5 Tactics for Getting a Job at a Local Radio Station
January 9, 2008
Thinking locally, that is the radio stations in your hometown, will serve you best when trying to break into the market as an imaging voice, a promo voice, or commercial voice for broadcast radio.
While you’re thinking locally, think traditionally as well. Most stations still require a hard copy of your resume and a demo CD of your work to keep on file.
Address your package to the producer, program director or general manager. This may take some researching to locate the appropriate directors contact details, but you definitely want your package getting into the hands of the right person at the station, lest it get lost or thrown out.
As with any traditional job application, you will need to:
- Write a cover letter and resume introducing your services
- Follow up to confirm receipt of your resume
- Ask if you can send your demo CD for consideration
- Mail a package including a CD sampler of your radio work / demos
- Follow up again to gain feedback
When approaching a station that you haven’t worked for before, you will need to be diligent and professional to catch their eyes and especially their ears. One of the greatest assets you can instantly provide to a station is fresh talent.
Stations, though they do work with some talent on a regular basis inhouse or on retainers, are always on the lookout for new voice talent to help set them apart.
Highlight how you and your voice can make a difference, for example, your proven ability to reach their target audience. It’s all about the station, not about you.
If you remind yourself of that when applying for work, the responses from stations will be more favorable than not.
Good luck!
FlyTunes Launches Mobile Music Service for Apple iPhone
January 7, 2008
At the Consumer Electonics Show, FlyTunes introduced its new digital music service for the Apple iPhone, Pod Touch and other portable media players and cell phones.
The FlyTunes service offers mobile users a personalized radio-like experience, with thousands of channels of digital music that can be enjoyed anywhere they go, regardless of wireless connection.
FlyTunes outshines satellite radio in a number of ways:
- FlyTunes does not require a receiver or additional hardware purchase; it works with the cell phone or personal media player already in a consumer’s pocket.
- FlyTunes offers access to over 100 times more channels than satellite radio, covering every conceivable musical taste.
- FlyTunes plays everywhere, unlike satellite radio, which does not work inside buildings, or on planes.
- FlyTunes allows users to personalize their music channels. While listening, users can promote favorite songs and flag unwanted ones (never to be played again).
- There are no setup or monthly fees for FlyTunes.
FlyTunes CEO Sam Abadir said that “FlyTunes bridges the massive disconnect that exists between the hundreds
of millions of cell phones and portable media players people already own, and thousands of Internet radio stations that broadcast every type of music they could want.” Abadir continues, “from the user’s perspective, FlyTunes provides an extremely easy-to-use service that allows them to quickly et the music they want and to discover new music.”
FlyTunes allows users to create their own customized music channels by searching over 20,000 Internet radio stations to find music that matches their preferences. Hours of personalized music can be cached to a portable mediaplayer or cell phone and listened to anywhere. Portable devices with 3G capability can quickly cache additional music, greatly reducing battery drain.
FlyTunes Inc. was founded as 2006 by a group of seasoned PC industry veterans to create cutting edge media management technology for portable digital media players.
To learn more, visit the FlyTunes website.
Source: Reuters
Atlantic Wave Radio Airs Quality Podsafe Music With No Interruptions
January 6, 2008
Atlantic Wave Radio plays new podsafe music each week which is complimented by extra interviews and complete show notes for each episode on their website.
At Podcasting News, Steve from Atlantic Wave Radio says “We are back to our usual schedule with a 30 minute show packed with lots of podsafe music that isn’t interrupted, no fast forwarding in the car or fumbling for the mp3 player in your pocket, relax we make music fun again.”
Atlantic Wave Radio, which is owned and operated by Pod-Star Podcasting has produced over 100 podcasts since starting in 2005, right back at the beginning of the podcasting medium which equates to one new podcast a week.
To hear some fresh independent music, tune into Atlantic Wave Radio by subscribing to their podcast.
2008 Voicey Award Nominations Now Open for Voice Actors
January 3, 2008
Honoring the brightest and best voice over artists of the year, the 2008 Voicey Award nominations are now open at Voices.com, the voice over marketplace.
