Happy Post Thanksgiving Meltdown!
I hope everybody had a great time. I was extremely pleased to have little Asha sitting on my lap gumming mashed potatoes.
Since it was a short week there wasn't too much action. I did have an ETS gig in Princeton on Wednesday.
I updated my client database. BTW I use ACT! which is perfect for holding all sorts of info, sending out mass emails, printing mailing labels, etc. I made sure I had an email address for all of my contacts which resulted in some very nice conversations.
The 30 Rock episode I'm an extra in will air this Thursday night at 9:30 PM. If you blink you'll miss it! Actually, I was in a lot of shots so I like my chances of getting some decent air time. I'll be one of the alumni attending the high school reunion. Look for the very sexy dude wearing a blue blazer!
TIP OF THE WEEK: So I got a CT Scan today and I saw my new kidney stone. This one is 2mm wide, much smaller than the last one. It's either in the bladder or it's at the base of the ureter, which is good news. There's an 80-90% chance it'll pass normally. Fingers crossed! Anyway, I've already covered being thankful and good health blah blah blah so let's go with something more practical: health insurance!
First of all, make sure you have it. Second, it can be difficult to find a good single coverage policy that isn't too expensive and won't hose you when an emergency comes up. I've had Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield for a few months now and so far it's been pretty good to me. HOWEVER, there has been a problem with processing my claims because for some reason they never got the Certificates of Credible Coverage from my previous health insurance providers. I don't know if it's my fault or the insurance companies' fault but make sure you get this stuff straightened out nice & early if you switch providers. Trust me, you'll be better off for it!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Character is doing the right thing when nobody’s looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that’s right is to get by, and the only thing that’s wrong is to get caught. J.C. Watts
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Do you have health insurance? Do you have a good plan that covers your everyday and emergency needs?
Have a great week!
I hope everybody had a great time. I was extremely pleased to have little Asha sitting on my lap gumming mashed potatoes.
Since it was a short week there wasn't too much action. I did have an ETS gig in Princeton on Wednesday.
I updated my client database. BTW I use ACT! which is perfect for holding all sorts of info, sending out mass emails, printing mailing labels, etc. I made sure I had an email address for all of my contacts which resulted in some very nice conversations.
The 30 Rock episode I'm an extra in will air this Thursday night at 9:30 PM. If you blink you'll miss it! Actually, I was in a lot of shots so I like my chances of getting some decent air time. I'll be one of the alumni attending the high school reunion. Look for the very sexy dude wearing a blue blazer!
TIP OF THE WEEK: So I got a CT Scan today and I saw my new kidney stone. This one is 2mm wide, much smaller than the last one. It's either in the bladder or it's at the base of the ureter, which is good news. There's an 80-90% chance it'll pass normally. Fingers crossed! Anyway, I've already covered being thankful and good health blah blah blah so let's go with something more practical: health insurance!
First of all, make sure you have it. Second, it can be difficult to find a good single coverage policy that isn't too expensive and won't hose you when an emergency comes up. I've had Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield for a few months now and so far it's been pretty good to me. HOWEVER, there has been a problem with processing my claims because for some reason they never got the Certificates of Credible Coverage from my previous health insurance providers. I don't know if it's my fault or the insurance companies' fault but make sure you get this stuff straightened out nice & early if you switch providers. Trust me, you'll be better off for it!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Character is doing the right thing when nobody’s looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that’s right is to get by, and the only thing that’s wrong is to get caught. J.C. Watts
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Do you have health insurance? Do you have a good plan that covers your everyday and emergency needs?
Have a great week!
Monday, November 24, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 11/24/08
Happy Thanksgiving! Have you thawed your turkey yet? BTW if you want a simple side dish that will blow away your guests, go to the Food Network site and search for the recipe "Corn Casserole". It's easy to prepare and it's been a hit every time I've made it!
Last week was pretty darn slow, too. There have been less notices on some of the casting sites over the past few weeks. Has anyone else noticed a slowdown in our industry?
Anyway, since business was slow I spent a lot of time making cold calls. Like I said last week, Philip Bank's article increased my success rate. I landed nine new potential clients! I was wondering; how do you guys use the internet to find work? Specifically, what keywords do you use when searching for clients? The most helpful ones for my cold calling blitz last week were elearning, production, and New Jersey (put New Jersey in quotes).
I had an on-camera audition for EITC courtesy of Ingrid French. I got called in to be a dad. Now I know I'm getting old!
My 30 Rock episode did NOT air last week and IMDB doesn't say when it will. I know it's called "Reunion" so keep your eyes open for it!
Fellow GKN member John Florian posted part three of my series "The Art and Science of Self Promotion" on Voice Over Xtra last week. You can read it here. Thanks again for tasking me with this wonderful project, John!
TIP OF THE WEEK: So, guess what? I have another kidney stone, yay!!! It hit me yesterday morning. Thank goodness I have some leftover pain pills from the last one. Between that and the fact that business is slow, it would seem like I don't have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. But that's not true. It's very unhealthy to compound unfortunate coincidences with events. People "read in" to what's going on in their lives with things like holidays, weddings, births, etc. and all it does is make them feel worse. To hell with that! I'm young and in good health (kidney stones are a pain but they're not life-threatening), I have a great career that I have had many successes in (November is a slow month anyway), and I have loving friends and family. So buck up, little campers! Everything is going to be fine...
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable. John Kenneth Galbraith
(BTW I'm running out of quotes. If you have any particularly juicy faves please email them to me and they'll appear in an upcoming GKN Weekly Update!)
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What are YOU thankful for?
Have a great week and Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Last week was pretty darn slow, too. There have been less notices on some of the casting sites over the past few weeks. Has anyone else noticed a slowdown in our industry?
Anyway, since business was slow I spent a lot of time making cold calls. Like I said last week, Philip Bank's article increased my success rate. I landed nine new potential clients! I was wondering; how do you guys use the internet to find work? Specifically, what keywords do you use when searching for clients? The most helpful ones for my cold calling blitz last week were elearning, production, and New Jersey (put New Jersey in quotes).
I had an on-camera audition for EITC courtesy of Ingrid French. I got called in to be a dad. Now I know I'm getting old!
My 30 Rock episode did NOT air last week and IMDB doesn't say when it will. I know it's called "Reunion" so keep your eyes open for it!
Fellow GKN member John Florian posted part three of my series "The Art and Science of Self Promotion" on Voice Over Xtra last week. You can read it here. Thanks again for tasking me with this wonderful project, John!
TIP OF THE WEEK: So, guess what? I have another kidney stone, yay!!! It hit me yesterday morning. Thank goodness I have some leftover pain pills from the last one. Between that and the fact that business is slow, it would seem like I don't have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. But that's not true. It's very unhealthy to compound unfortunate coincidences with events. People "read in" to what's going on in their lives with things like holidays, weddings, births, etc. and all it does is make them feel worse. To hell with that! I'm young and in good health (kidney stones are a pain but they're not life-threatening), I have a great career that I have had many successes in (November is a slow month anyway), and I have loving friends and family. So buck up, little campers! Everything is going to be fine...
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable. John Kenneth Galbraith
(BTW I'm running out of quotes. If you have any particularly juicy faves please email them to me and they'll appear in an upcoming GKN Weekly Update!)
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What are YOU thankful for?
Have a great week and Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Monday, November 17, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 11/17/08
Hey Guys!
Due to the economy, business has been extremely slow so I'll keep this one short. The big news is that the radio interview I had with Independent Film United about Project TERRA went very well! You can listen to it here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ifu. It's about 59 minutes in. I hope you enjoy it!
TIP OF THE WEEK: Always find new ways to do old things, especially things you don't like to do. As you know, I hate cold calls but I was inspired by an article written by the immortal VO talent Phillip Banks about how to prospect new clients. I used his technique and landed a new contact on the second try! You can read the article here.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good. Joe Paterno
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: When was the last time you tried to do something you dislike in a different way? Did you get better results?
Have a great week!
Due to the economy, business has been extremely slow so I'll keep this one short. The big news is that the radio interview I had with Independent Film United about Project TERRA went very well! You can listen to it here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ifu. It's about 59 minutes in. I hope you enjoy it!
TIP OF THE WEEK: Always find new ways to do old things, especially things you don't like to do. As you know, I hate cold calls but I was inspired by an article written by the immortal VO talent Phillip Banks about how to prospect new clients. I used his technique and landed a new contact on the second try! You can read the article here.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good. Joe Paterno
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: When was the last time you tried to do something you dislike in a different way? Did you get better results?
Have a great week!
Monday, November 10, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 11/10/08
Hello and welcome on this crisp, Fall day!
Can you believe Thanksgiving is only two weeks away? Yikes! This year has sprinted by. Let's see what I ran into last week...
Before we do, could you guys do me a big favor? I'm now using Blog Control to analyze my blog traffic. If you're using the Good Karma Network, Nexcat, etc. right now and not reading this directly from my blog, could you click on this link and read it from there? You don't have to do it every week, just this once so I can get an idea of what my weekly blog traffic is like. Please feel free to add yourself as a Follower of the blog as well. Thanks!
