Mic Technique and Voice-Over Training BY DAVE WINSOR

Mic Technique and Voice-Over Training BY DAVE WINSOR

If you really pay attention to the TV commercials that run in your local market, you’ll be surprised at the range of voice talent employed to sell items. If it’s a commercial for the latest Harry Potter movie, that voice-over (VO) talent is top notch and really SELLS the drama. It’s a well-written commercial with few words, that are all highly targeted. The VOICE is the star. Now listen for a local TV commercial. There is an amazing difference. Why is that?

For one thing, the high-end VO talent trains all the time at his or her craft, working on things most of us would never worry about, like “leaking” or spraying an S or a “plosive” P or D. They obsess about being able to make this phrase: “Irish sheet set” sound believable. Try saying it without making “set” into “shet.”

So, the question for you, if you are pursuing VO work, is how much do you practice?

The national VO talent has a coach and an agent. The coach instructs the talent on what needs to be worked on mechanically, as well as theatrical interpretation. That’s just the beginning. When you become a widely recognized VO talent, the jobs become more lucrative but also harder to get. Someone once told me I’d make an excellent “guy next door” in commercials. That’s not what I WANTED to be, oh no. I wanted to be the guy who says:

“In a world where…[insert whatever phrase describes something REALLY dramatic].”

Don LaFontaine (who died in 2008) was the famous VO artist who created that sensational style, and I wanted to have HIS delivery. I would have been happy to just talk with him and pick his brain. Here’s what he said about how to improve your voice:

“Singing lessons always help. You may never perform in Carnegie Hall, but you will improve your breath control, and expand the range of your vocal delivery. Also, simply using (not abusing) your voice by reading out loud will, over time, improve the quality and strength of your instrument. Do not think that smoking and drinking is going to help you develop a deep, rich tone. Smoking and drinking will help you develop cancer and cirrhosis of the liver.”

I sing to help me understand the range of my voice. I whistle too. I try to hit as many high notes as possible and I really try to hit the lowest note I can and still sound good. What have I learned from doing this? I know where my voice originates from and where I can take it when needed. How about you?

Are you blessed (or cursed) with a really low, deep booming voice? Does your voice start at the back of your throat, or in your head? I have some thoughts on these voices and I’ll share them with you in Vegas. Think about opera singers for a moment. What do they do that’s different from other singers? They move amazing amounts of air, have

perfect pitch, form notes with their mouths. They are powerful and yet when they have to be, they are tender. What can we learn from them?

Read this out loud:

“At the end of a long hard day, you can always count on us to help you relax”.

Keep practicing that. How do you think it sounded in my head when I wrote it? Can you glean anything about my choice of words? What is the delivery that you choose for this? Where is the emphasis? Try to read it with a different emphasis point.

There’s a lot to learn about using your voice properly, for voice-over work and for your regular MC duties. I look forward to speaking with you about the unique wonder that is your one true instrument: your voice. If you’re happy with it, we can find ways to tweak it. If you’re not happy with it, we can create a plan that will help you develop a stronger position. Are you up for it.

Dave Winsor is mobile entertainer and wedding specialist who has also been a radio broadcaster for the past 25 years. He was co-recipient of the Portland Press Herald’s “Maine Radio Personality of The Year” for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. He can be heard every morning, Monday through Saturday, on Maine’s top country music station, 99.9 FM The Wolf (www.999thewolf.com). Dave has also been the in-house announcer for the Hartford Whalers of the NHL and the Portland Pirates of the AHL.

Behind The Scenes BY RANDY BARTLETT

Behind The Scenes BY RANDY BARTLETT

While it may seem that most of what we do as wedding entertainers is quite visible to the guests, if done correctly, most of what we do is, in fact, invisible—behind the scenes.

The results of what we do are very visible, but it’s long been my goal to make everything seem as spontaneous and natural as possible. For example, I rarely ask or tell guests to applaud. Instead, I use inflection and wording, or sometime a simple body language gesture to create applause, because if guests applaud on their own, it seems much more genuine than when the MC says, “How about a nice round of applause for Steve?”

