The Lowry Agency welcomes former NFL football player Levar Fisher to it’s talent roster as a speaker and media personality! Welcome Levar! We look forward to doing great things with you!
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Branding – Have You Thought of Everything?
Branding – Have You Thought of Everything?
A couple weeks back I called a voice over artist that was approaching our agency as representation for them. I called the number provided and got a cell phone with a plain as day message saying “You have reached {insert first name here}, I am not around, but leave a message and I’ll get back to you!” It was a very casual message with very bad audio left on the business phone of a voice over artist. This is a perfect example of not taking an inventory of all the opportunities to showcase yourself and your abilities. It is always amazing to me to see the opportunities we miss and sometimes the most obvious things that get by us! Who would think a voice over artist didn’t think of doing a voice over for their own business phone, which in many cases is the first thing a prospective client hears. This happens all the time in some way shape or form. I know I have certainly been guilty of missing something.
Everything, and I mean everything is a billboard for your professionalism and competence in your craft. Every business/entertainer needs to take an inventory of everything they have put out to represent themselves and every possible opportunity to show their professionalism and capabilities. Make sure you take the time and really evaluate where you are at and where you need to go and set the marketing/branding plan to get there. Leave no stone unturned.
Once you have done this, take the time to go through and enhance, correct or plan what needs to be done in the future. Make sure that you are showcasing yourself in the best light possible. Does your branding campaign hurt your or help you? Success takes time and a lot of effort. If you want to be successful, be diligent, detailed and surround yourself with a team of experts that can help you build your brand and help you make sure you didn’t miss anything.
Good Luck!
A “Special Edition” with Sass Jordan on “Live From Music City”
Sass Jordan made a special appearance on “Live From Music City” on April 4th, 2010. Check it out here if you missed it! www.blogtalkradio.com/live-from-music-city
Richie Kotzen Live Concert Shoot
The Lowry Agency will shoot a video production of Richie Kotzen’s concert at The Mercy Lounge in Nashville, TN on May 16th.
When Do You Need a Voice Over?
When Do You Need a Voice Over?
Guest blog by The Lowry Agency voice talent Dave Courvoisier
My barber gets it.
My barber… a small businessman…an entrepreneur, a guy who runs a tight ship when it comes to comes to finances. He understands running a quality operation, and putting forth a successful brand at all levels, means professionalism at all levels. That’s why, with scissors and comb in hand, me sitting in his chair, he asks, “would you be willing to voice my phone answering system?”
I was willing to do that and we even worked out a barter for the transaction.
I’m regularly shocked at some of the presentations I see explaining the virtues of almost anything — new software and hardware, videos on sales proposals, presentations on the advantages of social networking, informational YouTube videos — and how they can appear so bush league because they chose to use the voice of someone — anyone — rather than spending a few dollars more to hire a professional voice talent.
Much like you would spend a lot of money to do a professional-looking graphics representation of your product or to set up an elaborate website for your services, you should also think about hiring a professional voice talent to complete the package.
I challenge you to think of any business or industry… any marketing or branding campaign… any website, that wouldn’t benefit from the services of a professional voice actor to polish up the presentation.
The following is a list of genres that regularly fall into the realm of voice acting jobs almost any voice actor would love to get. No specific order of importance:
Radio and TV spots (yes, many of us do on-cam too!)
website welcome messages
instructional videos
How-To videos
product demonstrations
phone menu-on-hold messages
client/customer role-playing
Power Point presentations
employee manual narrations
website sales pitches
white-paper narrations
informational documentaries
online catalog descriptions
movie theatre listings
restaurant menus (online or on the phone)
iPhone apps
Camtasia screen captures
software explainers
automated help menu systems
political phone messages
appliance installation DVD’s
self-help videos
videogames
inspirational readings
exercise videos
audio-books
store overhead announcements
radio promotional campaigns
public service announcements for charitable organizations
assembly instructions for military hardware
Homeland security training lessons
slide shows
employee safety videos
human resources explainers
Christmas party spoof tapes
animated-graphics productions
convention exhibit-booth looping displays
Video memoirs for funerals
Gala fund-raiser videos honoring the awardee
Entryway messages at conventions and conferences
website animations
Do I need to say more?
The applications of a trained human voice are only limited by your imagination. I’ve even seen voice actors lend their services to party audio that plays in a limousine while it carts a birthday-girl around town with friends.