I have a very interesting new gig! I have been hired by Comic Book Mania as a web host. This means I will be reviewing comic books, movies, and video games, then recording the reviews which will be posted on their website. I may also attend local cons (geek-speak for those "interesting" conventions where everyone dresses up like Vulcans and Stormtroopers) and do on-camera interviews. My first reviews should be posted pretty soon!
I recorded another gig for my friend Mike Tonkin at Touch Screen Magic. This one was for a new product called MEVAS. It's a device you install in your car to give you advanced warning of emergency vehicles coming your way.
Speaking of Touch Screen Magic, here is a link to the Pay It Forward Card gig I did a few months ago. Enjoy!
TIP OF THE WEEK: So, last week's election was pretty exciting! An overwhelming majority of my peers are very happy with the results and look forward to four years of change, new horizons, and hope. I am, too. However, we do need to keep one very important thing in mind: change takes time. We need to be patient. We need to understand that things won't change overnight and may take months or even years to happen.
This applies to life as well. One of my favorite adages is "you can't talk your way out of something you behaved yourself into". Your life is a complex tapestry of choices & consequences and it's almost impossible to un-weave them immediately. You need to make different choices, develop new habits, alter your systems of thought and systems of execution. Change takes time and change is good!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Life can be like a tire iron - sometimes cold and hard; and it feels real good when you stop beating yourself over the head with it. Unknown
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: When was the last time you made a conscious effort to change a behavior you don't like? Did it change? If so, did it last?
Have a great week!
Can you believe Thanksgiving is only two weeks away? Yikes! This year has sprinted by. Let's see what I ran into last week...
Before we do, could you guys do me a big favor? I'm now using Blog Control to analyze my blog traffic. If you're using the Good Karma Network, Nexcat, etc. right now and not reading this directly from my blog, could you click on this link and read it from there? You don't have to do it every week, just this once so I can get an idea of what my weekly blog traffic is like. Please feel free to add yourself as a Follower of the blog as well. Thanks!
I have a very interesting new gig! I have been hired by Comic Book Mania as a web host. This means I will be reviewing comic books, movies, and video games, then recording the reviews which will be posted on their website. I may also attend local cons (geek-speak for those "interesting" conventions where everyone dresses up like Vulcans and Stormtroopers) and do on-camera interviews. My first reviews should be posted pretty soon!
I recorded another gig for my friend Mike Tonkin at Touch Screen Magic. This one was for a new product called MEVAS. It's a device you install in your car to give you advanced warning of emergency vehicles coming your way.
Speaking of Touch Screen Magic, here is a link to the Pay It Forward Card gig I did a few months ago. Enjoy!
TIP OF THE WEEK: So, last week's election was pretty exciting! An overwhelming majority of my peers are very happy with the results and look forward to four years of change, new horizons, and hope. I am, too. However, we do need to keep one very important thing in mind: change takes time. We need to be patient. We need to understand that things won't change overnight and may take months or even years to happen.
This applies to life as well. One of my favorite adages is "you can't talk your way out of something you behaved yourself into". Your life is a complex tapestry of choices & consequences and it's almost impossible to un-weave them immediately. You need to make different choices, develop new habits, alter your systems of thought and systems of execution. Change takes time and change is good!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Life can be like a tire iron - sometimes cold and hard; and it feels real good when you stop beating yourself over the head with it. Unknown
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: When was the last time you made a conscious effort to change a behavior you don't like? Did it change? If so, did it last?
Have a great week!
Monday, November 3, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 11/3/08
Happy Post-Halloween and Pre-Election Day!
I hope everyone had a safe, fun, and loot-ridden Halloween. This is me as Zorro with my friend Jim as Wolverine:
Anyway, last week went from boring to bustling!
I had two VO gigs on the same day at ETS in Princeton and FMP in Hamilton. I narrated more of those "Top Careers In Two Years" videos for Rider University.
I spent all day Thursday in NYC. I had an on-camera audition for Price Choppers at 10:30 AM, then a VO audition for the Air force at 3:00 PM. Having so much time to kill, I walked around and hit some internet cafes. It was a blustery but sunny day but no so bad to wander around Manhattan in.
I finished writing the Project TERRA screenplay! It was easier than I thought it would be. The episodes just flowed together...
I got my copy of "The Upstate Four" DVD! We watched it at the Halloween party I went to on Friday night and everybody loved it. Very soon I'll try to put it on my website so everyone and check it out. BTW what would be a good program to rip data from a DVD?
My goal for 2008 is to have 100 members of the Good Karma Network Yahoo Group. As of today we have 98. We are so close! I'd really like to hit that goal. Can you help out? Please refer the GKN to your entertainment industry colleagues and ask them to subscribe via this address: GKN-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Thanks!
TIP OF THE WEEK: As you already know, The Good Karma Network is an entertainment industry support group and as a rule I try to steer away from topics that are religious, political, or otherwise potentially polarizing. I will say that as fellow Americans living in particularly interesting times, I strongly encourage you to vote in tomorrow's election. I'm not getting into who I will vote for or why and I thank you for not doing the same on this here GKN thang, but please get out there and exercise your right!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: (Explaining the difference between involvement and commitment) A chicken is involved in the making of an egg salad sandwich, whereas she is committed to a chicken salad sandwich. Moe Egan
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Did you dress up for Halloween? Does it make you feel like a kid again? What else makes you feel young?
Have a great week!
I hope everyone had a safe, fun, and loot-ridden Halloween. This is me as Zorro with my friend Jim as Wolverine:
Anyway, last week went from boring to bustling!
I had two VO gigs on the same day at ETS in Princeton and FMP in Hamilton. I narrated more of those "Top Careers In Two Years" videos for Rider University.
I spent all day Thursday in NYC. I had an on-camera audition for Price Choppers at 10:30 AM, then a VO audition for the Air force at 3:00 PM. Having so much time to kill, I walked around and hit some internet cafes. It was a blustery but sunny day but no so bad to wander around Manhattan in.
I finished writing the Project TERRA screenplay! It was easier than I thought it would be. The episodes just flowed together...
I got my copy of "The Upstate Four" DVD! We watched it at the Halloween party I went to on Friday night and everybody loved it. Very soon I'll try to put it on my website so everyone and check it out. BTW what would be a good program to rip data from a DVD?
My goal for 2008 is to have 100 members of the Good Karma Network Yahoo Group. As of today we have 98. We are so close! I'd really like to hit that goal. Can you help out? Please refer the GKN to your entertainment industry colleagues and ask them to subscribe via this address: GKN-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Thanks!
TIP OF THE WEEK: As you already know, The Good Karma Network is an entertainment industry support group and as a rule I try to steer away from topics that are religious, political, or otherwise potentially polarizing. I will say that as fellow Americans living in particularly interesting times, I strongly encourage you to vote in tomorrow's election. I'm not getting into who I will vote for or why and I thank you for not doing the same on this here GKN thang, but please get out there and exercise your right!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: (Explaining the difference between involvement and commitment) A chicken is involved in the making of an egg salad sandwich, whereas she is committed to a chicken salad sandwich. Moe Egan
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Did you dress up for Halloween? Does it make you feel like a kid again? What else makes you feel young?
Have a great week!
Monday, October 27, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 10/27/08
Happy Halloween!
Anyone dressing up this year? I'm going to a party on Friday and I am tragically uninspired. My friend will have an extra banana costume waiting for me so I may just go with that. Are you guys doing anything fun?
I don't know about you, but business has been a bit slow on my end and I found out for a fact that is has to do with the economy. A client that I was supposed to do ten more commercials for said they just don't have the money to produce them anymore. My main clients are still around but a bunch of the smaller ones are tightening the belt. The good news is that historically the fourth quarter of an election year is good for the economy. Increased consumer confidence, etc, etc. We'll see what happens soon enough!
I only had one gig last week (ETS) but I did have a fun on-camera audition for Papa John's courtesy of Ingrid French. Let me tell you, pretending that a potato chip is a slice of pizza is no easy task!
I also auditioned for a grad student's animated film about a little boy who sneezes himself inside-out. Gross!
On the Project TERRA front, we have more sketches! This one is of Chromium Industries CEO Angela Miller:
Isn't Teddy amazing? Keep up the great work!
I'm also working on Project TERRA: The Movie. Basically I'm mashing all ten episodes of Season One together to make a 90-minute screenplay. So far so good!
I'm using Technorati and MyBlogLog to track the Project TERRA blog's site traffic. If you use either of those sites, please add Agent 122's blog to your Favorites:
http://www.mybloglog.com/buzz/community/projectterra
http://technorati.com/blogs/agent122blog.blogspot.com
BTW I'd really like to know what you think of the Project TERRA blog. I really enjoy writing it!
TIP OF THE WEEK: It's really important to keep moving forward. Always find something to help advance yourself both professionally and personally. If you're an actor, write that one-man show. If you're a dancer, choreograph a piece that showcases your talent. Just because the economy is sluggish doesn't mean you should be, too!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: You know why it's best living at the water's edge? Because you've only got ***holes on three sides of you. And if they're coming from the other way you can hear them splash. George Carlin
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What can you do to put yourself out there? How can you showcase your talent?
