GKN Weekly Update 3/7/11

Happy Windy, Flood-Warning Monday!


Be careful out there guys. It's pretty gnarly out there today!


I, like most people, love to be needed. It's good for the ego as well as the soul. When I am called upon for advice by my peers it makes happy to know I can help. With that in mind, this morning I got a lovely email from my dear friend & fellow GKN member Christina Rodriguez, asking for tips on how to turn a new client into a regular client. That's a good question! We had a great chat and I hope it helped. I only wish there was some way I could share it with you. You know, put it in some part of my blog that's designed to pass along advice. Hmm...


TIP OF THE WEEK: When you land a gig with a new client, try to connect with them on a site like Facebook or LinkedIn, if you think it's appropriate, that is. It’s rare they don’t have one of those accounts and don’t want to connect. Say something like, “Do you mind if I send you a LinkedIn invitation so we can easily stay in touch?” Then make sure your status updates show a steady stream of auditions and bookings. Even if you have a slow week, post about new equipment, websites you discovered, anything just to show you’re immersed in your craft and moving forward.

Also, I think it’s critical to have a quarterly newsletter, even if it’s just a simple email you send to all of your contacts.

Here’s another trick. I save every job submission done via email and once in a while send a follow-up letter to all of them just to say hi. I did it recently and I got more than a few auditions as a result. Once I go through all of them, I save the new responses and delete the emails of the contacts who didn’t respond, then I do it again a few months later.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: I am so sick of people taking out their insecurities on me. from the film American Beauty

STUFF!: This is most likely my last Good Karma Network Weekly Update sent via Blogger. My WordPress account should be up & running by next week. I don't know diddly-squat about WordPress so forgive me if things get a little weird. I'm also going to stop posting it in so many places. Most likely just WordPress, Facebook, and Yahoo Groups. For those of you who read this in other venues, I encourage you to subscribe to the three venues I just mentioned or pick up the RSS Feed. Thanks!

From Tom Dheere's apartment, this is Tom Dheere, GKN News...

GKN Weekly Update 2/28/11

Happy post-Oscar Day! Did your favorites win? Not only did I forget to print up one of those voting sheets to track my picks, I almost forgot about the Oscars entirely. All I got to say is: Nine Inch Nails won an Oscar!!!

So, last week was very cool in my world, technologically speaking. Allow me to elaborate...

I got studio monitors! The ever-spiny Phillip Banks recommended the Alesis M1 Active 250 but they were out of stock at Guitar Center (BTW that's where I get all my studio equipment and they have never steered me wrong). Instead I got the Tascam VL-M3. They were on sale and I love them. I've always had PC speakers and they make a world of difference!

I downloaded a new Internet Browser called Rockmelt. This thing rocks! (get it?) This browser is geared online toward social networking and it has a bunch of great little features towards that end. This was recommended to me by my buddy Morgan Barnhart. Thanks, Morgan!

Here is the big news: I'm getting a new website!!! It will still be www.tomdheere.com but it will be powered by Wordpress and have a completely new look. This here blog will also be hosted by the website. Remember how I posted a little while back about how inefficient my blog posting is? Well, no more! A big thanks to Jessalyn Coolbaugh for all her hard work. The new site should be up & running in a few weeks.

TIP OF THE WEEK: I'm not a real tech-savvy person in general. I'm better at teaching people how to use stuff than to use it, actually. My parents were teachers and I was a corporate restaurant trainer for many years so I guess it comes naturally. I was given a great piece of advice when it comes to learning new things, which gets harder and harder as we get older: learn with the intent to teach. It completely changes how you process new information! You find yourself not just mindlessly sucking in data just so you can belch it all over a test a few days later in hopes of getting a good grade. It forces you to listen, truly listen (remember last week's Tip?) This will be my approach when I have to figure out how to use Wordpress in a few weeks. Wish me luck...

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: I swore I'd live above myself. Gabriel Byrne as Dean Keaton in the Usual Suspects

STUFF!: The GKN Update is coming at you a little late today since I was watching my darling Asha all day. She is the best-behaved little girl I have ever encountered, and she STILL trashed my place like Axel Rose at a hotel party!

From Tom Dheere's fershimmeled apartment, this is Tom Dheere, GKN News...