The 2008 Voicey Awards are now open to receive voice actor nominations! Sponsored by Voices.com, the 2nd Annual Voicey Awards Show is the only of its kind to exclusively honor voice-over professionals. The inaugural Voicey Awards show in 2007 identified 5 categories of significance and prestige, including Best Male Voice, Best Female Voice, Best New Voice, Best Personal Branding, and a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Similar to awards such as the Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, honoring actors and filmmakers, the Voicey Awards recognize voice actors and voice talents for their contributions and efforts over the year in the voice over industry.
This year, there are several new categories that have been added including Best Child Voice, Best Teen Voice, Best Foreign Voice and Best Voice Team. Each category has its own judge, ensuring that seasoned industry personalities who specialize in their respective award category are judging the finalists.
Voice talents and voice actors are hired for their vocal talents to complete various projects for organizations, companies, and institutions requiring voice over services including commercials for radio and television, promos, movie trailers, audio book narration, podcasts, videos, animation, videogames, telephone recordings and more. Theirs are the voices that are heard but not seen.
Honored Judges for the 2008 Voicey Awards include:
Best Male Voice - Connie Terwilliger
Best Female Voice - Marc Cashman
Best New Voice - Joan Baker
Best Child Voice - Sunday Muse
Best Teen Voice - Cynthia Songé
Best Voice Team - James R. Alburger and Penny Abshire
Best Personal Branding - Julie Williams
Lifetime Achievement - Bettye Zoller
To nominate a voice actor, go to the Voicey Awards website and click on “Nominations”. To learn more about the people involved and the history of the Voicey Awards, visit:
About Voices.com
Based in London, Canada, Voices.com provides an online marketplace, facilitating transactions between business clients and voice-over professionals employing a comprehensive suite of web-based services. Clients that have worked at Voices.com include NBC, ESPN, PBS, The History Channel, Reader’s Digest, Comcast, Nortel Networks, Bell Canada, Microsoft, Cisco Systems, ING, Western Union, Ford, GM, Jaguar, US Army, the US Government and more.
Spanish Language ranked as most common, followed by French, Chinese and Russian
January 2, 2008
Global Language Solutions Survey Results Reveal 88% of Life Sciences Industry Contacts Surveyed Encounter Multilingual Patients or Research Subjects
90 percent of those surveyed who encounter non-English languages list Spanish as the most common. Other languages listed included French (37 percent), Chinese (25 percent), and Russian (20 percent).
Newport Beach, CA, January 02, 2008 - More than 88 percent of clinical research, healthcare, and medical device industry professionals surveyed encounter non-English speaking patients and subjects on a regular basis. The November 2007 survey, which was conducted by Global Language Solutions (GLS), polled the firm’s clients and industry contacts on the types of languages spoken by their patients or research subjects, as well as the one(s) used most often.
GLS, which specializes in translation and interpreting services for the medical devices, pharmaceutical, and healthcare industries, was not surprised to find Spanish as the non-English language most commonly cited by respondents; with 90 percent those surveyed who encounter non-English languages listing it as the most common. Other languages listed included French (37 percent), Chinese (25 percent), and Russian (20 percent).
Inna Kassatkina, Global Language Solutions’ President and co-founder, comments: “We decided to conduct this survey of our clients and contacts in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries in order to confirm that multilingual patients and subjects are no longer the exception to the rule and to compile data on the most commonly encountered languages by industry. The information we gathered will help us meet the changing demographics of these industries’ customers, as well as better target the content of our monthly e-publication, Global Communicator.”
Visit http://www.globallanguages.com or call 949-798-1400 for more information about GLS’ translation services.
About Global Language Solutions
Global Language Solutions (GLS) is a full-service translation company delivering solutions in over 100 languages to increase its clients’ multicultural and international market share. GLS provides culturally and linguistically accurate document translations, website localization, multilingual typesetting/graphic design, conference interpreting, voice-overs, and more. The company’s clients include leaders in the pharmaceutical, medical devices, healthcare, financial, legal, manufacturing, marketing, and technology industries. GLS is a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) based in Newport Beach, California, with teams of experts around the globe. For more information, visit www.globallanguages.com or call +1-949-798-1400.