Have a safe and Happy Halloween!
Anyone dressing up this year? I'm going to a party on Friday and I am tragically uninspired. My friend will have an extra banana costume waiting for me so I may just go with that. Are you guys doing anything fun?
I don't know about you, but business has been a bit slow on my end and I found out for a fact that is has to do with the economy. A client that I was supposed to do ten more commercials for said they just don't have the money to produce them anymore. My main clients are still around but a bunch of the smaller ones are tightening the belt. The good news is that historically the fourth quarter of an election year is good for the economy. Increased consumer confidence, etc, etc. We'll see what happens soon enough!
I only had one gig last week (ETS) but I did have a fun on-camera audition for Papa John's courtesy of Ingrid French. Let me tell you, pretending that a potato chip is a slice of pizza is no easy task!
I also auditioned for a grad student's animated film about a little boy who sneezes himself inside-out. Gross!
On the Project TERRA front, we have more sketches! This one is of Chromium Industries CEO Angela Miller:
Isn't Teddy amazing? Keep up the great work!
I'm also working on Project TERRA: The Movie. Basically I'm mashing all ten episodes of Season One together to make a 90-minute screenplay. So far so good!
I'm using Technorati and MyBlogLog to track the Project TERRA blog's site traffic. If you use either of those sites, please add Agent 122's blog to your Favorites:
http://www.mybloglog.com/buzz/community/projectterra
http://technorati.com/blogs/agent122blog.blogspot.com
BTW I'd really like to know what you think of the Project TERRA blog. I really enjoy writing it!
TIP OF THE WEEK: It's really important to keep moving forward. Always find something to help advance yourself both professionally and personally. If you're an actor, write that one-man show. If you're a dancer, choreograph a piece that showcases your talent. Just because the economy is sluggish doesn't mean you should be, too!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: You know why it's best living at the water's edge? Because you've only got ***holes on three sides of you. And if they're coming from the other way you can hear them splash. George Carlin
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What can you do to put yourself out there? How can you showcase your talent?
Have a safe and Happy Halloween!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
My Quarterly Newsletter
Hello!
My quarterly newsletter "The Rognog" is available for your viewing pleasure. To check it out, please go to:
http://www.tomdheere.com/newsletter
Enjoy!
Tom
My quarterly newsletter "The Rognog" is available for your viewing pleasure. To check it out, please go to:
http://www.tomdheere.com/newsletter
Enjoy!
Tom
Monday, October 20, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 10/20/08
What's the dilly-yo!
Fall has fallen and Al Roker has issued a Tweed Alert. Who the hell wears that stuff anymore?
Last week was pretty darn busy in a lot of ways!
I had two VO auditions in NYC for ESPN and Quinnipiac University courtesy of IFM.
I also had an audition for an animated feature produced by Ari Arad. He's the guy that makes all of the Marvel Comics movies (Iron Man, Hulk, etc.). Fingers crossed!
I had another VO gig for Israel-based Eyeview Digital. This was a website intro for the new search engine Inquisitor.
I landed a new client! Kollins Communications in Mahwah, NJ hired me to narrate a PSA for the Safe Harbor Animal Center. The funny part was that fellow GKN members Paul Payton and Angelo Panetta recommended me for it and neither knew the other was doing it! Thanks for the votes of confidence, guys.
Good Project TERRA news! We have a great artist helping us complete our Press Kit. Concept artist "Teddy" of Heidelburg, Germany is doing some amazing work. Dig the sketch! You can see her other projects at www.c-art-toon.com.
TIP OF THE WEEK: I love busy weeks! My fellow VO talents can attest that it's feast or famine in our industry much of the time. One day you're watching the paint peel, the next day you can't even find time to eat! I've learned that one good way to get through the slow patches is to have a list of Quadrant Two activities handy. Quadrant Two activities are things to do that aren't urgent, but are important. They can be anything from cold-calling to working on next year's budget. Write them on a Post-It and stick it to your monitor. It also give you a sense of accomplishment. Try it!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Waste no more time talking about great souls and how they should be. Become one yourself! Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What do you do when you think you have nothing to do?
Have a great week!
Monday, October 13, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 10/13/08
Hey guys!
Man, I am POOPED! The past two weeks have been pretty exhausting but I'm hopeful that tomorrow I'll be back on track and ready to move forward. Alright, let's get to the good stuff!
First off, I overhauled my website. It looks completely different and much better, if I do say so myself, and I did, so there you go. Please check it out at www.tomdheere.com and let me know what you think!
"The Upstate Four", the cartoon pilot in which I played one of the main characters, won top prize in the "TV for Children" category at the Ottawa Animation Festival a few weeks ago. It's yet another award for Fran & Will Krause's outstanding work and hopefully will bring them one step closer to success!
I have some great Project TERRA news!
First, Porject TERRA now has a MySpace profile in addition to the Facebook Group I mentioned last week. If you're on MySpace, please help us build our online fan base by joining!
Also, Agent 122's blog is up and running! You can find it at http://agent122blog.blogspot.com. I'll be making frequent entries giving you an inside look at the mind of Agent 122 and the strange world she has been thrust in...
We need to put together a press release for Project TEERA. John, I know you have experience in this area. Can you or anyone else help us out? Thanks!
TIP OF THE WEEK: Has anyone seen that commercial where the girl is protesting deforestation and her father is a logger who bails her out of jail? Have you been engaged in any heated debates with friends or family over the presidential election lately? I've noticed that it's hard for a lot of people to separate their feelings about issues from their feelings about other people. It takes a great deal of maturity to agree to disagree and still love them. Remember that the next time you argue with someone important to you.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: A reputation is your photograph; character is your face. Bobby Bowden
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Have you lost friends because of differing opinions about issues?
Have a great week!
Man, I am POOPED! The past two weeks have been pretty exhausting but I'm hopeful that tomorrow I'll be back on track and ready to move forward. Alright, let's get to the good stuff!
First off, I overhauled my website. It looks completely different and much better, if I do say so myself, and I did, so there you go. Please check it out at www.tomdheere.com and let me know what you think!
"The Upstate Four", the cartoon pilot in which I played one of the main characters, won top prize in the "TV for Children" category at the Ottawa Animation Festival a few weeks ago. It's yet another award for Fran & Will Krause's outstanding work and hopefully will bring them one step closer to success!
I have some great Project TERRA news!
First, Porject TERRA now has a MySpace profile in addition to the Facebook Group I mentioned last week. If you're on MySpace, please help us build our online fan base by joining!
Also, Agent 122's blog is up and running! You can find it at http://agent122blog.blogspot.com. I'll be making frequent entries giving you an inside look at the mind of Agent 122 and the strange world she has been thrust in...
We need to put together a press release for Project TEERA. John, I know you have experience in this area. Can you or anyone else help us out? Thanks!
TIP OF THE WEEK: Has anyone seen that commercial where the girl is protesting deforestation and her father is a logger who bails her out of jail? Have you been engaged in any heated debates with friends or family over the presidential election lately? I've noticed that it's hard for a lot of people to separate their feelings about issues from their feelings about other people. It takes a great deal of maturity to agree to disagree and still love them. Remember that the next time you argue with someone important to you.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: A reputation is your photograph; character is your face. Bobby Bowden
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Have you lost friends because of differing opinions about issues?
Have a great week!
Monday, October 6, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 10/6/08
Happy October!
I hope everyone had a fun weekend. I went to a 30th Birthday Party and an Oktoberfest. Bratwurst and Weisswurst and Knockwurst, oh my!
Today is the last day of the kidney stone saga. This morning I had the stent removed so all is well, thank goodness!
Despite three days of lying in bed I still got some stuff done. I had a gig for ETS on Thursday as well as gigs for both Oxford UK in NYC and then ETS. The trouble was that sitting down was pretty painful and I had to do a ton of driving, but I muscled through it. Pillows are my friends!
The Project TERRA Facebook Group is doing very well. We have 59 members so far and thanks to those of you who joined up. I should have the MySpace profile up & running by the end of the week.
Agent 122 now has a blog! It's not a production diary, it's an account of how she feels about her situation. Please go to
http://agent122blog.blogspot.com to check it out. When you get there, click on the "Follow this Blog" link under the "Followers" widget to show your support. I hope you enjoy it!
Some really exciting news is that a sci-fi website wants to interview me about Project TERRA! It should happen in the next few weeks. I'll keep you posted!
TIP OF THE WEEK: I'm still waiting on the lab report to see what kind of kidney stone I had and whether it was preventable. I know this is going to sound really cliche, but your health is the most important thing in your life. We take good health for granted and when something bad happens it affects every aspect of your life. Eat right, exercise, and get that annual check up, please! I wanna keep you guys around for a while okay?
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he or she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. Maya Angelou
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: When was the last time you had a physical?
Have a great week!