GKN Weekly Update 2/22/11

Happy President's Day! Wow, that's two weeks in a row I didn't have to make up a holiday...

Sorry I'm late. I was recording for the bulk of yesterday then I went monitor shopping. I got a set of Tascam VL-M3 monitors. I haven't hooked them up yet but I'll let you know how they sound.

So yesterday I recorded two short audio books: Eight Miles and Under the Moons of Venus. Eight Miles takes place in 1840's London and the protagonist tells the story in the first person. Other characters in the story have different accents, most notably Upper Class British and French. I asked the engineer if I should give the other characters their own accents, even though the same guy is telling the story. She said I should for two reasons:

1) To make it easier for the listener to know who is speaking
2) It's more esthetically pleasing

So I did and it was pretty hard! Changing accents from one sentence to the next was very challenging. I hope it came out alright...

TIP OF THE WEEK: When I took my lunch break from the session, I had a Snapple and the Snapple Fact under the cap said, "It takes an interaction of 72 different muscles to produce human speech." That sounds like a lot of work! It actually takes far more effort than that to produce EFFECTIVE human speech. I'm not just talking about an audio book where it takes preparation, technique, breath control, etc. I mean taking the time to craft real thoughts that inform, enlighten, entertain, soothe, and inspire.

I've noticed lately there are a lot of VO online forums, groups, clubs, etc. where almost everybody feels the need to chime in just to feel like they're part of something when they have no idea what they're talking about. They often embarrass themselves and hurt other people's feelings. The "flaming" that's been going on recently has been very damaging to the voice over community and it concerns me.

Here is some advice to everybody, not just VO folks, and this is coming from a guy who loves to babble all day: if you can't contribute positively to a conversation, whether it's at a cocktail party or on a forum, zip it. Just listen. Listen, listen, listen. Listening is everything. You'd be AMAZED at the stuff you can learn about yourself, others, and the world around you if you spend more time listening and less time preparing to blurt out your own opinion.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Every time you argue with your wet blanket, you lose. Sally Johnson

STUFF!: I saw "Taxi Driver" for the first time in about 15-20 years. What a freaky, disturbing, brilliant movie! If you want to watch a genius of an actor portraying a man slipping into insanity, this is the film to watch.

From Tom Dheere's apartment, this is Tom Dheere, GKN News...

GKN Weekly Update 2/14/11

Happy Valentine's Day! Look at that, I didn't have to make up a holiday...

Today's GKN update is coming a bit late in the day because I was recording for about five hours. I narrated the first of five stories for "Top Ten Tales of Science Fiction 3", courtesy of Allan Kaster and the great people at Infinivox. Today's story was 77 pages long. I'm pooped! Narrating audio books wipes me out. The energy and focus required to sit still for all that time, speaking clearly and at a proper pace, and keeping all the characters distinct is considerable. Man, I wouldn't trade it for anything! Audio books are my absolute favorite form of voice work.


TIP OF THE WEEK: Being a voice actor is my dream job. The funny part is that I didn't know it until I was well into it! Like most people, it was the abstraction of the career that appealed to me at first. Talk for money? Hell, I can do that! When I actually started doing it and discovered how hard voice acting is and was told what the odds are of making it, that's when it became a dream job. A real challenge that I knew I could meet, though for many years I didn't know how to meet it. It took me until the age of 35 to be truly successful in this field and happy as a human being. Coincidence...?

I talk to people all the time who are stuck in jobs they hate as a result of making a series of choices that put them there. So I ask them "What did you want to be?" and many have no idea or just some vague notion of doing something cool and highly profitable that apparently requires little or no effort (BTW that's the curse of the VO industry!). Some of them, however get a wistful look in their eyes and say "You know? Everybody always told me I was good at X, but I just never applied myself..."

Unless it's something that's beyond your physical capabilities or natural talents, it is NEVER too late! It's just a matter of how hard & long you're willing to work at it to make it happen. That's why they have night classes, summer courses, online courses, student loans, etc. If you really, truly want to do something different with your life, you can make the time for it and find the resources necessary. Now get out there and be what you've always wanted to be!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: There is no fight when you go to your dream. Sally Johnson

STUFF!: I want to wish everyone out there a very Happy Valentine's Day. I know it's a goofy, made-up, over-commercialized holiday, but the take the time to tell the people in your life how much you love them. It makes a big difference when they actually hear it!

