Now What

Is it possible that I've completely overlooked a new way of advertising my services as a voice talent. Twitter is a passing fancy that I found to be a complete time waster but very addicting. Now there's boobtek a sexy way of promoting your erotic fantasy, but can I use that to microblog my voice over services? I'm seriously considering trying it. There's got to be more ways to market my self in a viral setting.

On another note, finding an agent in markets other than the one I live in (because they either don't want to rep me or I have B.O., the latter of which is moot because I shower daily) is proving to be a challenge. I've found some outlets and networking possibilities with other VO Pros who've helped a bunch.

The biggest obstacles I've found is that because I'm non-union, a lot of agencies don't want to talk to me or rep me and the only reason I can fathom is that it's because they don't get the big buck union scale when I get a gig. C'mon people give a hard working guy a break, I'm just trying to make a buck or two.

I lost an old friend

This past Friday an old friend of 33 years, he died from a disease known as market slumpoctomy, after so many books and trends failed to keep him alive, they gracefully put the Hippo to sleep with "In the Dark" and like a Phoenix was reborn into The Boulevard, Kansas City's Quality Rock.. playing everything the other rock stations in the market won't. It was really hard to see people I've known, worked with and loved be told to pack their little boxes up and leave, Bryan couldn't refrain from displaying and communicating his disdain for the abruptness of his termination.

That's the nature of this beast called Radio, you can be terminated in a nanosecond for the simple reason, "You're numbers weren't good enough". Ironically, numbers is what the suits in the game are counting on to resurrect a dying format. Classic Rock, is well,, Quality Rock, as we get older (and I'm talking about my generation; 40-49) we've come to realize that we can only hear Free Bird and Back in Black so many times before we tire of it.

I welcomed the new station with open arms, as I have learned to adapt to change, embrace it, and learn from it. It's the only way I know how to survive in this game. It reminds me of a commercial on the TV right now, A Chevy advertisement I think, where they're playing Worlds of Warcraft, and one of the online players uses the vehicle as a weapon that slays the dragon.

How do I slay my own dragons is something I must continually pursue with all the weapons at my fingertips, computers, software, the Internet, everything and all at once.

Resolutions for 08'

Although I normally don't make any resolutions because I almost never follow through with them, this year is going to be a little different. I have a child on the way and that means I'll need to make more money, and to make more money, I'll need more voice over gigs and a raise from my regular job as production and imaging director of two large market radio stations. How am I going to do that?. Good question!

I have to find marketing avenues that are first and foremost cheap. I have to network more with current clients that I serve. I have to make myself more visible to potential clients in all areas of my daily routines, that means when I go to the QT for a coffee, I ask the manager who to talk to at corporate. You get the idea.

So why haven't I done these things in the past? another good question, laziness I suppose, or the fact I'm already working 2 jobs and rarely get to bed before midnight. My home studio is being reworked due to the baby being on the way, which means I can only work from my employers studio's on my time not theirs.

I'm not trying to make excuses, I'm just trying to motivate myself into being more pro-active in my freelance endeavors. You should too. I found some great forums to lurk in and offer advice when I can.
http://www.voice-overs.com/forums
http://www.voiceoversavvy.com
and http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Voiceovers/

You'll have to join them all but it's well worth it. You'll learn something, and perhaps be able to teach someone yourself

Here's to a prosperous 2008!

Now that everyone now knows, I thought I'd share it with the world, This was originally to be sent in a card to all my family members as their Christmas Gift from my wife and I, but we didn't quite get that done and it was all done either in person here in KC or by phone to my immediate family members. This is the greatest gift ever to given to Kiki and I and we look forward to August 18th, 2008 when we'll welcome a new addition to the Larson home.
Happy New Year,

What a Christmas!

I'm going to be a father!. I'll post a pic later of the test, and my wife and I couldn't be more excited as it's been a 10 year struggle with infertility that the miracles of medicine and faith in the Creator of Life, our Lord Jesus Christ has bestowed this blessing upon us. The most exciting part of it really, was telling our relatives, brothers, sisters, Grandparents and friends. It is the very best Christmas present I have ever received or probably will ever recieve. Happy Holidays to one and all.

The Christmas Blog

As I wind down 2007 it has been a difficult year for both my freelance business and my personal life, but there is good news. If you look back at my first post in Life 101, I explained that my wife Christen and I were trying to conceive a child... I'll let you know the results on Christmas Day when we take the test again.

In January of this year, I resolved to find better paying freelance voice over jobs, pay off some debt, and continue to not to smoke cigarettes. Well.. at least I don't smoke anymore. Christmas will mean more to me this year than any other for a lot of reasons, I have a home, I have a job, I have family and I live in the greatest country in the world. Life 101 is getting better and better. In 2008 I resolve to once again try and market myself and my services better, I'll be a better Christian, I will do my level best to provide for my family and I'll do everything I can to make this world a better place for you and I. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Voice of the Holidays

It's that time of the year, the hustle and bustle of the rude, the obnoxious, yes, the holiday shopper. Voice work is at a premium here, everyone wants to advertise their wares and most want to do it without sounding "Christmasy"( is that even a word?). A lot of potential advertisers are writing their own scripts, badly of course and they want you to sell their product in the most conversational way possible. But here's the caveat; the commercial copy is written in bullet points and you are to "ad-lib" the delivery.

Tough call, do you turn it down and risk losing a potential client forever, or do you try and read through it a couple of times to get the feel of the copy and then try to have a conversation with your imaginary muse. Hmmm, the latter would probably drive you crazy with multiple takes but... just imagine how imaginative you can become when you get to improvise and "sell" the product.

Here's an easy way to get into that mode of delivery. If you have children, make up stories and use that to "ad-lib" your way through it, if you don't try volunteering at the local library or you can talk to yourself, (at the risk of people looking at you weird) .

I have found that on more than one occasion, telling a story to a 4 year old is great practice, it's fun and you'll find yourself able to converse in an ad-lib type format for just about any product. Now, as far as the copy is concerned, well, you'll just have to live with that one.