I hope everyone had a fun weekend. I went to a 30th Birthday Party and an Oktoberfest. Bratwurst and Weisswurst and Knockwurst, oh my!
Today is the last day of the kidney stone saga. This morning I had the stent removed so all is well, thank goodness!
Despite three days of lying in bed I still got some stuff done. I had a gig for ETS on Thursday as well as gigs for both Oxford UK in NYC and then ETS. The trouble was that sitting down was pretty painful and I had to do a ton of driving, but I muscled through it. Pillows are my friends!
The Project TERRA Facebook Group is doing very well. We have 59 members so far and thanks to those of you who joined up. I should have the MySpace profile up & running by the end of the week.
Agent 122 now has a blog! It's not a production diary, it's an account of how she feels about her situation. Please go to
http://agent122blog.blogspot.com to check it out. When you get there, click on the "Follow this Blog" link under the "Followers" widget to show your support. I hope you enjoy it!
Some really exciting news is that a sci-fi website wants to interview me about Project TERRA! It should happen in the next few weeks. I'll keep you posted!
TIP OF THE WEEK: I'm still waiting on the lab report to see what kind of kidney stone I had and whether it was preventable. I know this is going to sound really cliche, but your health is the most important thing in your life. We take good health for granted and when something bad happens it affects every aspect of your life. Eat right, exercise, and get that annual check up, please! I wanna keep you guys around for a while okay?
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he or she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. Maya Angelou
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: When was the last time you had a physical?
Have a great week!
Monday, September 29, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 9/29/08
Hi there!
I am home from hospital and everything went fine. I feel great except for when I go the bathroom but the Oxycodone is taking care of that quite nicely. I'll be taking it easy for a couple of days. Thanks again for all the words of support!
I'll make this quick so I can do lie down!
I had two VO gigs last week. One for Pearson Learning at Full House Productions and one for a new product called the "Pay it Forward" card via Monsoon Interactive.
I got another good review for "Mini-Masterpieces of Science Fiction" which you can check out at http://www.scifidimensions.com/Sep08/minimasterpieces.htm
If you're on Facebook, please join my Project TERRA Group. We're trying to build a website presence and that group is one of the many steps we're taking to generate a buzz. Thanks!
TIP OF THE WEEK: Well, the Oxycodone just hit me so all I can say is be nice to your waiter!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "I have steak at home, why go out for hamburger?" Paul Newman when asked if he was tempted to stray
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Isn't life grand?
Have a great week!
I am home from hospital and everything went fine. I feel great except for when I go the bathroom but the Oxycodone is taking care of that quite nicely. I'll be taking it easy for a couple of days. Thanks again for all the words of support!
I'll make this quick so I can do lie down!
I had two VO gigs last week. One for Pearson Learning at Full House Productions and one for a new product called the "Pay it Forward" card via Monsoon Interactive.
I got another good review for "Mini-Masterpieces of Science Fiction" which you can check out at http://www.scifidimensions.com/Sep08/minimasterpieces.htm
If you're on Facebook, please join my Project TERRA Group. We're trying to build a website presence and that group is one of the many steps we're taking to generate a buzz. Thanks!
TIP OF THE WEEK: Well, the Oxycodone just hit me so all I can say is be nice to your waiter!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "I have steak at home, why go out for hamburger?" Paul Newman when asked if he was tempted to stray
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Isn't life grand?
Have a great week!
Monday, September 22, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 9/22/08
Happy Autumn everyone, my favorite season! Did anyone try to balance an egg today?
I hope everyone had a fun weekend. Did you guys watch the Yankee game last night? It was incredible seeing so many legends in one place!
For those of you who don't know, I'm going to have surgery tomorrow to yank out that damn kidney stone. It's been two months and the little bastard decided make an Ikea run and move into my starboard-side ureter! It's an outpatient procedure and it only takes about 45 minutes. I'll let you know how it goes. Anyway, on to less discomforting topics!
Last week I had a nice amount of VO work! I did yet another ETS gig and I did some more animation VO for CancerSPACE, a roleplaying tutorial for hospitals. Once again I played Rivera, a Hispanic RN.
Fellow GKN member Angelo Panetta hired me to narrate some :60 car commercials for an undisclosed client. I was thrilled to do some hard-sell work! I never get those kind of gigs so it'll be great to add some more diversity to my samples.
I also had an audition for Comcast courtesy of Ingrid French. The interesting thing about this one was that the recording session was the same day so I had to hang out in NYC for a few hours while I waited to hear if I got the gig. BTW don't hesitate to drop me a line if you ever want to get together. I'm in Manhattan pretty often and I haven't had the pleasure of meeting some of you in person!
TIP OF THE WEEK: So, tomorrow I go under the knife. YIKES! Seriously, I'm not scared because it's a simple procedure and there is no cutting involved. I will spare you the details of how they get the stone, though. You do NOT wanna know! I try very hard to eat right, exercise, and live a healthy life. I don't smoke, I rarely drink, and I don't do drugs. Despite all that, I've been slapped around with kidney stones, high cholesterol, vertigo, and migraines. It is SO damn frustrating! What I'm trying to say is that sometimes if you do everything right you still won't achieve the desired result. And you know what? It's okay. A wise sage once said "**** happens". and it's true. But it's not the **** that shapes your life, it's your REACTION that does!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: If you don’t know, say you don’t know. Only politicians and middle managers find shame in ignorance and the irony of that should not be wasted on you. Phillip Banks
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What was the last bad thing that happened to you? How did you handle it? Could you have handled it better?
Have a great week!
I hope everyone had a fun weekend. Did you guys watch the Yankee game last night? It was incredible seeing so many legends in one place!
For those of you who don't know, I'm going to have surgery tomorrow to yank out that damn kidney stone. It's been two months and the little bastard decided make an Ikea run and move into my starboard-side ureter! It's an outpatient procedure and it only takes about 45 minutes. I'll let you know how it goes. Anyway, on to less discomforting topics!
Last week I had a nice amount of VO work! I did yet another ETS gig and I did some more animation VO for CancerSPACE, a roleplaying tutorial for hospitals. Once again I played Rivera, a Hispanic RN.
Fellow GKN member Angelo Panetta hired me to narrate some :60 car commercials for an undisclosed client. I was thrilled to do some hard-sell work! I never get those kind of gigs so it'll be great to add some more diversity to my samples.
I also had an audition for Comcast courtesy of Ingrid French. The interesting thing about this one was that the recording session was the same day so I had to hang out in NYC for a few hours while I waited to hear if I got the gig. BTW don't hesitate to drop me a line if you ever want to get together. I'm in Manhattan pretty often and I haven't had the pleasure of meeting some of you in person!
TIP OF THE WEEK: So, tomorrow I go under the knife. YIKES! Seriously, I'm not scared because it's a simple procedure and there is no cutting involved. I will spare you the details of how they get the stone, though. You do NOT wanna know! I try very hard to eat right, exercise, and live a healthy life. I don't smoke, I rarely drink, and I don't do drugs. Despite all that, I've been slapped around with kidney stones, high cholesterol, vertigo, and migraines. It is SO damn frustrating! What I'm trying to say is that sometimes if you do everything right you still won't achieve the desired result. And you know what? It's okay. A wise sage once said "**** happens". and it's true. But it's not the **** that shapes your life, it's your REACTION that does!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: If you don’t know, say you don’t know. Only politicians and middle managers find shame in ignorance and the irony of that should not be wasted on you. Phillip Banks
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What was the last bad thing that happened to you? How did you handle it? Could you have handled it better?
Have a great week!
Monday, September 15, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 9/15/08
Hello, my peeps! What up, yo?
First off I'd like to say thanks for all of the kind birthday wishes many of you sent my way. I was overwhelmed! Saturday was my 37th Birthday and I had a great time at Arthur's Steakhouse in Morris Plains, NJ with some dear friends. Onion soup and ribs, BOOYAH!!!
Let's get right into the fun stuff!
Last week I did an online spot for Pushpocket courtesy of Monsoon Interactive. They've hired me to do many online tutorials. I just added OnLetterhead, OnMarketer, and Monsoon Interactive samples to my website. Check 'em out! To see the the first two, click on "Let us show you how!"
We now have a Project TERRA teaser! A huge thank you goes out to fellow GKN member Kara Edwards for providing her immeasurable talent!
Last week I was an extra for "30 Rock"! I haven't done background actor work in a long time and it was a blast. I was one of the many White Haven High School alumni attending Liz Lemon's high school reunion. I met some really wonderful people including Meredith Jacobs, a very talented & fun person who has her own sketch-comedy troupe "The Polite Society". I was right next to Alec Baldwin, special guests Janel Maloney (West Wing) and Diane Neal (Law & Order SVU) and I got to talk to Tina Fey! I think it will air Thursday, November 20. I'm exhausted but it was worth it!
