Monday, November 29, 2010

Check out my latest voiceover blog entry! http://ping.fm/hAv4S

GKN Weekly Update 11.29.10

And a Happy Post-Thanksgiving Post-Black Friday, Post-Turkey Overload to you! I had a fantastic holiday weekend and I hope you did, too. The corn casserole was a hit and the kids loved the little dinosaurs I gave them. Yes, I bought their love, that's what I do.

Remember that 50-script medical narration project I've been waiting for? They're here! Well, the first two scripts are here. I recorded one of them last week which marks the first Thanksgiving week that I've had a VO project to do. I have finally arrived!

So, this weekend is the 3rd Annual New York VO Mixer. I mentioned it a few weeks ago and I hope you reserved a spot. I think it's too late to RSVP since I think about 300 people are going to be there. It will be at the Tonic Bar in Times Square. It's gonna be fun on a bun! AND I get to pass out my swanky new business cards. Can business cards even be swanky...?

TIP OF THE WEEK: I am PUMPED for the VO Mixer! I just looked at the Guest List and I know over 50 of the people who will be in attendance. I mean like I really know them, in real life! Obviously I'm excited to see so many of my friends, but the networking aspect is very important, too. When it comes to networking, nothing beats meeting a contact in person, shaking their hand, and looking them straight in the eye. All the Tweeting in the world can't replace that. Make it a point to go beyond electronic marketing whenever you can.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Only the noblest of goals requires pain and sacrifice. Anonymous

STUFF!: I saw two movies last week. Harry Potter: great! Angels & Demons: not so much. Are they doing a third Dan Brown movie any time soon?

From Tom Dheere's apartment, this is Tom Dheere, GKN News...
Quote of the Week: Only the noblest of goals requires pain and sacrifice. Anonymous

Monday, November 22, 2010

GKN Weekly Update 11.22.10

Happy Thanksgiving Week! Tell me this isn't the craziest week of the year. I assume all of you are making preparations to travel or host. I'm making a huge batch of corn casserole. It's not a casserole, however. It's more like corn bread with an extra layer of awesome. Let me know if you want the recipe!

So, I found a picture of my Red Dead Redemption character, Benton Manning.





Lookin' good, partner! He appears in the Undead Nightmare expansion. Basically, zombies invade the Old West. BTW does anyone know how to capture video game footage?

Also, I finally ordered new pens. They're thick clicker pens colored white with my logo on it. Is it lame to be excited about that?


TIP OF THE WEEK: I know it's cliche to recite all of the things I'm thankful for this year, but I just can't help it! I'll try to keep it short...

Of course I'm thankful for my health. I've lowered my cholesterol by over 100 points!

I'm extremely thankful so having one of the best VO years ever. It's been financially tough for a lot of people this year so I'm very lucky.

What I'm most thankful for is that my clan is doing okay. Things have been EXTREMELY tough for them this year and everybody came out on the other side in pretty good shape.

Folks, please be thankful for what you have and remember, it could be worse. It could be raining...

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: I don’t know why people insist on knowing themselves. It’s hard enough to know what to wear. Anonymous

STUFF!: What are you thankful for?
From Tom Dheere's apartment this is Tom Dheere, GKN News...
Quote of the Week: I don’t know why people insist on knowing themselves. It’s hard enough to know what to wear. Anonymous

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

I have a last-minute recording session in Princeton this afternoon. I hope the wind is behind me!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Monday, November 15, 2010

GKN Weekly Update 11/15/10

Good morning! I hope everyone had a pleasant weekend. Fellow GKN'er Marci Fine came over to record some spots and we had a grand ole' time. Thanks for the chocolate, Marci!

Remember last week when I was writing the GKN Update from CityVox? Well, there were one or two other sessions going on in addition to the one I was called in for. At one point, there were about a dozen of us hanging out in the lobby for maybe less than five minutes, but what a five minutes! It was like a VO reunion and there were some folks that I haven't seen in almost a year. So, hello to Eileen Stevens, Jen Wos, Rick Adamson, Lisa DeSimone, Heather Corrigan, Carla, Mara, Billy, Jen Duckworth, Fran, and everyone else I can't think of. It was great seeing you!

TIP OF THE WEEK: When I decided to get into voiceovers, I was pretty unhappy with the direction my life was going in. I had good friends and supportive family, but none of them had any idea what I was talking about when it came to this strange profession. It didn't take long to discover what an incredible group of people make up the voiceover community! I have been fortunate enough to develop a strong network (as in Good Karma Network!) of professional connections and I made some friends for life along the way. This was a wonderfully unexpected benefit of becoming a voiceover talent.

