A Rose by Any Other Name

I love to travel. Honest, I get what I call "The Dread Truckin' Disease" about every six months and just have to hit the road for a few days. Recently I took off for Eastern Iowa and on into Illinois. (Galena to be exact.) On our way through East Dubuque, Iowa, I couldn't help but notice when we passed by "Family Beer and Liquor". In the off chance that you're one of those "skimmers", I'm just going to sit here and let that one sink in for a moment.

Hmmmm. Family Beer and Liquor. "Come on on dear, grab Susie and Joey and let's head for Family Beer and Liquor". And how about those commercials?

Script:
Dad- When our little 8 year old Susie discovered Tequilla, her Mom and I were thrilled.
Mom- And when we discovered Family Beer and Liquor has a huge selection of Tequilla,
we were amazed.
Dad- You see, Family Beer and Liquor is the one Beer and Liquor Store in East Dubuque
that caters exclusively to families.
Mom- So whether it's a box of wine for Joey...
Dad- Or little Susie's tequilla...
Mom- Even Grandma's MD20/20...
Dad- Family Beer and Liquor is your families liquor superstore.

Anncr: And right now Family Beer and Liquor is featuring specials on Blatz 24 packs.

Dad- What with friendly helpful service and plenty of free parking....
Mom- And now with a play area near the children's section....
Dad- Why would you buy anywhere else?

Anncr: Family Beer and Liquor, conveniently located near Bob's Guns, Ammo and Fine Jewelry
on 103rd Street in East Dubuque.

By the way, there really is a Bob's Guns, Ammo and Fine Jewelry. It's in Missouri on our way to the Ozarks. I'm thinking we can get that account too.

Thanks for reading and we'll leave the mic on for ya.

So, You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star...err uhh..Voice Talent

Everyday we hear from folks that have been told they have a wonderful voice. And many of them do. But being a voice talent, or voice actor as many prefer, is much more than just having a wonderful voice. The real talent is in interpreting a script. Taking words on paper and making it sound like you believe each and every one of them. So, can you do it?

Do you love to hear yourself talk? More importantly, do others love to hear you talk? Are you in command of the English language? Do you enjoy reading aloud to others? Then maybe you have what it takes. And maybe you don’t. Not everyone is cut out to be a voice talent. Not everyone is cut out to be a doctor or a plumber or a mechanic. I have a relative that has a wonderful voice. He’s the one people turn to when they need an announcer for sporting events or special occasions. I just knew that he’d be a perfect addition to our roster of talents. But when I got him in the studio, he just sounded stiff. He really didn’t have the ability to sight read a script and make it sound believable. Sure I was disappointed. But he’s still one my biggest heroes.

So, let’s assume for the moment that voice acting is something that you’d love to do. Here’s what you do. Go out and buy yourself one of these digital hand-held recorders. You can usually find them at a Radio Shack or Best Buy for around $20.00. Then grab some magazines and starting looking for advertisements with a lot of copy. Start reading the ads aloud and recording them. How do you sound? Are you ready for the bigs, or do you still need some work? Do you think you can do it on your own, or do you need help?

It’s a great place to start and if you really enjoy it, you’ll keep at it and get better and better. When you think you’re ready, give us a call and we’ll do our best to give you an honest appraisal. We’ll just have you read a little of the copy you’ve been practicing with and tell you what we think. If we think it’s warranted, we may have you come in to produce a voice demo of your very own, or we may direct you to one of our classes, or we may recommend you become a doctor or plumber or mechanic. Every profession carries a great deal of pride and chances are you’ll find the one that fits your dreams.

In coming blogs, I’ll do my best to give you pointers in how to communicate better with diction, with clarity and with correct grammar. It’ll be fun, you’ll see. In the meantime, thanks for reading and we’ll leave the mic on for ya.