TIP OF THE WEEK: One thing that really impressed me on the shoot of "30 Rock" was the level of talent & quality of technique among the principals, Alec Baldwin especially. I never realized what a good actor and how damn funny he is! I've said before that nobody thinks they can pick up a violin and start playing it well, but every yutz with minimal training and no experience thinks they can become a star immediately. Regardless of your opinion of him, prolific stars like Alec Baldwin are very talented, have a rock-solid technique, and have worked very hard over a long period of time to get where they are. So keep taking your classes, refine your technique, and network network network!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Don't make your problem my problem!
Alec Baldwin yelling into his cell phone on the set of "30 Rock"
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What have you done lately to improve the quality of your work?
Have a great week!
First off I'd like to say thanks for all of the kind birthday wishes many of you sent my way. I was overwhelmed! Saturday was my 37th Birthday and I had a great time at Arthur's Steakhouse in Morris Plains, NJ with some dear friends. Onion soup and ribs, BOOYAH!!!
Let's get right into the fun stuff!
Last week I did an online spot for Pushpocket courtesy of Monsoon Interactive. They've hired me to do many online tutorials. I just added OnLetterhead, OnMarketer, and Monsoon Interactive samples to my website. Check 'em out! To see the the first two, click on "Let us show you how!"
We now have a Project TERRA teaser! A huge thank you goes out to fellow GKN member Kara Edwards for providing her immeasurable talent!
Last week I was an extra for "30 Rock"! I haven't done background actor work in a long time and it was a blast. I was one of the many White Haven High School alumni attending Liz Lemon's high school reunion. I met some really wonderful people including Meredith Jacobs, a very talented & fun person who has her own sketch-comedy troupe "The Polite Society". I was right next to Alec Baldwin, special guests Janel Maloney (West Wing) and Diane Neal (Law & Order SVU) and I got to talk to Tina Fey! I think it will air Thursday, November 20. I'm exhausted but it was worth it!
TIP OF THE WEEK: One thing that really impressed me on the shoot of "30 Rock" was the level of talent & quality of technique among the principals, Alec Baldwin especially. I never realized what a good actor and how damn funny he is! I've said before that nobody thinks they can pick up a violin and start playing it well, but every yutz with minimal training and no experience thinks they can become a star immediately. Regardless of your opinion of him, prolific stars like Alec Baldwin are very talented, have a rock-solid technique, and have worked very hard over a long period of time to get where they are. So keep taking your classes, refine your technique, and network network network!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Don't make your problem my problem!
Alec Baldwin yelling into his cell phone on the set of "30 Rock"
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What have you done lately to improve the quality of your work?
Have a great week!
Monday, September 8, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 9/8/08
Well well well, what do we have here? Some eager readers, I hope?
Ready to take on the world in this Post-Labor Day put-your-white-shoes-away season? Well, alrighty then!
I hit the ground running last week with another recording session for ETS. Then I went to NYC for an on-camera audition for Rock Band 2. It was hilarious! I was a death metal head being interviewed on the red carpet.
I had an enlightening meeting concerning Project TERRA. We have a LONG road ahead of us to make it a reality but I am diving in head-first! Our marketing campaign will begin soon. If any of you have suggestions as to where to develop our Internet presence I'd love to hear them. I have an extensive list already but I welcome any additions!
I received another great review for narrating those stories on "Mini-Masterpieces of Science Fiction". I just updated my Reviews page on my website. You can check them out here.
Fellow VO talent Steve Anthony wrote some very nice things about me in his blog and I wanted to give him a shout-out and say thanks. You can read his blog entry here.
TIP OF THE WEEK: I'm sure that many of you heard that legendary voice over talent Don Lafontaine died last week. If you've never heard of him, I guarantee you have heard him. He was the godfather of VO's, narrating over 5000 movie trailers and 350,000 commercials & promos. He coined the movie trailer catch-phrase "In a world..." I never had the pleasure of meeting him but many of my colleagues did and they had nothing but wonderful things to say about him. He will be missed.
Don's passing made me think about how I got into voiceovers. Strangely enough, it was because of my mother! She was reading New Jersey Monthly and there was an ad from a local VO coach. She said I should look into it because I have a nice voice. Thirteen years and a few hundred recording sessions later, here I am! Weird, huh?
Then I thought about WHY I do voiceovers. At first it was because I was sick of acting, specifcally actors. I had a very bad experience at the conservatory I went to and I wanted nothing to do with the theater and those "Ramman-noodle eating insecure flakes" (my apologies, fellow thespians, I was an angry young man!).
Now I do voiceovers because I love it as well as the wonderful people in the industry. You know, YOU guys! The sense of community and belonging I feel are bring me immeasurable happiness. So here's the tip: do what you love and you can't go wrong.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: The prospect of a long day at the beach makes me panic. There is no harder work I can think of than taking myself off to somewhere pleasant, where I am forced to stay for hours and 'have fun'. Phillip Lopate
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Are you doing what you love? If not, why?
Have a great week!
Ready to take on the world in this Post-Labor Day put-your-white-shoes-away season? Well, alrighty then!
I hit the ground running last week with another recording session for ETS. Then I went to NYC for an on-camera audition for Rock Band 2. It was hilarious! I was a death metal head being interviewed on the red carpet.
I had an enlightening meeting concerning Project TERRA. We have a LONG road ahead of us to make it a reality but I am diving in head-first! Our marketing campaign will begin soon. If any of you have suggestions as to where to develop our Internet presence I'd love to hear them. I have an extensive list already but I welcome any additions!
I received another great review for narrating those stories on "Mini-Masterpieces of Science Fiction". I just updated my Reviews page on my website. You can check them out here.
Fellow VO talent Steve Anthony wrote some very nice things about me in his blog and I wanted to give him a shout-out and say thanks. You can read his blog entry here.
TIP OF THE WEEK: I'm sure that many of you heard that legendary voice over talent Don Lafontaine died last week. If you've never heard of him, I guarantee you have heard him. He was the godfather of VO's, narrating over 5000 movie trailers and 350,000 commercials & promos. He coined the movie trailer catch-phrase "In a world..." I never had the pleasure of meeting him but many of my colleagues did and they had nothing but wonderful things to say about him. He will be missed.
Don's passing made me think about how I got into voiceovers. Strangely enough, it was because of my mother! She was reading New Jersey Monthly and there was an ad from a local VO coach. She said I should look into it because I have a nice voice. Thirteen years and a few hundred recording sessions later, here I am! Weird, huh?
Then I thought about WHY I do voiceovers. At first it was because I was sick of acting, specifcally actors. I had a very bad experience at the conservatory I went to and I wanted nothing to do with the theater and those "Ramman-noodle eating insecure flakes" (my apologies, fellow thespians, I was an angry young man!).
Now I do voiceovers because I love it as well as the wonderful people in the industry. You know, YOU guys! The sense of community and belonging I feel are bring me immeasurable happiness. So here's the tip: do what you love and you can't go wrong.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: The prospect of a long day at the beach makes me panic. There is no harder work I can think of than taking myself off to somewhere pleasant, where I am forced to stay for hours and 'have fun'. Phillip Lopate
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Are you doing what you love? If not, why?
Have a great week!
Monday, September 1, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 9/1/08
Happy Labor Day!
Just wanted to make a quick GKN post before I hit the BBQ circuit.
I got another review for my work in Infinivox's "Mini-Masterpieces of Science Fiction". You can read it here.
The Amber Lee Ettinger promo video I narrated is up! You can see it here.
TIP OF THE WEEK: Use suntan lotion today!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: (during a Yankees broadcast)
Michael Kay: Did you have any teammates who didn't swear?
David Cone: None that I trusted!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What goals have you set for this fall? How well did you do with your goals for the summer?
Have a great week!
Just wanted to make a quick GKN post before I hit the BBQ circuit.
I got another review for my work in Infinivox's "Mini-Masterpieces of Science Fiction". You can read it here.
The Amber Lee Ettinger promo video I narrated is up! You can see it here.
TIP OF THE WEEK: Use suntan lotion today!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: (during a Yankees broadcast)
Michael Kay: Did you have any teammates who didn't swear?
David Cone: None that I trusted!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What goals have you set for this fall? How well did you do with your goals for the summer?
Have a great week!
Monday, August 25, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 8/25/08
Good Monday to Ya!
Can you believe that Labor Day Weekend is almost here? Then it's back to school! The only thing I miss about school is buying new stuff. I love office supplies!
We had some good things happen last week...
I had a great recording session for my buddy Chad Orr of Rennert Translation Group. I narrated a commercial for their website at CKP Media. I'll post it when it's ready!
Speaking of stuff that's ready to post, here is the online tutorial I narrated for Knovel courtesy of Eyeview Digital.
I also had a great audition for Computer Associates at Acting Management courtesy of Ingrid French. While there I ran into fellow GKN member Tiffany Clementi. It was great seeing you, Tiff!
I recorded more lines and Foley stuff for Angelo's latest sci-fi radio drama "The Empress Blair Project". I got to play a soap opera actor! Saying that I was over-the-top was an understatement...
TIP OF THE WEEK: My personal highlight of the week was watching my friend Carly's three-month old girl Asha for a day.