Networking is not just about getting the cell phone number of that big casting director or sending cookies to all of the agents during Christmas. It's about being a part of the community. Being a supportive peer, a mentor to those new to the industry, a go-to guy (or gal). Trust me, that will get you much further than trying to get in good with the big-shots!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: All art has poetry in its center. Anonymous

STUFF!: Caprica was canceled! That's one of the only shows I watch. The good news is that they're developing a new Battlestar Galactica series call Blood and Chrome. Does anyone have any inside information?

From Tom Dheere's apartment, this is Tom Dheere, GKN News...
Quote of the Week: All art has poetry in its center. Anonymous

Monday, November 8, 2010

Check out my latest voiceover blog entry! http://ping.fm/bTvLb

GKN Weekly Update 11.8.10

Holy hail & sleet, Batman! It is uber-crappy out there today, but I have braved the elements to be in NYC for two recording sessions. So, we are broadcasting LIVE from the lobby of CityVox in Midtown Manhattan.

Last week I had a great recording session with my friend Lisa Desimone. She is a great talent and one of the groovier people I know. It was an e-learning session and we recorded a bunch small vignettes as well as lists (see my GKN entry from a few weeks ago to learn about the magic of narrating lists!). Anyway, when we recorded these lists we had to take turns saying the terms for each list. I gotta tell you, stuff like that is so much easier when you're working with a real pro like Lisa. She worked off of my rhythm, my pitch, and my mood to complement me perfectly! We flowed back and forth so easily it was virtually flawless. You rock, Lisa!

TIP OF THE WEEK: The scariest experience I've ever had in my professional life is when I was acting on stage and my scene partner was looking right through me when we interacted. She wasn't even remotely in the moment and wasn't "listening" to me at all. She was just waiting for me to finish my lines so she could say hers. It was awful! Acting is reacting, my friends. You need to listen to your partner and incorporate it into your performance, even if it's just reading a list. I'm not saying you have to turn it into a freaking Meisner exercise. Just remember that you're not the only one in the room.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: If she breaks my heart I'll love it because I'll know where it takes me. Christopher Cook

STUFF!: What's the best acting experience you ever had with a partner? The worst?

From the CityVox lobby, this is Tom Dheere, GKN News...
Quote of the Week: If she breaks my heart IĆ¢€™ll love it because IĆ¢€™ll know where it takes me. Christopher Cook

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Benton Manning lives! I thought my Red Dead Redemption character was cut, but he's in the "Undead Nightmare" download. Booyah!

Friday, November 5, 2010

had a voiceover gig for NY Audio yesterday and one for CodeBaby today!

Monday, November 1, 2010

Check out my latest voiceover blog entry! http://ping.fm/FdhIj

GKN Weekly Update 11.1.10

Happy Halloween! I hope everyone had a fun and safe holiday. I went to my friend Jim's Toga Party. I was Gluteus Maximus!

Last week was really , really good. Among other festive activities, I had VO gigs for Oxford US, ETS, and Punto Mio.

I also went to a Meetup event in Morristown. It was a networking group and I've been to a number of different ones in the past. Unfortunately, I have found all of them to be a bit disappointing. The turnout is never as large as the Guest List says it will be, I find virtually no leads, and I almost never learn anything. But I keep going to them. Why? Find out in the GKN Tip of the Week!

TIP OF THE WEEK: I'm sure all of you were just wondering, "Why does Tom keep going to those networking events when he doesn't get anything out of them? Silly boy!" Well I do get something out of them: renewal of purpose and focus. Just showing up reminds me to make a better effort. I'm also reminded of the things I've tried in the past and how I should seek new ways of getting my name out there. Also, when I interact with people at these events, I'm often reminded of how little I knew about networking back when I started and how much I enjoy sharing what I've learned along the way.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: I bought her a necklace; I hope it fits (making a choking gesture). Christopher Cook

STUFF!: If any of you ever want to hit a networking event in New York or New Jersey, let me know. If I'm free, I'll join you! Are there any coming  up that you want to share?

From Tom Dheere's apartment, this is Tom Dheere, GKN News...
Quote of the Week: I bought her a necklace; I hope it fits (making a choking gesture). Christopher Cook