From Tom Dheere's apartment, this is Tom Dheere, GKN News...

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...

GKN Weekly Update 2/22/10

Well, it's that time of year: TAX TIME!!!

I'm going to see my accountant this afternoon to get my taxes done. So, for those of you who've never filed your taxes as a performance artist, let's cover the basics...

Most of the time, actors and voiceover talents don't have their taxes taken out from their paychecks. They issue W-9 forms to their clients and get 1099 forms at the end of the year. You should get one from every client who paid you more than $600 last year.

You'd be amazed at what you can write off! Among other things, I track mileage, tolls, parking, mailings, office supplies, and fees such as Voice123 membership and PayPal fees. This stuff adds up quickly!

If you work from home and have a designated office space/recording area, you can write off a % of your rent/mortgage. It's based on square footage used as office space.

TIP OF THE WEEK: I strongly recommend setting up a quarterly estimated tax payment plan. That way you won't have to pay your taxes in one lump sum come April 15. Pay around 10-20% of your income each quarter. Trust me, it eases the pain when you have to pay up!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Be a vigorous dancer. However, you’re under no obligation to join a conga line. Walker Lamond

STUFF!: Please go see "Transition" (the film I was the Assistant Director for) at the 6th NYC Downtown Short Film Festival Audience Choice Screenings on Thursday, February 25. It will be one of four films screened that evening and the films with the most votes wins a slot in a film festival! Tickets are sold out but I may be able to wrangle some for you if you want to go. Let me know...

Have a great week!

GKN Weekly Update 2/15/10

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope everyone had a wonderful time and got all of the chocolate, flowers, and adoration they deserve.

So, last week I sent out my quarterly newsletter, "The Rognog". It was well-received and thanks to those of you who wrote those kind replies. I had some trouble sending it out, though. My number of contacts have grown so much that Outlook/ACT! can't seem to handle it anymore. ACT! kept crashing and Outlook only allows you to send out 50 emails at a time. Fellow GKN member Jeff Kafer recommended Vertical Response so I'm definitely going to use that next time.

TIP OF THE WEEK: I really enjoy writing my newsletter. It gives me a chance to reflect on my recent accomplishments and plan for the future. I think it's really important to take stock once in a while to see where you're at. Are you ahead of schedule when it comes to your goals? Behind? What's working? What isn't?

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: The person who wrote the advertisements is without doubt the most ignorant person now alive on the planet; also without doubt he is an idiot, an idiot of the 33rd degree, and scion of an ancestral procession of idiots stretching back to the Missing Link. Mark Twain

STUFF!: All In One Collectibles (my friend Mike's store) will be running many events this week at Dreamation, an annual gaming convention in Morristown at the Hyatt. I'll be there to help out and I encourage all you geeks to head on down!. Go to dexposure.com/d2010.html to learn more.

Have a great week!

My Newsletter is Ready!

Click here to read my latest voiceover quarterly newsletter!

GKN Weekly Update 2/8/10

Happy Post-Super Bowl Day! Did you have a good time last night? I was rooting for the Colts. Alas...

Last week was pretty great. For the first time, every voiceover gig I booked I recorded from home. I know that's commonplace for many of my peers, but it's a big deal for me. One of my goals this year is to book more sessions from home instead of traveling to remote studios. No, it's not because I'm a lazy bum (I am, but that's beside the point). It's because it reflects the fact that I've broadened my client base. It's nice to see some of that cold-calling & networking pay off!

TIP OF THE WEEK: Routines are good. Comfort zones are good. Structure is good. What's even better is when you change your routine, you venture out of your comfort zone, or when you break up your structure. Your brain thrives when exposed to change. It's like trying a new type of food and loving it. Feed your brain!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Remember, the girl you’re with is somebody’s sister. And he’s perfectly capable of kicking your ass. Walker Lamond

STUFF!: Movies seem to keep popping up here but it's what I love! Last week I enjoyed "Tales of the Black Freighter", the animated companion story to "Watchmen". It was pretty good, but what was even better was the faux-documentary "Under The Hood" which was also on the DVD. It was geek-fare, but it was darn good!