With that goal in mind, there are many parts of the wedding that can be managed behind the scenes so that the proper results are achieved without becoming that cheesy DJ who talks too much. In fact, doing things visibly will often cause you to lose the very effect you were striving to create.

A few years ago, I rode along with a wedding DJ to offer him a critique. At the end of the father-daughter dance, the DJ said, on the microphone, “Awww, now Dad, give your daughter a hug.” And as the father did as instructed, the DJ again said, “Everybody, say ‘awww.’” Well, they did, but I thought it came off as very contrived and cheesy.

Afterwards, the DJ defended his actions, saying that “awww” moment was really cute. I suggested to him that he could create a better moment by setting that up with the dad in advance, behind the scenes. By telling the father of the bride to take his time at the end of the dance, to hug his daughter and tell her how much she means to him, he would create that same moment, but it would be infinitely better, because it would look spontaneous and unscripted. I would also alert the photographer and videographer for this possible moment and then know that it would be different at each event, because the relationship between the bride and her dad would be different each time.

Some dads might hold that hug with tears running down both of their faces while others might do a high five, wiping their brows that they “got through it.” But the moment would be genuine and the guest reactions would be genuine. By setting that up behind the scenes, you’ll get a better reaction, which makes for a better moment and since a wedding is a series of moments, each of which can be impacted by our actions, you end up with a better event, more referrals and, ultimately, a more profitable business.

From the first meeting to the last moments of the reception, I’m constantly working behind the scenes to create incredible moments. Sometimes it’s for something sentimental, sometimes funny, sometimes useful. Sometimes it’s for the couple, sometimes for the guests, sometimes for another vendor.

I call the parents of the bride and groom before each wedding and do some behind the scenes things with them. I talk to vendors, to guests, to the bride and groom, to my staff and sometimes to complete strangers behind the scenes to create spontaneous moments that people will never forget. Whatever the reason, the goal is to have a seamless event that appears to flow effortlessly, without anything being forced.

I recently worked with a videographer who I hadn’t seen in a while, but we’ve worked together many times over the years and he said, “I always thought it was interesting how you somehow manage to always get the best crowds, but I’m beginning to think that’s not just random luck.” Indeed.

At my Behind the Scenes seminar at Mobile Beat Las Vegas in 2011, we’ll look at several ways to work Behind The Scenes to create incredible results that will enable you to make your very next event the best work you’ve ever done!

Randy Bartlett is the founder and President of Premier Entertainment, Inc. One of the most sought after DJ coaches in the country, he is well-known for his 1% Solution Series of DJ training videos and workshops, in which he shares the simple, key concept that very small, easy-to-implement changes will result in vastly improved performance.

A Visual Taste of the Mobile Beat Pioneer ProDJ Tour

Lessons Learned from the first leg of the Mobile Beat Seminar Tour

Dave & Buster’s hosting Mobile Beat Tour, Coast-to-Coast

Going to Mobile Beat Las Vegas? Make a plan!

Recently, I presented at, and attended, The Special Event Show 2009 in San Diego. In about 10 days, the Mobile Beat Show will be here, in Las Vegas. For Mobile Beat Las Vegas, I’ll be speaking at three sessions, and also once at a pre-show meeting. The challenge is to be everywhere, without having a clone.

To get the best result, you need to have a plan, AND allow for spontaneity.

Recognize that most conference have multiple components that have different dynamics.

• Keynote & General Sessions – Presentation to the entire conference.
• Seminars - Breakouts – Usually several, smaller, concurrent presentations with more specialized content.
• Tradeshow - Industry providers selling their products and services.
• Bookstore – Selling industry publications, books, CD’s, DVDs (often including presenters from the show).
• Meal functions – Sit down meals, often combined with a general session.
• Planned Social Events - Either on or off-premise, as part of the conference. Sometimes a separate fee is required.
• Sponsor Social Events - Often, a tradeshow participant will have their own hospitality suite or separately hosted party.

Do your advance work! Scrutinize the conference schedule and zero in on sessions that interest you. Research the speaker’s background and try to validate their expertise. Do not make session decisions on-the-fly. You increase your rate of disappointment.

