March Madness

Written by Johnny George Wednesday, 10 March 2010 16:40

Actually, I'm not mad.  Maybe a little sore about the lingering winter weather.  But today, Mother Nature has redeemed herself with blue skies and 71 degrees. (OPEN THE FRIGGIN' WINDOWS!)  There, that's nice, but I may have to record soon, so don't get too comfortable yet.

Since I last wrote at the end of February, I've picked up six new clients.  So someone is shinning down on me.  Thank you!  So is March going to be a great month as we move into Spring?  Or are you panicking and getting ready to discount everything to stimulate your biz? 

Sure, the economy is still a bit fragile, but you can still be strategic.  Here are a few insights I've learned over the years when lean months seemed to dominate my worries...

• >>  Heavy discounting can be the classic mistake.  If you lower your rates, in order to attract business, be aware you are going to have a harder time raising them when we come out of this mess.  Today's frugality is NOT a passing fad.  People are getting used to it.  You're not considered to be a cheapskate if you go shopping at Walmart any more, are you?  Your loyal clients will not forget and will challenge your crediblity when you feel it's time to raise your rates back up in the future.

• >>  Instead of lowering your rates, which also affects your competitors, offer extra value.  Add something to your deal that will make them feel they are getting a better deal with you than someone else.  Perhaps, a limited 2 for 1 sale.  Offer a simple premium with their next order.  Offer free updates for timely commercials that need this month /next week / this week / tomorrow / tonight versions.

• >>  You can also offer a MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE.  Just be sure to be able to back it up if you do offer this service.

• >>  If you do cut your rates on your voice jobs, do it only on low-margin items so you can retain rates & integrity on high-value items.

Of course, you should promote your length of service to the media at large, list some of your high-profile clients and show the value in your work.  One way has always been to find a nitch in the market you can own.  Find it, market it and specialize in it.  Examples such as, Podcasts, Messages On-Hold, PA Announcements for chains, etc..  You get the idea.  Now...get started!

You Never Write anymore...

Written by Johnny George Tuesday, 23 February 2010 16:41

...and I feel bad about that.  Really.

I really meant to disapline myself and write at least one entry into my blog each week.  Haven't been such a good soldier, huh?

Since I last wrote, I've been pretty busy.  Another 80+ more spots for Sylvan Learning... JD Byrider spots and another fun spot for my clients in Trinidad/Tobago.  Add in a half dozen cars commercials in Philly, Chicago and Little Rock, plus several hospitals that I voice semi-regularly.  It's been a good couple of months and I'm not complaining.  Not to forget, Intel, John Deere, CloudSwitch & Samsung 3D.  The narratives continue to keep me busy too.  Not so much Marketing On-Hold this quarter.

Auditioned for quite a few of my agencies with the likes of: Sparq, Sam Ford, Easy St. Toyota, Unity Hospital, Direct Buy, Bismark, Shoney's, Huntington Bank, Senaca Casino, Elanco, Milwaukee Journal, Bright House, Naturemade, Albert Sales & Liquidators, WEG, GW Hospital, Billy Graham Foundation, ScoopAway, Congressman Smith, Bailey's Irish Coffee, Value City, Sears, NASA, AAA Motor Club and Canadian Natural Gas.  Many thanks to these folks who keep my studio humming and trying alot.

You must always remember that these auditions are the keys to building and practicing our trade.  I may not get a huge amount of them, but I do OK and truth be told, my ROI is well worth it regarding my paid online investment with Voices.com, which is the only one I am paying for presently and my other agents who regularly send me auditions.  Hey they need their 10% ya know.

I'd love to hear what you do with your day.  Feel free to add your comments below so we can all learn from each other.  And I promise to blog more often so I don't have to ramble on & on and sound like I'm tooting my horn.  Only letting you peek behind the curtain of my DigiStudio.

Blog ya later...

Latest Auditions

Written by Johnny George Wednesday, 20 January 2010 17:57

It's always interesting to see what auditions are coming through during this economy and this season.  Here are just some of the latest over the past several weeks:

• A & W
• Comcast On-Demand
• Monsanto
• Zedia
• Transition Lens
• Dog Product video
• Divorce DVD
• Star Wars Giveaway TV spot
• Midstate Medical
• Oklahoma Tourism
• Forex Tool Shop
• Video Game
• Viridian Systems
• Kraft Foods
• NASCAR World Truck Series
• iRacing.com
• YouTube Rentals
• Green Products
• Oklahoma Commerce
• Falcone Automotive
• CIGNA
• NCH
• IndyCar
• IT Security
• Direct TV
• Gibson Law Firm
• Star Trek Online
• Alcon

Auditions listed are from current agencies, my talent agents and online membership-based online sites.

Respect

Written by Johnny George Wednesday, 20 January 2010 17:04

I just finished another ISDN session recently and thought about how great it is to do what we do and how we interact with others that represent us and those that hire us.