Have a great week!

GKN Weekly update 2/1/10

And a happy post-Grammy, post-Pro Bowl day to you! I hope everybody picked a winner...

So, the grand experiment of tracking my networking & auditions is over. Here is the grand total: I reached out to exactly 120 potential and existing clients in January. That included cold calls, query emails, auditions, callbacks, and follow-ups. That's six reach-outs a day. Is that a good number? I'm not sure. I guess the important question is: did I get work? The answer is yes. Enough work to make the effort worthwhile? Only time will tell. Sometimes years pass before a cold call turns into a paying gig. I would like to think I'm on the right track...

TIP OF THE WEEK: Some of my industry friends poke fun at me for being so analytical when it comes to running my business. I've been told I'm "anal" and "too structured". You know what? I'm totally fine with it! If you are self-employed and trying to make it as an actor, model, dancer, VO talent, etc., you are a business. Act like it! You need a business plan, a budget, a realistic vision. OK, we're artists, we march to the beat of a different drum. Fine, I get it. But that doesn't mean you have to rebel against everything that's organized because it make you feel restricted or less free to express yourself. Please.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: If you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen. Conan O'Brien

STUFF!: I saw "The Book of Eli" last week. I always look forward to Denzel Washington movies because he's such a great actor and he picks interesting projects. I'm sorry, but this one was pretty bad! It was a poor attempt at going for a Mad Max post-apocalyptic setting with a religious twist. Denzel was great, Gary Oldman was great (he's one of my favorite actors), and yes, another Tom Waits sighting! But this one fell short.

Have a great week!

GKN Weekly Update 1/25/10

Hello, my soggy friends! A bit dampish today, ain't it?

I just trudged through the rain to get to a recording session in NYC. It's the one I can't talk about. BUT I can tell you it's for a upcoming video game for Rockstar Games. That's all I got. I'll give you more info when I can!

TIP OF THE WEEK: I've done a few video games but I had no idea how important keeping their content a secret is! Go to Patent Arcade to see what I'm talking about. Yikes! These guys aren't messing around. Everybody wants to be in the know and act like a big shot but sometimes it just isn't worth it. Keeping a secret is a quality that most people look for in others. I'm good at keeping every one's secrets but my own. How about you?

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Don't spit. (from the book “Rules for my Unborn Son” by Walker Lamond)

STUFF!: I saw "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus" last week. This was Heath Ledger's last film. Terry Gilliam used Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrel to finish it since Heath passed before it was completed. Let me tell you, the way it was shot was brilliant! They should have done it that way regardless. Between that and the supporting cast of Christopher Plummer, Verne Troyer, and the incomparable Tom Waits as the devil makes it a must-see.

Have a great week!

GKN Weekly Update 1/18/10

Good morning, my fellow do-gooders! I hope everybody had a great weekend. I went to my friend's annual poker tournament. I did pretty badly this year. Three split-pots and I won one hand. Eek!

Continuing this month's pet project, I'm still tracking my auditions/submissions/cold calls. I won't bore you with the details, but the good news is that I landed two gigs via Craig's List! Unfortunately, I can't give details of either of them. I don't have any about one of them and there's a Non-Disclosure Agreement for the other one. I will fill you in when I can!

TIP OF THE WEEK: Who would have thought you could get work on Craig's List? I check it out every day and you'd be surprised at the quality of some of the projects. Some of the other projects are, well, not surprising. Also, I use Crazed List to search multiple lists at the same time. I have it set up so I see posts from every major city in the US plus Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey. It only takes about one minute a day. If you're an actor, VO talent, dancer, or model, add it to your daily regiment. Let me know if you land any gigs!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: You’re only as sick as your secrets. Carrie Fisher

STUFF!: I recommend seeing "Sherlock Holmes". It was great! The director is Guy Ritchie who also did "Snatch" and "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels". Those are cult classics and I'm happy to see Guy have some mainstream success. Has anyone else seen it yet?

Have a great week!

GKN Weekly Update 1/11/10

Week One of 2010 is in the books! I hope everyone has gotten back into their routine. I'm not quite there yet. I had a bit of a cold last week so my diet, exercise, and work habits aren't quite back to normal but they're getting there. That doesn't mean I wasn't busy!