Within the program or the conference roster (if offered) reconnect with people you know, or seek those would like to meet. If you’d like to spend time with a particular speaker or attendee, find their blog or website, and be in touch, in advance. If they use social networking, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter, be in touch with them.

People on Twitter often have spontaneous ‘meet-ups’ at a conference, after a presentation, or just on the fly. Follow those people on Twitter and you’ll be informed,  instantly.

Plan ahead, be organized, leave free time, seek out knowledge and spontaneous opportunity.

Hope to see you at Mobile Beat Las Vegas, or another industry conference during the year.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Authority

Hope, Optimism and Wedding Marketing

This evening, I will be presenting a seminar titled: Fast Track Your Marketing in the Current Economy.

Members and guests of Silicon Valley NACE will attend, looking for answers, and strategies for success, in what promises to be a most challenging year.

This morning, newly elected President, Barack Obama, set the tone for all Americans. That tone is filled with hope and optimism. He also has been doing his best to shape realistic expectations.

Renewed times of prosperity will not magically appear. They will re-emerge, based on the smart thinking and hard work of each one of us.

Hope and optimism are important. The grease-the-wheels of hard work.

But I ask you to think of this day, this year, this time, as you did when you started your business or began a new job. As difficult as things may be, bring back that same enthusiasm, vigor, and hustle to prosper once again.

Not just survive, but flourish. If each of us does that, how can we do anything but find renewed success.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Blog

Mobile DJ to Club DJ

So you have your gear all set up and your ready to play, this time for a Bride and Groom, next time a corporate retirement party.  You’ve got your music and lights and a plan.  The entire event rests on your shoulders because your a DJ, your the DJ.  Now what if your Bride and Groom or retiree was at a Club and just hanging out looking to dance and have fun; is this really any different than your weddings and parties?  Being a mobile DJ allows you the luxury of having crowds of strangers, all with the same goal, have a good time due to your ability.  Welcome to a mobile DJ that can easily work in a Club.

This blog is to open the eyes of mobile DJs to trying and ultimately working in Clubs.  With the new economic challenges that we must face in the mobile market, the Club world opens up as another source of revenue.  Yes the tough times will affect the Clubs, so having DJs who can read the crowd and deliver a great performance will be a huge asset to the owners.  The gigs that we do on a weekly basis require more preparing and time than any Club event, so we are already in a position to succeed in that environment.

I will be discussing the old and new music that gets played in the clubs.  The mix skills that will come into play, and the gear used.  All the various things needed to be a Club DJ coming from a mobile background.  We read the crowd and make the night fun through our track selection; that’s exactly what a Club DJ does.  I will also be interviewing club DJs who have done mobile gigs and asking what differences they have seen and encountered.  I want you to be open to making more money based on your talent and love of being a mobile DJ; it is that simple.

djjay

Investing 30 hours of time in 2 hours of networking

Thirty hours of time, for two hours of networking probably seems out of proportion to the untrained eye. Not to my eyes.

It’s Tuesday, and I’m driving to the Fairmont Hotel in Santa Monica, CA to attend the second of two launch parties in Southern California, hosted by WIPA (Wedding Industry Professionals Association). Monday’s event was at the Sheraton, San Diego.

If you haven’t heard about WIPA, you should read my post from last week.

Here’s the thing. The main focus of my business is weddings. Wedding marketing, precisely. The notion of a true nationwide association is important to the industry, and important to my business.

For me, joining is a no-brainer. Sending in a check is easy. I want to kick the tires. Meet the leaders. Feel the tone of the organization. Hear where it’s headed.

In the world of Amazon.com and YouTube, there is nothing quite like shaking hands, looking people in the eye, and listening to what they say. I feel strongly about that, so I’ll be driving to Santa Monica, attending the gathering, and hanging out, afterward.

Driving back to Las Vegas, Wednesday, is important, too. Because Wednesday night will be the Awards and Board Installation for the Las Vegas Chapter of NACE. If one were to attend only one NACE meeting, the entire year, this would be the one.

Online social networking has its place. Being face-to-face is even more important. And I’m in this industry for the long haul. What about you?