Source: PR.com
Voice Over New Year’s Resolutions Contest Winner Announced
January 1, 2008
A few short weeks ago, the Voice Over New Year’s Resolution contest opened to all voice actors in the online community, giving people the opportunity to submit their resolutions for the new year in exchange for the chance to win some great prizes from Marc Cashman, Julie Williams and Voices.com including an hour of telecoaching each from Marc and Julie as well as a one-year Premium membership to Voices.com among other prizes.There were more than three dozen wonderfully creative entries submitted to the Voice-Overs.com Forum, but only one could win.
The winning submission was entered by September Day Leach (pictured above).
She writes:
Dear Judges of the Voice Over New Year’s Resolution Contest,
Greetings!
My name is Maybelle and I am a professional Fairy Godmother. I am writing to you on behalf of one of my charges, September Day Leach.
I understand that your contest has some fabulous prizes in store for the winner and according to this wish I just received, my September sure could use them. You see, she is moving from Atlanta, Georgia all the way across the country to Los Angeles next year, all by herself. She is leaving behind all of her friends and family just to chase her star and she’s called on me for some help. Now, I’ve already taken care of transportation (she was out of pumpkins, but managed to dig up some bok choi which I was able to mold into a Honda) and she’s been a very good girl by avoiding going to the Mall with her seed money from a few choice gigs I was able to get her. But I still think she needs a little something more and having all of this great coaching and exposure timed with her move could really help launch her career.
September assures me, should her wish come true, that:
* she will never, ever, ever plug her microphone directly into her soundcard again
* she will stand up for every recording
* for 2008, all extra money will go to marketing and equipment
* she will stay in touch with her real and internet voice over family while she’s on the West Coast
* she will stay focused on her dreams every day
* she will only stalk Brad Pitt once every two weeks
If you could help, I would be most grateful and would be happy to throw in a few incentives as well. How about making those holiday calories not count? All green lights for one week? We’ll talk.
Sincerely,
Maybelle Merriweather, Fairy Godmother
~~
One of the three judges, Marc Cashman prepared a special note to all who entered the contest:
An open letter to all contestants:
I’d like to say to everyone who entered this contest that your submissions were very well thought out, extremely creative and quite inspiring. I want to encourage those of you who plan on taking more voice acting classes.
The best actors never stop learning.
I want to suggest that you don’t make a V-O demo until you’re really ready, and to get help from a pro to make it competitive. I admire you for focusing on your goals and working every day to realize them. And I want remind you that you can email me any questions about the business through Voices.com or call me any time.
I wish you all much success for a great ‘08!
Marc Cashman
Cashman Commercials/L.A.
~~
To learn more about what other voice actors who entered the contest are hoping to achieve in 2008, visit the forum and take a look.
Source: VOX Daily
Arbitron States Radio Reaches 233 Million Listeners per Week
December 30, 2007
Arbitron today released preliminary findings from RADAR® 95. Below are some of the key demographic findings from the new RADAR results that radio advertisers look for when placing their ad buys.
Key findings are as follows:
Vote To Choose “Unofficial” Winner for Announcer Job at NBC Nightly News
December 28, 2007
BUFFALO, New York, December 28, 2007 - - With over 60 entries submitted in just four days, audio’connell Voice Over Talent and professional voice over talent Peter K. O’Connell has opened the voting process to the public to select the “unofficial” winner for the announcer’s job on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.
O’Connell joined a chorus of voices on the web who were disappointed by the vocal performance of well respected actor Michael Douglas, the network’s choice for the announcing position on the program. O’Connell had advised that the network “should probably take Douglas back into the studio and try again. But if NBC News decides to make a change in announcers, we’ve got a bunch of great professional voices for them to choose from.”