Just for fun I've decided to track my auditions every week for a month to see what's going on. Here is last week's breakdown:

Voice 123 Auditions: 7. That includes two private invitations. (BTW I know that many of you like P2P sites and many of you don't. In the 4+ years I've been on it, it has paid my annual fee back many, many times over so it works for me!).

Ingrid French Auditions: 3. That includes going to New York for in-person auditions. Two were for voiceovers (E-Money and Ludens) and one was on-camera (White Castle).

Voice Talent Productions: 2 (Thanks, Erik!)

Craig's List: 1. I got a virtual callback to be the voice of Fast Lane Daily, an auto industry magazine.

TOTAL: 13

This does not include the two dozen cold calls I made.

What does this mean? Well, I have agents submitting on my behalf and I submit myself for projects regularly. I get specific requests for my voice as well as callbacks. The big question is: Does it work? The answer is: it works often enough for me to keep doing it. I believe that all of these things are "part of a balanced breakfast" as a fellow VO talent once put it.

TIP OF THE WEEK: To ply your trade as an actor, dancer, model, VO talent, etc. you need to put yourself out there as often and as efficiently as you can. Be on multiple websites and networking profiles. Have a marketing plan in place and execute it. Be relentless!!!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: What is right and what is practicable are two different things. James Buchanan

STUFF!: I got a bunch of great CD's over the past few weeks. They are:

Bloc Party "Banquet"
Imogen Heap "Speak for Yourself"
Arma Secreta "A Century's Remains"
Gooding "The Return"
(compilation) "Dark was the Night"

I haven't listened to Bloc Party yet, but Imogen Heap is amazing! She's the girl from Frou Frou. You can download the Arma Secreta and Gooding albums from their website for free. The last CD has a bunch of incredible artists on it like Iron and Wine, The New Pornographers, and David Byrne.

What music have you been listening to lately?

Have a great week!

GKN Weekly Update 1/4/10

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a safe and grand ole' time. I had a blast at my friend Jim's up in Butler. My Christmas was great, too. Thanks again to the Sylvester family for taking me in!

I consider today the first official day of 2010 and I hit the ground running. I made a big ole' honkin' checklist of things to do and I already did seventeen of them and it's only 1PM! Everything from finishing my 2009 expense sheet to changing the shower curtain liner. Man, I love feeling productive!

I've got a lot of exciting things lined up for 2010. What I'm the most pumped about is the audio books. My stint at Awareness Audiobooks starts this month and hopefully I'll hear from Infinivox about this year's batch of stories. I also auditioned to narrate Robinson Crusoe and I'd love to land that one. I'm also waiting with bated (baited?) breath to hear from TJC Productions about the audio books they're producing this year. And as always, I keep pestering Audible about bringing me on board. I narrated nine audio books in 2009 so this year my goal is ten. Fingers crossed!

TIP OF THE WEEK: New Year's Resolutions, yikes! They're so cliche and hard to keep. Lose weight, quit smoking, blah blah blah. Why doesn't it work most of the time? I think it's because it's hard to put together and implement a day-today-system of thought & execution and stick to it. If you made any Resolutions this year, remember this: keep your goals in sight every day and make them incremental. You're not gonna lose 20 pounds overnight and going cold turkey on a lifetime of eating habits never works. Start small...

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: As president, I believe that robotics can inspire young people to pursue science and engineering. And I also want to keep an eye on those robots in case they try anything. Barack Obama, speaking to Washington D.C. School kids as part of his science education initiative

STUFF!: Let's try something different this year. I'm just gonna go with whatever strikes me at this given moment. I have a feeling that most of the time it's gonna involve music or film. Here we go...

High Fidelity is one of those movies that I completely forget about unless somebody brings it up or I catch it on TV. Every time I see it I think "I LOVE this movie! Why do I always forget about it?" Do you have a movie like that?

Have a great week!

GKN Weekly Update 12/21/09

Welcome to the final Good Karma Network Update for 2009! I hope everyone has dug out of the snow and is ready for the holidays.

So, this is the part when I take a moment to reflect on the year, both professionally and personally. Here's the breakdown...

In 2009 I did 97 voiceovers and landed 27 new clients. My revenue increased by 5% (considering the economy this year, I'll take it!). I was also under budget for the year.