Isn't she beautiful? I called that day "baby-daddy training". Mostly we danced to Beatles tunes and she slept a lot, but it meant a lot to me. For those of you who don't know, I am "clinically single" but would very much like to have a child someday. Why? For a bunch of reasons, but one of the big ones is that life is meant to be shared. To be alone is both safe and scary at the same time and I'm very happy that so many people are willing to share their lives and the lives of their children with me. Be thankful that you are, too.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: He attacked everything in life with a mix of extraordinary genius and naive incompetence, and it was often difficult to tell which was which. Douglas Adams
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Who shares their life with you? When was the last time you thanked them for it?
Have a great week!
Can you believe that Labor Day Weekend is almost here? Then it's back to school! The only thing I miss about school is buying new stuff. I love office supplies!
We had some good things happen last week...
I had a great recording session for my buddy Chad Orr of Rennert Translation Group. I narrated a commercial for their website at CKP Media. I'll post it when it's ready!
Speaking of stuff that's ready to post, here is the online tutorial I narrated for Knovel courtesy of Eyeview Digital.
I also had a great audition for Computer Associates at Acting Management courtesy of Ingrid French. While there I ran into fellow GKN member Tiffany Clementi. It was great seeing you, Tiff!
I recorded more lines and Foley stuff for Angelo's latest sci-fi radio drama "The Empress Blair Project". I got to play a soap opera actor! Saying that I was over-the-top was an understatement...
TIP OF THE WEEK: My personal highlight of the week was watching my friend Carly's three-month old girl Asha for a day.
Isn't she beautiful? I called that day "baby-daddy training". Mostly we danced to Beatles tunes and she slept a lot, but it meant a lot to me. For those of you who don't know, I am "clinically single" but would very much like to have a child someday. Why? For a bunch of reasons, but one of the big ones is that life is meant to be shared. To be alone is both safe and scary at the same time and I'm very happy that so many people are willing to share their lives and the lives of their children with me. Be thankful that you are, too.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: He attacked everything in life with a mix of extraordinary genius and naive incompetence, and it was often difficult to tell which was which. Douglas Adams
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Who shares their life with you? When was the last time you thanked them for it?
Have a great week!
Monday, August 18, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 8/18/08
Good morning!
Man, is the summer just ripping by or what? I hope you've been able to hit the beach/lake/park or whatever floats your boat. I was supposed to go to a BBQ yesterday but I had to redo a project since I recorded it in mono and they needed it in stereo. Whoops!
Here's the latest entry in the "Saga of the Stone"; the good news is that it moved, a lot! So that means surgery is held off for three more weeks since they want to give it time to pass. The bad news is three more weeks of power-chugging water, cranberry juice, etc. and the occasional bouts of discomfort and (hopefully not!) pain. OK then, on to less icky things!
Last week I had two VO sessions for ETS in Princeton and I landed a new client! Have any of you heard of Obama Girl? She makes these goofy videos where she sings about how much she loves Barack Obama. I've watched some of them and they're pretty funny! Anyway, "Obama Girl" is Amber Lee Ettinger and she released a song online which has gotten some attention. They're shooting a music video to go with it as well as a promo video promoting the whole thing. I was hired to narrate the promo video! I recorded it at Young & Rubicam last week and it should air online soon.
We had a lot of Project TERRA action last week! The EPK has been overhauled and it looks great! We also have an updated storyboard which also looks great. We found a production company in California to produce the series once we raise the funds. Now all we need is the money. So, does anyone have $5.4 million on them?
TIP OF THE WEEK: Many of my fellow VO talents returned from the VOICE 2008 conference in LA. I heard that a wonderful time was had by all, including some fellow GKN members. We would love to hear your stories so please share!
Anyway, some interesting dialogues have popped up on various blogs & forums as a result. In one of the threads came up those pesky traits which we all have: fear and ego. It's amazing how many of our choices are influenced by them. For some people, ALL of their decisions are fear/ego-driven. This year one of my focuses has been to determine how many of my decisions are based on those lovely attributes. The answer is: less than there used to be but still far more than I'd like. I won't bore you with which parts of my life they dominate but needless to say they get in my way more than I care to admit.
So here's the tip: don't let fear and your ego control your life. Both are good in small doses but too much drives other people & opportunities away from you. Don't restrict your life!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: If you can't be a muse, at least be amusing! Anonymous
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What are you afraid of?
Have a great week!
Man, is the summer just ripping by or what? I hope you've been able to hit the beach/lake/park or whatever floats your boat. I was supposed to go to a BBQ yesterday but I had to redo a project since I recorded it in mono and they needed it in stereo. Whoops!
Here's the latest entry in the "Saga of the Stone"; the good news is that it moved, a lot! So that means surgery is held off for three more weeks since they want to give it time to pass. The bad news is three more weeks of power-chugging water, cranberry juice, etc. and the occasional bouts of discomfort and (hopefully not!) pain. OK then, on to less icky things!
Last week I had two VO sessions for ETS in Princeton and I landed a new client! Have any of you heard of Obama Girl? She makes these goofy videos where she sings about how much she loves Barack Obama. I've watched some of them and they're pretty funny! Anyway, "Obama Girl" is Amber Lee Ettinger and she released a song online which has gotten some attention. They're shooting a music video to go with it as well as a promo video promoting the whole thing. I was hired to narrate the promo video! I recorded it at Young & Rubicam last week and it should air online soon.
We had a lot of Project TERRA action last week! The EPK has been overhauled and it looks great! We also have an updated storyboard which also looks great. We found a production company in California to produce the series once we raise the funds. Now all we need is the money. So, does anyone have $5.4 million on them?
TIP OF THE WEEK: Many of my fellow VO talents returned from the VOICE 2008 conference in LA. I heard that a wonderful time was had by all, including some fellow GKN members. We would love to hear your stories so please share!
Anyway, some interesting dialogues have popped up on various blogs & forums as a result. In one of the threads came up those pesky traits which we all have: fear and ego. It's amazing how many of our choices are influenced by them. For some people, ALL of their decisions are fear/ego-driven. This year one of my focuses has been to determine how many of my decisions are based on those lovely attributes. The answer is: less than there used to be but still far more than I'd like. I won't bore you with which parts of my life they dominate but needless to say they get in my way more than I care to admit.
So here's the tip: don't let fear and your ego control your life. Both are good in small doses but too much drives other people & opportunities away from you. Don't restrict your life!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: If you can't be a muse, at least be amusing! Anonymous
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What are you afraid of?
Have a great week!
Monday, August 11, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 8/11/08
Good Morning To Ya!
I hope everyone had a pleasant weekend. Mine was sublimely uneventful. I'm still taking it easy since the "you know what" still hasn't left the building. Fortunately I see my urologist in about an hour so I'll keep you posted.
Last week definitely picked up! I had three gigs:
I landed a new client! Eyeview hired me to narrate three scripts for an online tutorial about Knovel, a new search engine designed for scientists & engineers.
I narrated three more scripts for Rider University's "Top Careers" video series, courtesy of Films Media Group.
I had an ETS gig in Princeton but this one was a little different. I narrated some ESL tests specifically for the nation of Qatar. I played roles ranging between 10 and 13 years of age. I sounded squeaky!
I also took the time to overhaul my VO rate sheet. Thanks to many of the Voiceover Bulletin Board members for their input, especially Dave Courvosier!
I added two websites to my daily job search: Auditions.com and GigsList.org. I'll let you know if I get any bites...
TIP OF THE WEEK: The reason why I overhauled my rate sheet is because I put a bid in for a project recently and was told that it was "outrageous". Submitting an appropriate bid in the voiceover industry can be a bit of a sticky wicket. There are so many different kinds of VO gigs and the rate can be determined by the word, the page, the minute, or the hour. You also have to take into account whether you're recording from your home or a remote studio. If you record from home, you may be asked to edit it, add music, add sound effects, etc. On top of all that, the rates change depending on the location (local, regional, national). That's a lot to take into account!
That leads me to the tip: know your value in the marketplace. Do your homework. Ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask what your peers charge. Come up with a rate sheet that works for you. Once you determine your value, stick to it. Have a spine, as the great Phillip Banks would say. Don't work below your value!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your ignorance. Thomas Sowell
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What is your value in the marketplace? Have you ever sold yourself short?
Have a great week!
I hope everyone had a pleasant weekend. Mine was sublimely uneventful. I'm still taking it easy since the "you know what" still hasn't left the building. Fortunately I see my urologist in about an hour so I'll keep you posted.
Last week definitely picked up! I had three gigs:
I landed a new client! Eyeview hired me to narrate three scripts for an online tutorial about Knovel, a new search engine designed for scientists & engineers.
I narrated three more scripts for Rider University's "Top Careers" video series, courtesy of Films Media Group.
I had an ETS gig in Princeton but this one was a little different. I narrated some ESL tests specifically for the nation of Qatar. I played roles ranging between 10 and 13 years of age. I sounded squeaky!
I also took the time to overhaul my VO rate sheet. Thanks to many of the Voiceover Bulletin Board members for their input, especially Dave Courvosier!
