Category Archives: Marketing

Check Out the New VoiceOver Insider

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So after a few months hiatus, veteran voice actress Julie Williams has re-launched her venerable newsletter “VoiceOver Insider” in the form of an on-line news magazine.

In it’s former life, you would sign up for her mailing list, and it would be emailed to you in the PDF format once a month. Lots of work, and things could become dated pretty fast.

This new format allows Julie and her editor Gary McFadden to keep the content fresh and since it is built on the WordPress platform, you can comment on some of the articles.

There’s a little something for everyone, whether you are a newbie, or like some of us who started in the reel-to reel days.You know who you are.

There is the “Newbies Corner” with articles written by seasoned pros and a “technical” category for us gadget geeks. There’s a good discussion of how to get studio condenser mic audio into your iPad for auditioning on the go.

Other categories include the all important VO Training and VO Business, but nothing about Feeding Monkeys.

So hats off to Julie and Gary and their guest authors. Well done. I think you too should check it out. Or go read it.

Narrating for Neiman Marcus

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Here is a short documentary I narrated for director Margo Weathers on behalf of Neiman Marcus. We recorded at Maximedia in Dallas.

Representing the fashion world,  Margo was very nicely dressed at the session, workaday chic, as you see in a couple of shots of her in the film.

Representing the voice-over world,  I was dressed more like a hobo.

Phat Albert – Documentary about Photographer Albert Watson from Chris Rupert on Vimeo.

The 15 minute full length documentary of Master Photographer, Albert Watson shooting the legendary Neiman Marcus Fall 2010 ‘Art of Fashion’ campaign. The piece is the first ever presentation of Watson on set – with exclusive interviews and insight to all that goes into creating this iconic campaign.

15 Min Version with in-depth interviews of Albert Watson.

Directed by: Margo Weathers
Filmed & Edited by: Chris Rupert
Production by: Stacy Volgwell

See end credits for complete list.

Marketing Your Voice Over Business

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Jay Levinson, father of Guerrilla Marketing,  emails with some good points the voice actor should always be mindful of:

Marketing is the art of getting people to change their minds – or maintain their mindset if they’re inclined to do business with you already. They either must switch brands or purchase a type of product or service that has never existed before.   That’s asking a lot of them.   Every little thing you do and show and say – not just your advertising or your website – is going to affect people’s perceptions of you.

In other words, in addition to your performance, how you behave and what you say at a session says a lot about you. And remember, you are the product and the brand of your business.

Goodbye Mr. “Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!”

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It was (is) a read stitched into the fabric of America’s culture by Jan C. Gabriel of Chicago. Few of us knew his name, but most of us know the sound, the quintessential hard sell, in this case for drag strip racing that happened when? On “Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!”

You’ll find a video story of his life here told by Chicago’s Bob Sirott.  At the end of the video Jan has a bit of useful advice. No matter what job you have on the stage of  life, always do it like “you’re on.”

Don’t miss the irony that Mr. Gabriel died last… Sunday.

Voice Actors Set Goals for Twenty-Ten

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Prolific blogger and nice guy Bob Sour has a link on his blog that sends you to Voice Over Xtra where a gaggle of voice actors have listed their resolutions for next year.

The goals expressed are a good reminder of what we all should be doing to further our careers, and for me a list of my many deficiencies.  I consider it a good V/O day when I don’t walk in front of an on-coming bus.

Picture This. Or Not.

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There has been a debate over on the Yahoo! Voice-over forum on whether or not the voice actor should include a headshot with or on the demo packaging or other voiceover marketing materials.

Let’s be clear. Most actors have headshots and video demos for their on-camera careers.  The question at hand is about including a photo with your voice-over demo or your on-line profile.

My opinion? Only if your voice and your face are a most excellent match.  If you look the way you sound.  And local actors come to mind that illustrate the point. The late Harlan Jordan and John B. Wells.

Harlan was known for his “country boy” sound. The first time I met him was in a session where I played a banker and Harlan read the rancher role for a radio spot.  He was running late and the rest of us were hanging around the studio making small talk while we waited.

Finally the door flies open and in walks a big ‘ole boy who looked like he’d ridden to the studio in the back of a hay truck. He had on dusty overalls and a big straw hat.  Harlan stepped up to the mic with a voice and a read that sounded like Larry the Cable Guy’s dad.  A most excellent match.

On the other hand, we have John B. Wells. Those of you who know his work would agree that “deep” doesn’t begin to describe his voice. It’s about as low has a human voice can go and still be audible. It’s in the same category as the late Don La Fontaine, the kind of voice that can blister paint.

But John is relatively young and sports a handsome yet boyish face.  One of his former agents told me he studied theater in college and really wanted to have a film career.  However, he was told over and over again at film auditions that his voice just overpowered his “look” and to come back in , oh,  20 or 30 years, when he resembled the Sam Shepherd he sounded like.  Not a match.

So if you really really look like your voice (Harlan), then maybe include a photo. Otherwise don’t.