Big gigs for 2009 include Nestle, Swiss Air, American Express/Delta, and nine audio books.

We made some strides with Project TERRA and should have our 4 1/2 minutes of video ready sometime in 2010. I'm also banging away at the screenplay and should have it completed soon. Go to www.3ative.com to see some new pics!

On the health front I had no kidney stones this year, I lost weight, and my cholesterol is under control.

I am still what I like to call "clinically single" but who knows what 2010 may bring...?

Overall, 2009 was an incredible year! I would like to thank all of you for supporting the Good Karma Network this year and for your wonderful contributions.

TIP OF THE WEEK: Take some time to reflect on the year and examine your accomplishments. Make a list of goals for 2010, both professional and personal. If you need a hand, let me know. I love making lists!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Don't gloat. A good friend will do it for you. (from the book “Rules for my Unborn Son” by Walker Lamond)

DISCUSS!: How was 2009 for you? What can you do to make 2010 even better?

Have a great week and Happy Holidays!!!

GKN Weekly Update 12/14/09

Top o' the morning to you, my little do-gooders! Getting your holiday shopping done?

Last week I did something I don't get to do very often: a home recording session with a phone patch. For those of you who don't know what a phone patch is, it means you're communicating with someone while you're recording. It can be as simple as holding up a cell phone to the speaker to using a high-end system like Source Connect or ISDN. I use Skype and it's great! Anyway, the client was wonderful and I banged out a two page script in two takes.

It did make me re-examine my setup, though. I think I need a new set of headphones. The quality isn't great and the cord is too short so I had to put the speakers in the booth with me, which was a little awkward cable-wise. I'm going to buy a new set this week and I would appreciate any suggestions for a good pair of headphones with a 10 foot cord and an 1/8" jack (or 1/4" inch, I have an adapter) for under $100. Thanks!

TIP OF THE WEEK: Gear is pretty darn important in the voiceover business. I'm not as tech-savvy as I'd like to be, but I'm learning. If you are wary of technology and don't like using computers or the Internet, the VO life may not be for you. I love learning new things and I'm always up for a challenge!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Thank the bus driver. (from the book “Rules for my Unborn Son” by Walker Lamond)

DISCUSS!: How comfortable are you with technology? More importantly, do you like learning new skill sets? Do you have any recent experiences to share?

Have a great week!

GKN Weekly Update 12/7/09

Hello on this chilly Monday morning! Gotta keep this one short, I have a very busy day today...

I had an amazing time at the 2nd Annual Voicover Mixer in New York City over the weekend! Over 200 voiceover talents converged on White Rabbit in the East Village for an evening of networking and fun. I got to catch up with many friends and make some new ones. Thanks to the folks at Voice Talent Productions for putting it all together!

TIP OF THE WEEK: It's very important to be an active part of your community, whether it's at work, home, your place of worship, or school. I felt completely isolated until I dived into the Internet, looking for others like myself. It's great to have peers that you can relate to on a daily basis!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Your best chance of being a rock star is learning the bass. (from the book “Rules for my Unborn Son” by Walker Lamond)

DISCUSS!: How active are you in your community?

Have a great week!

GKN Weekly Update 11/30/09

Happy Post-Thanksgiving! I hope everybody enjoyed their holiday weekend, did some shopping, and housed some leftovers. I had a blast at dinner with family and friends.

This holiday weekend was also eventful because I went to my 20th high school reunion!



That's me with my friend Yvonne. Dig the mini-mullet on my name tag!

I can't even begin to tell you what a fantastic time I had seeing old friends and catching up. Everyone was interested in my voiceover career and a few of them said they may have work for me! That was very nice, but I'm not about to tell you to use your high school reunion as a networking tool. A bit tacky, if you ask me.

TIP OF THE WEEK: Those of us who are self-employed train ourselves to look for networking opportunities in any situation. Sigmund Freud once said "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar." The reunion was just a reunion, a purely social situation. I'm not saying I had to resist the temptation to pass around business cards. It didn't even occur to me until someone broached the subject. I'm just saying there is a time and place for everything.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: If you trip in public, don't blame the sidewalk. Pick yourself up and pretend nothing happened. (from the book “Rules for my Unborn Son” by Walker Lamond)

DISCUSS!: Has anyone ever solicited you at an inappropriate time? How did you handle it?