Voice-actors love the challenge. They like to be treated as serious professionals as much as you do. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t willing to get into the spirit of whatever project you have in mind. I once narrated a 5-minute eulogy for a friend at his father’s funeral, ‘cause he knew he couldn’t get through it himself.
The next time you want to demonstrate the latest fishing lure guaranteed to catch large-mouth bass at Lake Wappapello, consider how much more effective it would be with the capabilities of a professional explainer: a voice-actor.
Too embarrassed to deliver the litany of accomplishments your sales team made during a recession? The trained human voice is a powerful, compelling instrument…use it.
Writing a Cover Letter and Submitting a Press Kit
Writing a Cover Letter and Submitting a Press Kit
Before you write a cover letter to someone in the entertainment industry, please make sure you research the company to learn all you can. This will give you a solid understanding of what they do. The information will help you decide whether or not you actually need the services they offer. Your letter should explain why you would be a good fit for their company. In previous blogs I have written, I have given details in which an artist can determine if they would need management at the particular point they are at in their career. An artist should try to figure out through research and phone calls if they are truly ready, or in need of the types of services they are inquiring about.
When writing a cover letter to someone in the entertainment industry, you must first understand a few things about what you bring to the table for them to consider you. The idea behind the cover letter and press kit you are submitting is to make it as easy as possible for them to review the information about you or your band and to give them the “WOW” factor. If they have to dig around to find information and if your press kit isn’t attention grabbing and compelling, then they are more likely to pass on it and throw it away.
Your cover letter should be professional and list your strengths. Ask yourself a few questions: Why do you think you are ready for their services? What is it about you that is unique? What do YOU have to offer that would make you be worth the investment of time, energy and hard work? Be truthful and positive about what you bring to the table. The artists represented by the company are a direct reflection on that company, so they want to make sure the artists they work with are professional and understand the business part of the entertainment industry. Make your letter short, to the point and friendly. Talk about your experience, fan base, reviews, touring experience and number of upcoming shows. Go through your material with a fine-tooth comb and be as accurate and professional as possible.
Image is everything and that goes for your press kit! So make sure it’s professional, complete with a professional CD, photos, one-page bio and other materials listed in my blog titled “The Promotional Kit” http://wp.me/pu8Se-v
Good luck on achieving your dream!
“Special Edition” of “Live From Music City” with Richie Kotzen
A “Special Edition” of LIVE FROM MUSIC CITY features singer/songwriter and guitar virtuoso Richie Kotzen aired on May 6th, 2010! Tune into www.blogtalkradio.com/live-from-music-city if you missed it!
Big Blend Radio Interview!
Hear The Lowry Agency Big Blend Radio interview here! http://www.blogtalkradio.com/big-blend-radio/2010/04/13/rants-raves-rock-n-roll
Getting Started in Voice Overs
Getting Started in Voice Overs
Guest blog by The Lowry Agency voice talent Dave Courvoisier
At least once a week I get an e-mail or phone call from a total stranger…but someone who is no stranger to a similar feeling I had almost five years ago…the feeling that making oodles of money in Voice-Over work was gonna be a cinch…practically effortless.
I’m not exactly sure where or how they find me, but their query is getting predictable:
“Hi, I’m Bill, and all my life people have told me I have an incredible voice. Right now I’m a __________ (mechanic, accountant, DJ), but I want to do voice-over work. I ran across your name, and was wondering if you could help me?”
‘Been there, done that…however paying it forward has its merits, and many have mentored me along the way, so I believe it’s my responsibility to offer that helping hand, too.
Hence, the following is straight talk for “great voices” hoping to get into the business of voice-acting:
1) A good voice is not good enough. It’s not even a basic criteria anymore.
2) Can you read out loud, and make it sound like you’re just talking to someone — and say it in 20 different ways?…10
different dialects?…and PERFORM at the drop of a hat?
3) This is a business. You need a business plan, investment capital, passion, and stick-to-itiveness.
4) Voice-acting is 9 parts marketing, 1 part voice-talent (well maybe 80/20…but not a percentage point more!)
5) You need better-than-passable computer hardware/software/networking skills, and a fast internet connection.
6) Are you willing to accept criticism, swallow reality, and keep coming back?
7) How well do you handle rejection?…even when you know you’re better than your competition?
8) Eventually, you may have to invest $3,000 – $5,000 just for passable start-up equipment and marketing materials.
9) You’ll need to be your own accountant, PR person, web-author, and self-promotions guru.
10) Get ready to go back to school. Voice-Over 101. Coaching and education is an on-going necessity.