I added two websites to my daily job search: Auditions.com and GigsList.org. I'll let you know if I get any bites...
TIP OF THE WEEK: The reason why I overhauled my rate sheet is because I put a bid in for a project recently and was told that it was "outrageous". Submitting an appropriate bid in the voiceover industry can be a bit of a sticky wicket. There are so many different kinds of VO gigs and the rate can be determined by the word, the page, the minute, or the hour. You also have to take into account whether you're recording from your home or a remote studio. If you record from home, you may be asked to edit it, add music, add sound effects, etc. On top of all that, the rates change depending on the location (local, regional, national). That's a lot to take into account!
That leads me to the tip: know your value in the marketplace. Do your homework. Ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask what your peers charge. Come up with a rate sheet that works for you. Once you determine your value, stick to it. Have a spine, as the great Phillip Banks would say. Don't work below your value!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your ignorance. Thomas Sowell
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What is your value in the marketplace? Have you ever sold yourself short?
Have a great week!
Monday, August 4, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 8/4/08
Good Monday to ya!
How's tricks? I feel better today than I have in a while! I'm back to my old energy level (which is pretty damn high) even though that stone is still wriggling about. I'm really looking forward to getting back on track this week.
Career-wise, July was the slowest month I've ever had. It kind of worked out since I was laid up for a good part of it. The strange part was that June was one of my best months ever so it kind of balanced out. Go figure!
A couple of good things did happen last week. Ingrid French sent me on a VO audition for the National Park Association.
The big news is that I was reviewed for my narration of "Mini-Masterpieces of Science Fiction". Here's an excerpt...
"...his performance of 'Kin' by Bruce McAllister, is stunning..."
"Dheere uses pacing and tone to create a memorable alien that is both menacing and sympathetic at the same time. His narration makes the story come alive... "
"Another story skillfully handled by Dheere is 'None So Blind,' by Joe Haldeman. This story presents some intriguing ideas and narrator Dheere amazes by easily phrasing such texts as, 'Where Cletus divided his time between the musky charms of his beloved and the sterile cubicles of Institute Marey, learning how squids learn things, which was by serotonin pushing adeylate cyclase to catalyze the synthesis of cylic adenosine monophosphate in just the right place.' Wonder how many times he had to record that sentence to get it exactly right?"
Actually, it only took two takes! To hear "Kin" in its entirety you can go here. To hear a sample of "The Days Between", click here. A big "thank you" goes out to Allen Kaster of Infinivox for casting me!
TIP OF THE WEEK: Last week I mentioned that my friend Kara Edwards expressed concern over blog traffic. It started a wonderful exchange of ideas among about a dozen of us via email. We decided that we will help increase each others internet presence. Every week we will make it a point to visit each others blogs and post comments to either start or maintain thoughtful discussions. We won't go crazy, just a few a week to get the ball rolling. We also agreed to link up to each others online communities, whether it's Facebook, My Blog Log, etc.
I think this is a great idea! It's so important for us to do whatever we can to increase our sense of community in our industry. With that in mind, I humbly ask you to go to my home page www.tomdheere.com. At the bottom of the page are icons with links to all of the networking sites I'm a part of. Please add me to your friends list and I will reciprocate.
Also, please share with the GKN if you post blogs and we will make an effort to contribute to yours. I would love nothing more than to be a part of some great discussions generated by you. Why should I do all the talking?!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: All things have an end; except for sausages, which have two ends. Viking Proverb
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:How can you contribute to our industry community? Do you have any interesting ideas to share?
Have a great week!
How's tricks? I feel better today than I have in a while! I'm back to my old energy level (which is pretty damn high) even though that stone is still wriggling about. I'm really looking forward to getting back on track this week.
Career-wise, July was the slowest month I've ever had. It kind of worked out since I was laid up for a good part of it. The strange part was that June was one of my best months ever so it kind of balanced out. Go figure!
A couple of good things did happen last week. Ingrid French sent me on a VO audition for the National Park Association.
The big news is that I was reviewed for my narration of "Mini-Masterpieces of Science Fiction". Here's an excerpt...
"...his performance of 'Kin' by Bruce McAllister, is stunning..."
"Dheere uses pacing and tone to create a memorable alien that is both menacing and sympathetic at the same time. His narration makes the story come alive... "
"Another story skillfully handled by Dheere is 'None So Blind,' by Joe Haldeman. This story presents some intriguing ideas and narrator Dheere amazes by easily phrasing such texts as, 'Where Cletus divided his time between the musky charms of his beloved and the sterile cubicles of Institute Marey, learning how squids learn things, which was by serotonin pushing adeylate cyclase to catalyze the synthesis of cylic adenosine monophosphate in just the right place.' Wonder how many times he had to record that sentence to get it exactly right?"
Actually, it only took two takes! To hear "Kin" in its entirety you can go here. To hear a sample of "The Days Between", click here. A big "thank you" goes out to Allen Kaster of Infinivox for casting me!
TIP OF THE WEEK: Last week I mentioned that my friend Kara Edwards expressed concern over blog traffic. It started a wonderful exchange of ideas among about a dozen of us via email. We decided that we will help increase each others internet presence. Every week we will make it a point to visit each others blogs and post comments to either start or maintain thoughtful discussions. We won't go crazy, just a few a week to get the ball rolling. We also agreed to link up to each others online communities, whether it's Facebook, My Blog Log, etc.
I think this is a great idea! It's so important for us to do whatever we can to increase our sense of community in our industry. With that in mind, I humbly ask you to go to my home page www.tomdheere.com. At the bottom of the page are icons with links to all of the networking sites I'm a part of. Please add me to your friends list and I will reciprocate.
Also, please share with the GKN if you post blogs and we will make an effort to contribute to yours. I would love nothing more than to be a part of some great discussions generated by you. Why should I do all the talking?!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: All things have an end; except for sausages, which have two ends. Viking Proverb
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:How can you contribute to our industry community? Do you have any interesting ideas to share?
Have a great week!
Monday, July 28, 2008
GKN Weekly Update 7/28/08
Whattaya say there, sports fans?!
Hello and Happy Monday to you. I am feeling MUCH better! The kidney stone still hasn't passed (I think) but I haven't had an attack since last Tuesday. My appetite has returned and my digestive system is back to normal (no need for details there). I did gain some weight, though. I think it's a combination of the medication and two weeks without exercise. Anyway, I wanted to thank all of you for the dozens of phone calls, emails, and other well wishes you guys sent my way. It means a lot to me!
Last week was kind of slow. It worked out since was rough leaving the house between the pain, the medication, and having to carry a strainer around! As a result, I had to turn down two auditions from Ingrid French because I couldn't risk being away from the house for too long. I had two more retakes session for Ballard & Tighe at Hagens Studio in Princeton, though. They signed off on the project so it's in the can!
The only other action I had was that I started on the Project TERRA Season Two Outline. We're still working on the Episode One storyboard and the stills for the EPK. Slow but steady!
TIP OF THE WEEK: I have to admit that I was touched by the amount of people who reached out to me this past week. It made me feel really good! My friend and fellow VO talent Kara Edwards was just blogging about how her blog comments have decreased lately and she was wondering how much it had to do with RSS feeds and the fact that EVERYBODY blogs nowadays. I think there are just too many out there and it's hard not to just click, glance, and move on to the next bookmark.
This applies to real life as well. Take the time to tell someone important to you how much you appreciate them. Whether it's your parents or the postman, acknowledge them. Even if it's just a smile or a handshake, it will make their day!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Genre fiction, as Terry Pratchett has pointed out, is a stew. You take stuff out of the pot, you put stuff back. The stew bubbles on. Neil Gaiman
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: When was the last time you said thanks to someone important to you?
Have a great week!
Hello and Happy Monday to you. I am feeling MUCH better! The kidney stone still hasn't passed (I think) but I haven't had an attack since last Tuesday. My appetite has returned and my digestive system is back to normal (no need for details there). I did gain some weight, though. I think it's a combination of the medication and two weeks without exercise. Anyway, I wanted to thank all of you for the dozens of phone calls, emails, and other well wishes you guys sent my way. It means a lot to me!
Last week was kind of slow. It worked out since was rough leaving the house between the pain, the medication, and having to carry a strainer around! As a result, I had to turn down two auditions from Ingrid French because I couldn't risk being away from the house for too long. I had two more retakes session for Ballard & Tighe at Hagens Studio in Princeton, though. They signed off on the project so it's in the can!
The only other action I had was that I started on the Project TERRA Season Two Outline. We're still working on the Episode One storyboard and the stills for the EPK. Slow but steady!
TIP OF THE WEEK: I have to admit that I was touched by the amount of people who reached out to me this past week. It made me feel really good! My friend and fellow VO talent Kara Edwards was just blogging about how her blog comments have decreased lately and she was wondering how much it had to do with RSS feeds and the fact that EVERYBODY blogs nowadays. I think there are just too many out there and it's hard not to just click, glance, and move on to the next bookmark.