I’ll report to you about WIPA, in the next couple of days.

Stay tuned!

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Blog

WIPA First Non-Profit Trade Association Launched for US Wedding Industry

There are many wedding organizations offering networking meetings, conferences, education, networking, and/or certification throughout the United States: ACPWC, AFWPI, June Wedding, Inc., Weddings Beautiful, and ABC to name just a handful.

While all these organizations serve their members, to varying degrees, none of them are actually a non-profit trade association (also known as a Business League).

What’s the difference you ask? A non-profit trade association, such as ISES or NACE, and now, WIPA, is owned by its members. It is not operated by an individual or partnership who own the organization, in perpetuity.

The average member of any of organization, national or local, may not care whether the belong to a non-profit trade association; however, it is more than a technicality. It’s a way of doing business.

Further, there is dominant wedding association, nationally. There a variety of certifications, which have their own value, but there is not uniformity among them.

WIPA is the first national non-profit (501c6) trade association created specifically for providers of wedding products and services.

The purpose of WIPA is to educate the public about the value of employing qualified wedding specialists, to set and monitor performance standards for its members, and to provide members with opportunities to enhance their professional growth.

Pioneered by 36 leading authorities in the wedding business, WIPA was introduced to a select group of bridal specialists recently at The Vintage Estate in Napa Valley, California, on October 1st, and at the headquarters of Wildflower Linen in Southern California on October 7th.

WIPA’s Founding Sponsors and Members read like a Who’s Who list in the wedding industry – Auberge du Soleil, Denon & Doyle Entertainment, Good Gracious! Events, Paula LeDuc Fine Catering, Penton Media (publishers of Special Events magazine) The Carneros Inn, and many other premiere providers.

“We recognized the need for higher level education and professional development opportunities for those employed in the wedding industry,” explains WIPA’s first President, Joyce Scardina Becker, an international award-winning wedding planner and author.  “Our industry has just risen to professional status over the past 20 years, and many unskilled planners and suppliers have been starting new wedding careers at a rapid pace.  There’s an overdue need for a strong code of ethics, and WIPA will set the standards of performance for the wedding industry.  The expert members in WIPA are demanding it.”

As a non-profit association, WIPA is run by its members, who understand what it takes to produce a wedding. WIPA brings together professionals from all wedding disciplines, including cake designers, caterers, entertainment companies, florists, hoteliers, journalists, photographers, rental companies, videographers, wedding planners and many more.

This solid peer network helps WIPA’s professionals produce outstanding results for brides and grooms.  Other national membership service organizations exist in the wedding industry, but they are for-profit entities, in business to generate a monetary return on investment for their owners.  WIPA has been established to satisfy needs that are unmet by the for-profit wedding groups, primarily through superior education, mentoring, certification, career advancement and business support.

WIPA is moving to the forefront of wedding industry education at The Special Event 2009 Conference, which will take place at the San Diego Convention Center on January 27-30, 2009.  At this annual conference that attracts 6,000 event industry professionals from around the world, WIPA members will present six educational seminars on important wedding-related topics.  For more information about The Special Event 2009, visit its website.

The long term plan for WIPA includes local chapters and its own national conference.

Next week, as part of its rollout, WIPA will be hosting launch events on Monday, November 17th, and Tuesday, November 18th, in San Diego and Santa Monica, respectively. These launch events are designed to share information about the benefits of joining this new association.

Monday, November 17th
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina
1380 Harbor Island Drive
San Diego, CA 92101

To RSVP for the San Diego event, please email: jessica@eventsbydesign.com

Tuesday, November 18th
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Fairmont Mirarmar Hotel & Bungalows
101 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90401

To RSVP for the San Diego event, please email: paula@weddingsbyct.com

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SPECIAL COMMENT: This is ground breaking news. The launch and success of WIPA can be an excellent enhancement to the United States wedding industry. It’s important to find out about, attend launch events, join, and be involved. In this way, wedding professionals can earn both the knowledge and credentials to serve their clients and peers with utmost integrity and ability.

Your reaction, comments, thoughts, and questions are especially welcomed on this news.

Andy Ebon
The Wedding Marketing Blog

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