Have a great week!

GKN Weekly Update 11/23/09

And hello on this Pre-Thanksgiving, Holy Crap Did I Buy Enough Cranberry Sauce Monday! I hope everyone is looking forward to a short work week, lots of great food & family, and of course FOOTBALL! BTW whose idea was it to put my Giants on the NFL Network this Thursday? Shenanigans, I say!

So I had a great audition last Thursday to narrate some audio books. I read excerpts from three stores and I think I did very well. The auditioners were really cool and they were a pleasure to read for.

I did make one gaff, though. The guy who auditioned just before me was a middle-aged, very talented man with a deep, resonant voice. As I was settling into the booth, I said to the auditioners, "I bet it'll be a bit of a shock going from him to me." I was referring to them going from listening to a guy who sounds like James Earl Jones to a guy who sounds like Matthew Broderick. You know, very different voices with a different approach to reading copy. They said he's a great talent and so am I so what's the problem? It came off like I said the last guy is great and I suck, a lame attempt at self-deprecating humor. I explained my "joke" and everything was fine. After the audition they said I'm a great actor and they were very pleased. WHEW!!!

TIP OF THE WEEK: When you make a joke at an interview or audition make sure:

A) It's appropriate, and
B) It doesn't make you or them look like an ass.

Obviously you should avoid jokes involving profanity, politics, sex, race, and religion. Also, you don't want the joke to raise or lower your status/position in relation to your audience. I will always you encourage to break the ice and make things fun. Just be careful where you try to find the funny!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Stand up to bullies. You'll only have to do it once. from “Rules for my Unborn Son” by Walker Lamond

DISCUSS!: Have you ever told a joke at an audition or interview that fell flat? How did you recover?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

GKN Weekly Update 11/16/09

Good morning on this crisp Autumn day!

Okay kids, no voiceover anecdotes today. I want to share a goofy little hobby of mine. As you know, I collect quotes and post them on this here Good Karma Network thang. What you don't know is that I also collect bad movie lines!

I collect lines or actions that, any time you hear or see them in a film, you know the movie is BAD. I'm talking about some seriously uninspired cliches. My only rule is that I don't collect lines that were made famous by one particular actor/character such as "I'll be back" or "Go ahead, make my day". I just started so the list is pretty small. I encourage you to add to the list. The lamer, the better!!!

BAD MOVIE LINES
Let’s get out of here!
Go on! Get out of here!
Go ahead without me!
What’s going on here?
Whoa...whoa…whoa! (When any child is sliding down something)
According to my calculations…
(Man) Stay here. (Woman or Child) I’m going with you!
I’m too old for this!
Bingo!
Jackpot!
I’d like to propose a toast.
Get your hands off me, creep!
We’ve got company…
Something’s fishy…
What are we gonna do?
I’ll see you in hell!
I’m scared.
(Insert name) is my name and (insert profession or activity) is my game!

VILLAIN LINES
Well, well, well, what have we here?
Look what the cat dragged in!
What is the meaning of this?
Or what? (Usually proclaimed by school bullies or thugs before they get whomped)
Get them!
Stop them!
Take them away!
Excellent!
Fools!
Intruders!
Interlopers!

THE DREADED INDICATORS
(Staring longingly at a photo that has just been picked up)
(Blood splattering on an object to indicate an act of violence)
(Closing a dead person’s eyes)
(A series of quick cuts showing the action hero suiting up for battle)
(Putting a coat on a woman’s shoulders)

TIP OF THE WEEK: I love doing stuff like this! It's easy, it's fun, and it doesn't take up much time. Benjamin Hoff wrote, "If we add up all the rewards in our lives, we wouldn't have very much. But if we add up the spaces between the rewards, we'll come up with quite a bit". Doing things like collecting bad movie lines is one of the things I use to fill up the spaces and strangely enough, it turns out to be a reward in itself. Life isn't birthdays and bar mitzvahs. It's about all the space in between. Use it well.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: After writing an angry email, read it carefully. Then delete it. Walker Lamond, "Rules for my Unborn Son"

DISCUSS!: What small, fun things can do you do to fill the spaces?

Have a great week!