Professional voice over talents from around globe sent in auditions which can be heard on the company’s blog site - www.voxmarketising.com - or accessed through the company’s web site - www.audioconnell.com
Voters are requested to pick their top three choices from the submitted auditions, ranked in order of preference. Complete rules are listed on the blog.
About audio’connell
audio’connell Voice Over Talent is a worldwide voice over talent service featuring professional male and female voice talents specializing in commercials, corporate narrations, voice imaging, podcasting and messaging on-hold (MOH) created for advertising agencies, media and broadcast production companies as well as both large and small businesses around the world.
The company also operates Voice Over Workshop to provide professional voice over training to novice and experienced voice talent around the world.
audio’connell Voice Over Talent is an affiliate of O’Connell Companies.
Mastercard Commercial Turns Potential Customers Off?
December 23, 2007
According to a law student, there is a new Mastercard “worldwide” commercial on TV which “contains one of the most annoying creepy voiceover-jobs of a woman has recorded in quite some time”.
That’s quite the accomplishment in the creepy voice over department, particularly for credit cards, wouldn’t you say?
“…it would make one want to STEER CLEAR of THAT Mastercard credit card… maybe Mastercard altogether. How can you find out who decided to go with that disaster?”
If you’ve heard this commercial, chime in with your thoughts on the creepiness factor should it exist.
Source: LawSchoolDiscussion.org
Bob Souer Narrates 774,000 Words for Bible Podcast
December 21, 2007
Voices.com: It’s amazing that you are recording the entire Bible! Could you please specify which version of the Bible it is and the total word count?
Bob Souer: This project is for the world’s largest publisher of Bibles, Thomas Nelson. We’re using their “New King James” version. Word count is about 774,000.
Voices.com: What has the process been like so far working on such a large and monumental project? Do you do anything special to prepare for your sessions?
Bob Souer: The process has gone amazingly smoothly. I’m in my home studio in Charlotte, NC, connected via either Source Connect or ISDN (most of the sessions have been done with ISDN thus far, but with the new version of Source Connect coming in about a month we’re hoping to be able to move to that system more often) to the main production studio in Nashville, TN. I try to get a short nap before I start my session each day. In a typical week, we record for 4 hours each day Monday through Friday for between 5 and 7 hours on Saturday. Sunday is a day off for all of us.
Voices.com: Which stories are your favorites? Any verses in particular that you enjoy reading aloud?
Bob Souer: Reading the Psalms was a great joy. They lend themselves to being read aloud so very well. Also, some of the familiar passages in Isaiah were very interesting to read in the context of the entire book. In fact, the single most striking thing about taking part in this project is getting an opportunity to experience these familiar stories in the whole context. No matter how familiar an individual story or passage is, it takes on a different flavor when read as part of the whole.
Voices.com: Is there an element of voice acting involved (differentiating individuals in the Bible) or is this project more of a straight narration project?
Bob Souer: We’re not doing “characters” as we read, but as I mentioned in conversation with my friend Dan Nachtrab the other day, the key for me has been to keep in mind that it’s simply telling stories. Even the genealogies are the story of a family, told in a way that sounds strange to our 21st century ears; but still a story.
Voices.com: Which company hired you? Were you given any specific direction from your client as to interpretation?
Bob Souer: The production and editing are all being done at Northstar Studios in Nashville, TN. They have an audio editor and a producer who are overseeing every detail, both of whom are monitoring the script as I read; so very few mistakes slip through. We have pick-up sessions now and then to go back and correct those few places that we didn’t catch as we were recording initially.
Voices.com: How will people be able to purchase / access the recordings and will there be a CD series with all the recordings on them? Have you completed the job as of yet or is there a deadline you have set for yourself?
Bob Souer: This project, as I understand it, is being recorded for distribution as a daily podcast so that at the end of a year, you’ll have listened to the entire Bible. I believe that’s going to take place through the Thomas Nelson website, possibly through iTunes or another distribution site, too but I don’t know the specific details.
Source: VOX Daily Voice Actors Blog
