BackStage with my Neumann TLM 103

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In this video I take you behind the scenes in my voice over studio and show you some of the fun toys. The Neumann TLM 103 is my microphone!

The TLM 103 is one of the biggest successes in Neumann’s history. Its pristine, clear sound is a modern update on the classic U87…which is longer and heavier and well, who needs it!

Also the 103 is 1/2 the price so…it was perfect for a cheapo like me who wants to save a penny but sound damn good too!

It comes in a nickel finish, weighs in at one pound and is delivered in this beautiful wooden box that for some reason I keep my guitar picks in.

The TLM stands for “transformer less mic”…it’s a cardioid condenser microphone with a gentle presence boost for a stunningly direct sound with breathtaking definition and ultra low noise…and it’s the kind Howard Stern uses!

Just look at the lines of the grill. It’s so sexy so sleek! And makes my voice sound exactly the same way!

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How To Craft a Great Elevator Pitch

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The elevator pitch may be less than 30 seconds long…but its impact should not be underestimated.

BusinessNewsDaily.com has some tips on how to make a great first impression with yours.

Before you start writing your elevator pitch…you must first know exactly what you’re selling. Become an expert on the product, know who would benefit from it, and be able to paint a big picture to show value.

A good elevator pitch should include your name, title, company, what you sell, who you sell to, your unique selling proposition and a call to action.

Before you start delivering your elevator pitch, first make sure it’s around 30 seconds long. Practice it in front of a mirror, don’t speed through it…be conversational, smile and let your passion show.

Once you’ve nailed it…test it and tweak it. It may not lead to a job or even a follow-up question the first time you put yourself out there. But revising and testing it over and over is how you succeed.

For more small business solutions and inspiration go to BusinessNewsDaily.com

How To Find Success as an Entrepreneur

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According to BusinessNewsDaily.com, the way to achieve success as an entrepreneur is to define what success means to you!

You can start by creating a strategy and goals as a way to measure your success. Your business plan along with your one, five and ten-year business goals will give you an idea of what you need in order to get there.

Once you create your goals you have to find a way to measure them. Any good goal can be tracked but allow yourself to be flexible because things change.

Find your purpose. You need a clearly defined purpose and a plan to grow your business.

There are lots of ways to know when success has been achieved. Be it a profit-based, becoming a leader in your industry or more personal like a sense of security and accomplishment.

The best part about being an entrepreneur is making your own rules. The great news is you can decide for yourself what it means to be successful.

For more small business solutions and inspiration go to BusinessNewsDaily.com

 

LinkedIn’s Skill Assessment Feature Helps Job Seekers and Employers Alike

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LinkedIn has a new feature that could be as beneficial to job seekers as it is to those looking to hire!

According to BusinessNewsDaily.com, users can now complete a short quiz to verify their proficiency in a number of skills from Excel and Power Point to Java and C++.

They estimate that you’re 30% more likely to get a job if you complete a LinkedIn Skill Assessment. As an employer, this opens a great opportunity to find quality candidates more easily.

John Jersin, LinkedIn’s vice president of product management says “each Skill Assessment is constructed through a rigorous content creation and review process in partnership with LinkedIn Learning, industry and subject matter experts.” A recent study suggests that almost 70% of professionals believe “verified skills are more important than a college education.”

Studies also find that 76% said they felt being able to “verify skills would help them stand out amongst other candidates.” LinkedIn continues to be an invaluable tool for employees and employers alike.

For more small business solutions and inspiration go to BusinessNewsDaily.com

 

A Deep Dive Into Being a CEO

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Ever dreamed of becoming a CEO? BusinessNewsDaily.com breaks it down for you, so you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into. Or at least have a better understanding of how to get into the driver’s seat.

The Chief Executive Officer is the highest-ranking person in a company…and with the biggest paycheck comes the most responsibility.

A CEO is sets the strategy to reach the vision or mission of the company. This involves making sure the right team is in place and identifying new roles that emerge.

Despite the growing number of social media pages claiming CEO…the path can usually come through a variety of professional and educational backgrounds and diverse experience is a stepping stone to becoming CEO of a high-profile organization.

The success of a CEO depends on a variety of skills, including management, motivation, decision making, understanding of growth metrics and public relations experience…among many others.

But above all…the most important trait of a successful CEO is passion. Passion leads to innovation and motivation even through hard times.” For more small business solutions and inspiration go to BusinessNewsDaily.com

 

Must Hear TV?

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You remember Must See TV, right? The hay day of NBC’s classic Thursday night line up.

Cheers, Friends, Seinfeld.

In the 90’s things were a little bit different. Music was played on instruments. We tried to be kind so we would rewind. I had hair! Damn…I miss the 90’s.

Well more than just fashion and forehead lengths has changed…the way we consume our entertainment is completely different.

Instead of sitting down and watching our stories at the exact same time as they air…we’re DVRing them. Or streaming them on our time.

And of course, No ONE THING has our attention for one particular time. So, in order to compete for our attention…NBC Universal is trying out a new commercial format called Must Hear TV. The idea is to make the show and the commercials as seamless as possible.

For instance, an article on AdAge.com mentions The Kardashians. Let’s say they are on a tropical island the screen would go black…the commercial would start…screen still black and you hear birds and ocean waves and a commercial for Carnival Cruise would begin.

They say competition is good…because it makes everyone better. I’m excited to see the innovations that are coming…for TV and radio.

Are Video Production Agencies the New Creative Powerhouses?

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Advertising has gone through a ton of changes. With the increased use of the internet, the rise of social media…plus, thanks to the financial crisis in 2008, businesses have had to make budget cuts to save on advertising fees.

Guess what? Facebook…Instagram…Twitter…all free!

Evelyn Timson from Aspect Film & Video in the UK talks about this in an article at RightMixMarketing.com.  She goes on to say the need for online videos is still on the rise. An average 1 billion hours goes to watching YouTube videos…and that’s not just my 7-year-old watching slime videos.

Online audiences demand frequent video content from brands that they love. So, brands should get super creative by staying in-house or partnering with video production companies to increase the quality and quantity of video that’s needed these days.

While this certainly isn’t the end for advertising agencies…it may mean evolution.  Will ad agencies establish in-house production departments? Or will outsourcing video projects to professional video content creators become a mainstay?

Everyone is looking for that edge when it comes to content.

Rock Radio Imaging Demo

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      Rock Radio Imaging Demo

Rock Radio Baby!  In my tenure in radio land, I worked with quite a few VO’s.  I love working with imaging guys.  My favorites have a killer voice but their delivery was where it was at.

The read is everything.

I like being able to tell the story and to do it within the length of a sweeper is a challenging but super fun exercise.

Add in the ability to play around with the script and add my own personality (aka: stupid jokes) and you can count me in.