This applies to real life as well. Take the time to tell someone important to you how much you appreciate them. Whether it's your parents or the postman, acknowledge them. Even if it's just a smile or a handshake, it will make their day!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Genre fiction, as Terry Pratchett has pointed out, is a stew. You take stuff out of the pot, you put stuff back. The stew bubbles on. Neil Gaiman
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: When was the last time you said thanks to someone important to you?
Have a great week!
Monday, July 21, 2008
GKN Weekly Update
Hey there all you TV fans,
I hope everyone had a great week. I myself had a rather interesting experience. I woke up early Thursday morning in excruciating pain. So I dragged myself to the Emergency Room and discovered I have a kidney stone. Yay! They kept me there overnight. I declined surgery so I've been cooped up at home for the past four days trying to pass it. So far, no luck.
As a result, I missed two recording sessions last week. One was another retake session for Ballard & Tighe. The other was for a new client. I was supposed to go to Riverview Studios in Bordentown to record two sixty-second spots for the NJ Association of Realtors. Unfortunately they had to re-cast the role since they were on a tight deadline. Bummer! The good news is that they may have more work for me in the near future.
I did actually make it to a recording session for ETS before my incapacitation so the week wasn't a total loss. Actually, I did manage to put in some work on my website. It's always looked pretty God-awful but I never had the time to work on it. It's a little better now. You can see it here. There is still a long way to go. I'm thinking of getting a new web host with a better template. This one is via Yahoo Geocities. Not so great.
TIP OF THE WEEK: So I've been in quite a bit of pain for the past few days. I'm talking about "lie on the bed and do nothing but pant" kind of pain. It made me realize how healthy I have been for most of my life. This is only the second time I spent the night at a hospital. The first time was to have my tonsils taken out. I was five and I remember it vividly, even the dream I had while I was under. I've had a few broken bones and stitches, three or four cavities, a bum knee (wrcnhed it in dance class), a pre-ulcer condition, and vertigo/migraines (too much Diet Pepsi). That's about it. I am very fortunate to have good health. In the future, every time I complain about a hangnail I will remember what I'm feeling right now and tell myself to shut the hell up.
The same thing goes for my career and personal life. I am lucky to be doing exactly what I want with my career and I am surrounded by many, many loving friends and family members. I know it's cliche, but I've been counting my blessings and I ran out of fingers! Don't forget all of the good things you have going for you.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: A friend is someone you know all about, but you like anyway. Bill Parcells
TIP OF THE WEEK: What good things in your life do you take for granted?
Have a great week!
I hope everyone had a great week. I myself had a rather interesting experience. I woke up early Thursday morning in excruciating pain. So I dragged myself to the Emergency Room and discovered I have a kidney stone. Yay! They kept me there overnight. I declined surgery so I've been cooped up at home for the past four days trying to pass it. So far, no luck.
As a result, I missed two recording sessions last week. One was another retake session for Ballard & Tighe. The other was for a new client. I was supposed to go to Riverview Studios in Bordentown to record two sixty-second spots for the NJ Association of Realtors. Unfortunately they had to re-cast the role since they were on a tight deadline. Bummer! The good news is that they may have more work for me in the near future.
I did actually make it to a recording session for ETS before my incapacitation so the week wasn't a total loss. Actually, I did manage to put in some work on my website. It's always looked pretty God-awful but I never had the time to work on it. It's a little better now. You can see it here. There is still a long way to go. I'm thinking of getting a new web host with a better template. This one is via Yahoo Geocities. Not so great.
TIP OF THE WEEK: So I've been in quite a bit of pain for the past few days. I'm talking about "lie on the bed and do nothing but pant" kind of pain. It made me realize how healthy I have been for most of my life. This is only the second time I spent the night at a hospital. The first time was to have my tonsils taken out. I was five and I remember it vividly, even the dream I had while I was under. I've had a few broken bones and stitches, three or four cavities, a bum knee (wrcnhed it in dance class), a pre-ulcer condition, and vertigo/migraines (too much Diet Pepsi). That's about it. I am very fortunate to have good health. In the future, every time I complain about a hangnail I will remember what I'm feeling right now and tell myself to shut the hell up.
The same thing goes for my career and personal life. I am lucky to be doing exactly what I want with my career and I am surrounded by many, many loving friends and family members. I know it's cliche, but I've been counting my blessings and I ran out of fingers! Don't forget all of the good things you have going for you.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: A friend is someone you know all about, but you like anyway. Bill Parcells
TIP OF THE WEEK: What good things in your life do you take for granted?
Have a great week!
Monday, July 14, 2008
GKN Weekly Update
Happy Bastille Day!
I actually went to a Bastille Day party over the weekend. I had snails for the first time (salty but not bad), enjoyed delicious poached salmon, roast duck, and WAY too much Pinot Noir. That may explain why I feel so cruddy right now...
BTW my blog has a new address: http://tomdheere.blogspot.com. I should have all the RSS feeds set up on the dozen or so sites that this blog appears. That'll take the rest of the day to do. Yipee.
Last week was the first slow one I've had in a while, recording session-wise. I had 1 1/2 gigs. One for ETS and a really short one to do some re-takes for Ballard & Tighe. Hence the half.
I hope you got the chance to read my quarterly newsletter "The Rognog" that I posted last week. I got well over 350 website hits on it this time. My goal was 100 hits so I'm pretty pleased!
Fellow GKN member John Florian posted Part Two of my article series "The Art and Science of Self Promotion". You can read it here. Thanks again, John!
I had an on-camera audition on NYC for the first time in a while. It was for MVP Healthcare courtesy of Friedman-West. Thanks, Susan!
TIP OF THE WEEK: I got a very nice compliment twice in the past two weeks from two different people at two different places. I was feeding my friend Carly's baby Asha. One friend said "You look like a dad." and the other friend said "You're going to make a great father someday." That really hit home with me. Most of the time I act like and is perceived as this goofy guy who will never settle down with someone. So, when I get complimented like that my first thought is that they're making fun of me. I know they're not, but I don't take compliments well. I'm getting better at it, though. Anyway, all this made me wonder what it takes to be a good father. This is just a guess, but I think that the two most important things are to be there and to love. I've said this before, but it's worth repeating: love is a verb. It is an act. Be in the presence of the ones you love and actively love them. Does that sound right, dads?
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing but burn, burn, burn like fabulous roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue center light pop and everybody goes 'Awww!’ Jack Kerouac
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What have you done lately to show the important people in your life that you love them?
Have a great week!
I actually went to a Bastille Day party over the weekend. I had snails for the first time (salty but not bad), enjoyed delicious poached salmon, roast duck, and WAY too much Pinot Noir. That may explain why I feel so cruddy right now...
BTW my blog has a new address: http://tomdheere.blogspot.com. I should have all the RSS feeds set up on the dozen or so sites that this blog appears. That'll take the rest of the day to do. Yipee.
Last week was the first slow one I've had in a while, recording session-wise. I had 1 1/2 gigs. One for ETS and a really short one to do some re-takes for Ballard & Tighe. Hence the half.
I hope you got the chance to read my quarterly newsletter "The Rognog" that I posted last week. I got well over 350 website hits on it this time. My goal was 100 hits so I'm pretty pleased!
Fellow GKN member John Florian posted Part Two of my article series "The Art and Science of Self Promotion". You can read it here. Thanks again, John!
I had an on-camera audition on NYC for the first time in a while. It was for MVP Healthcare courtesy of Friedman-West. Thanks, Susan!
TIP OF THE WEEK: I got a very nice compliment twice in the past two weeks from two different people at two different places. I was feeding my friend Carly's baby Asha. One friend said "You look like a dad." and the other friend said "You're going to make a great father someday." That really hit home with me. Most of the time I act like and is perceived as this goofy guy who will never settle down with someone. So, when I get complimented like that my first thought is that they're making fun of me. I know they're not, but I don't take compliments well. I'm getting better at it, though. Anyway, all this made me wonder what it takes to be a good father. This is just a guess, but I think that the two most important things are to be there and to love. I've said this before, but it's worth repeating: love is a verb. It is an act. Be in the presence of the ones you love and actively love them. Does that sound right, dads?
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing but burn, burn, burn like fabulous roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue center light pop and everybody goes 'Awww!’ Jack Kerouac
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: What have you done lately to show the important people in your life that you love them?
Have a great week!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Testing 123!
Hi!
I'm trying out Blogger to create The Rognog Blog/Good Karma Network. My old one doesn't seem to get along with MyBlogLog, Technorati, and a few other places. Unfortunately, I still have to do the old copy & paste thing with Nextcat, Yahoo 360, The GKN Yahoo Group, and MySpace. That is, unless anyone out there knows how to set up an RSS Feed with them...
Have a great weekend!
I'm trying out Blogger to create The Rognog Blog/Good Karma Network. My old one doesn't seem to get along with MyBlogLog, Technorati, and a few other places. Unfortunately, I still have to do the old copy & paste thing with Nextcat, Yahoo 360, The GKN Yahoo Group, and MySpace. That is, unless anyone out there knows how to set up an RSS Feed with them...
Have a great weekend!
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