11) Accept that growing opportunities are counter-balanced by declining compensations, and increasing competition.
12) How enterprising are you? Work well alone?….for weeks on end?…with no one but yourself for encouragement?
13) Is your spouse/significant other/POSSLQ* on board with this?….we’re in for a long haul!
14) This is a huge, varied industry, what segment do you want to target? AudioBooks? TV Imaging? E-Learning?
15) You have to like more than the sound of your own voice…you have to like the feel of headphones on your
noggin….A LOT!
Now, far be it from me to discourage anyone’s dreams. However, I have found no quick way to answer the question of what it’ll take to get into voice-overs. Meaning the answer itself is getting fairly involved AND time-consuming.
My latest tack is to just ask for the neophyte’s e-mail address and bury them in resources so deep it takes weeks to get through it all. Then, if they come back, I’ve got at least a qualified candidate to talk to.
Hence, the following list is my preferred set of links to voice-over nirvana for n00bs.
http://www.voiceoveruniverse.com
http://www.audioconnell.com & http://www.peterdrewvo.com
http://www.voiceoverextra.com
http://voiceoverresourceguide.com
http://www.voicebank.net
Voice talent Bob Souer publishes everybody’s favorite VO blog:
http://www.bobsouer.com/blog
You’ll also find an occasional flash of brilliance-wanna-be on my daily blog: “Voice-Acting in Vegas”
http://CourVO.biz
And, another close friend of mine (Bobbin Beam) who also blogs, wrote
her own version of advice for starters which is excellent:
http://blog.bobbinbeam.com/2007/08/30/advice-for-voiceover-hopefuls.aspx
http://blog.bobbinbeam.com/2007/08/30/advice-for-voice-over-hopefuls-part-ii.aspx
http://blog.bobbinbeam.com/2007/08/30/advice-for-voiceover-hopefuls-part-iii.aspx
http://blog.bobbinbeam.com/2007/04/02/just-beginning.aspx
John Florian of VoiceOverXtra sends THIS link to his site esp. for beginners:
http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/newcomers.htm
Also, there’s a thread on this very topic on the VO-BB which is one of the resources noted above. But the specific link to the newbie thread is here:
http://www.vo-bb.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6908&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
FROM DAVID HOUSTON: EXCELLENT ARTICLE:
http://davidhoustonvoice.com/blog1/2006/08/getting_started_my_take.html
From WAYNE JUNE: Another top-notch resource in this area:
http://www.waynejune.com/where_to_start.html]
The Importance of Branding Yourself Properly as an Entertainer
The Importance of Branding Yourself Properly as an Entertainer
This morning I had the pleasure of having a pleasant initial phone conversation with an author and public speaker. This particular conversation inspired me to write a blog on a very important subject: Branding Yourself. One of the benefits of being artistic is that you can promote yourself using your own unique creativity. However, without proper structure, sometimes the creativity you use can also limit the effectiveness of your own branding.
Social media has given us the opportunity to reach out farther than we ever have before. This is a great thing It’s also a bad thing if not done right. The artist has such a heavy desire to get their career moving that it often causes the artist to rush through creating a solid plan, which can mean costly mistakes. Haste really does make waste. In general, artists also tend to take advice from people who really aren’t experts in the field they need, but may have had more success than we they have, and so out of respect the artist will listen to them and try to emulate them. This could be a devastating move to a career.
In order to maximize a career opportunities, the artist should always strive to build a solid team around them who is driven and knowledgeable in whatever area they specialize in. The artist should make it a priority to brand themselves as best as they can until they are able to build that solid team of professionals around them. Branding is something that involves creativity, consistency and most important, discipline.
When building a brand it is critical that the artist has a game plan to market the brand. Make sure the image is completely in tact, and by image I mean making sure the photos are professional, the logo communicates your brand effectively, the website and social networking pages are all consistent in imagery, message and so on. Don’t confuse the brand with things that don’t showcase who the artist truly is what is unique to them. The artist is the focal point and product. People purchase what they like and understand. Anything else is a waste of time and effort and ultimately leads to nowhere. Artist websites should be a giant advertisement of the artist and not of anything else. Artists need to learn how to position themselves in a way that leads to people noticing them. The “buzz” is what the artists should be looking for, and that doesn’t happen with ill prepared branding.
In short, take time to develop a brand that IS you, be strategic in the planning of launching and marketing it, and above all else, be disciplined and diligent in executing it and maintaining it!