I was scheduled to voice a session with Studio Center for a client yesterday about noon.  As usual, their engineer/producer in Virginia Beach dailed me up on their Zephyr in a timely manner and we connected.  This time, it was Trent, who was to call the client in NYC, so they could listen in and direct the session.  Trent greeted me with the usual enthusiasm I always get from their staff and he then called the client.  We connected, exchanged plesantries and we proceeded to lay down Take #1.

Long story-short and the point I wanted to make is that Trent ALWAYS goes out of his way to be respectful, pleasant, eager to please both the client and me as a Voice Actor and offer every possible service available to him as a producer to make the session efficient, creative and complete.

When we concluded the voice session, Trent thanked them and arranged to send them the audio files and then thanked me for my time and completed the session.

I know that this all sounds quite normal.  Yes, every time I connect up with my folks at Studio Center, I always leave the session happy, thankful and impressed with the quality of people that they employ and the stature of the work they perform each and every time. Their standards are Top Drawer and as a Voice talent, I appreciate it very much.  Over my career, I have worked with so many people that made me feel like they were doing me a favor to work with me.  So many of those people are no longer employed or in this business.  I've worked with some steller pro's too.  But I never assume how I will be treated from one to another.  I make sure I am on-time and prepared and I expect them to do the same.  Their attitude sets the mood for the whole voice session.  This includes phone-patches and any one-on-one with clients, agencies and the like.

We as voice talents must set our standards and stick to them.  I super-serve my clients and always under-promise, but over-deliver on my work.  We expect to be treated properly by the people on the other side of the glass.  Just remember, each job starts with YOU.

Welcome to 2010

Written by Johnny George Tuesday, 05 January 2010 12:19

Another year, more resolutions, better plans and best intentions are running out of the gate.

First of all, what do we call it?  We've never been in this situation before.  "2010"...is it Twenty-Ten or Two Thousand Ten?  My vote is for "Twenty-Ten".  Shorter, more direct and sexier, huh?  Now after we decide that, we can move on to how many pounds are we going to lose and all the other promised "quits".  I quite cigarettes over 20 years ago, so I'm ahead of some.  Quit caffine - by doctors request over 10 years ago and still need to lose about 20 lbs.

Strengthen my client base?  You betcha.  Work smarter, not harder - yes indeed.  Clean up my desk?  Well, it's on my list of To-Do's.  Why do we always use the start of a new year to re-examine our faults?  I guess it's just a media thing that was started many moons ago or some Mother used it to reaffirm her commands to her husband or kids.  Whatever the origin, it's not a bad thing if you follow-thru.

What are you going to do better?  Comments please....

Vacation? NOW you're busy!

Written by Johnny George Thursday, 17 December 2009 15:11

Business slow?  Hey, just announe that you are going on vacation and you will have clients new & old coming out of the woodwork.  <G>

I was planning a 10 day vacation at the front of December and put the word out on my signature, a mass email to all my clients and listed it on my studio calander and WOW...I was busier than I had been in months and all at once.  Don't know if this is the rule, but it has happened more often than not.  Funny as it may seem, but when clients have plans for upcoming projects - then once they know that their voice guy might not be available at a moments notice, they freak out and grab you immediately.  Trouble is, they all seem to react at the same time.

So if your business is slowing down and you need a kick in the proverbial "work pants", just announce that you are going to take some time off and set a date.  Never fails. And this year was the best and most stressful.

Off we went - The sun felt good and I truly needed the break after that!

;-)

JG

New Business

Written by Johnny George Tuesday, 13 October 2009 17:11

In an effort to offer my client list a bit of an extra "oomph" to their bag of tricks, this month I offered my clients a FREE audition of their proposed spot, narrative project or any audio specialty that they can pitch to their potential current customers or new clients in an effort to drum up new business. 

It's a "win-win".  If I can cut a portion of the audio for a script that the agency wants to pitch to their clients and they get to hear how it can sound, it adds extra value to their pitch and has a better chance of bringing in a timid client or helping the client pitch it to their "powers that be" in order to get that buy.

The client seizes the opportunity - the agency makes a successful pitch and I win with bringing in some business that was out there just waiting to be plucked off the proverbial advertising tree.  Everybody's happy.  And the agency remembers what you have done for them by going that extra mile and you most certainly are remembered for being the inventive catalyst for the buy that made it all come together.

Have you done this or a version of this before?  Do your agencies ever ask you to do free voice work in an effort to secure business?  What are your thoughts?

Auditions

Written by Johnny George Wednesday, 07 October 2009 11:03

Even with the downturn that many are experiencing in our industry, which is reflected in the rest of the economy, the auditions seems to continue to come through from the many avenues many of us enjoy.  Where do your auditions come from?  Have you noticed them continuing to be strong?  Or have some dried up?

Welcome Bloggers & Bloggettes!

Written by Administrator Monday, 10 August 2009 20:42

Welcome to our new Blog for Johnny George Communications.  We'll be blogging our notes on a regular basis and encourage you to post relavent info to encourage others to discuss our industry. 

Thanks in advance.  Let the Blogging begin!