George The Tech’s Performer Friendly Podcast

EWABS Ep 138 March 31st 2014 with web designer Joe Davis

Episode 138, March 31, 2014Guest: Joe Davis from voiceactorwebsites.comGeorge on gear in or out of your boothDan’s Tip of the Week on VO Education0:03:30 Thanks to sponsors, Harlan Hogan, VO Xtra, and Edge Studio/VO Studio Tech0:04:00 “Shout-outs” needed for the Third Anniversary show on April 21. 0:04:58 George rolls his “Whittam’s World” (Episode 15) about equipment in or out of the booth. George gives details on where to keep your computer and other gear. Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfMi8URfLg8&list=PLpWTD2BQBdrKqkKsnsWMWc4FYrh3mXBpH&index=16 to see it again.0:13:00 Discussion between Dan and George about what gear in the booth. 0:14:52 Break0:16:30 Dan’s rant on VO education. Everybody learns from somebody.Acting, technology, and business are the three phases of the VO biz. You never stop studying.Education for profit? Nothing wrong with that. There’s no certification for teaching VO acting. No one person can teach it all. Webinars? The question is what is the information being presented worth to you? Making you a better voice actor is in their interest. The all-in-one organizations offering guaranteed success—RUN! See WoVO’s best practices. http://www.worldvo.org//?s=Best+Practices&x=0&y=0But never stop learning!Dan and George discuss. Dan says his peers have taught him much, with the foundation coming in his school days. Next week’s roundtable will include some top coaches. Q: Does WoVO offer accreditation? A: No, though WoVO will soon offer home studio certification. Coming up: how to make your website better.0:25:57 Break0:27:30 They’re back with Joe Davis. Joe demonstrates branding by wearing a Dan mustache. Joe talks about how he came to the business. His friendship with Dan led him to learn about VO. He began thinking about making web design fast, affordable, and relevant for VO. Joe and Dan now have a business, http://www.voiceactorwebsites.com/Dan noticed websites can be a pain, with somebody else in charge.Joe thinks a website’s goal is either for branding (where you’ve had contact with the clients prior). For those sites, search engine optimization (SEO) isn’t as important. Example: McDonald’s—lots of graphics, nearly no text. Not good for SEO. http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/home.htmlThe other type that brings in new traffic. That type needs to have a lot of text. Example: Dan’s site. http://www.homevoiceoverstudio.com/ It’s got lots of text which is good for SEO. “Flash” can’t be read by SEO. Example is Dan’s VO site, which can’t be seen on an iPhone.So you need to decide your need before you start. 0:37:00 Branding discussion. For Dan, his site is like a business card.0:38:40 Joe asks what is a brand? A brand on livestock was a way of know whoowned which cow. Ultimately, it’s something people think of someone or something.Example: Pepsi logo. Sometimes a brand gives you an insight into a company or it cangive a feeling.For the website Joe runs, he spent hours building a logo with a headset and a mic. And that turned out not to work since VO’s don’t use headsets so much.It might be best to bring a brand or logo to your website development, rather than have the web designer do it. 0:43:20 Dealing with SEO and keywords. What is all that?When you go to a search engine and type in words, the search engine gives different weight to different terms. SEO includes on-page and off-page factors. If you don’t have the words “voice-over” on your page, you won’t get found. Most webpage viewers don’t go beyond the first page of a search result. Something 60-85% click on the first three choices brought up by a search engine. Pay-per-click: Google makes its money by selling advertisers who appear above the search results. The client sets the amount per click up to a ceiling amount. This is why most of us won’t make money via our websites since there are deep pockets getting the most out of their SEO.Google has 10 spaces for the 1.3 million looking for voice work everyday. So if you can identify your niche visually and in text at your site.0:51:15 Harlan Hogan spot. Harlan is having an April Fools Sale, one day only on April 1. 0:53:59 Audience questions.Q I just bought a domain and I’m trying to “host” it via WordPress. If this OK?A Yes. This is a good way to manage your site yourself. Joe tells the history of site management. You can “host” your site through BlueHost. You can have more power and flexibility by hosting yourself. Hostgater is another ($10 a month). George uses SquareSpace. His site includes an embedded element (SourceConnect Now). Joe said you do need to be careful that your embedded content is a trusted source. The other caution: the more you put on your site the slower it loads. It should load within 7 seconds.1:01:10Q: How do you handle multiple websites?A: Depends on what you want to do with each site. You probably need a very different brand for each function if you have a different site for each. If all your sites talk about the same thing, keep the branding the same. 1:04:08 Often there’s a bar across the top. Then a call to action and services in the upper right.English speakers read in an F pattern, looking top left first, then across, back, down, and across: define the brand first, then call to action, down the side your menu, and a way to contact on the right. Sidebars are moving to the right to enhance SEO.1:06:20 Q How much change control do I have?A Depends on the web design system you’re using. 1:08:25Q What about mobile sites?A More than 1 billion use mobile devices to access the internet. Having a site that works is important. You can build a site specific to mobile devices or a responsive design. In those, the site changes as it shrinks.Responsive design is better for SEO. Duplicate content gets punished by Google. You can also get reported by a competitor.1:12:19 Q How important is it to have a blog on the website?A With WordPress you can have both managed on the same system. Google loves fresh content and old content and domain names. If update regularly, that’s good. If you’re not doing it at least once a week, you might want to remove your dates so Google doesn’t think you have an abandoned blog.1:14:48Q What about registering a domain with wix.com?A Joe doesn’t have experience with Wix. The more you use a template service, you’re limited, but it can be easy to use. If you want more flexibility, then hosting yourself is just as expensive.1:16:52Q Single page website vs multi-tab site?A It depends on the goal of the site. The more pages the better if you want to bring in natural traffic. Long single pages could get hit by Google if they’re too long. Google likes organized content with “bread crumbs.” George asks Joe about podcasts. Joe says it requires an audience with specific interests. Now days we can build websites quickly and inexpensively. 1:24:04 Joe’s final advice: buy domains associated with your domain name and then a Break.1:25:38 They’re back. Email your questions to Joe.Announcements:Clickers! Donors thank yous. Subscription donations possible!The YouTube Channel includes EWABS Essentials, with the “best of.”Next week: Voice Over Coaches Roundtable.April 14: DARK. A break.April 21: Third Anniversary with Voice Peeps. Send a video shout out and put up atDropbox.May 5: Marketing Roundtable1:31:30 George tests two mics.1:33:19 End of show

EWABS Ep137 March 24 2014 with Dr. Joel Bernstein Otorhinolaryngologist

Published on Mar 24, 2014Sinusitus and all things sinuses the topic on this thrilling episode of EWABS. Dan shares a TOTW on audio processing, and George shows off and demos his Kaotica Eyeball, picked up while presenting at VO 2014 Atlanta.

EWABS Ep 136 March 17 2014 with Liz de Nesnera

Published on Mar 17, 2014Our wonderful and patient guest this episode is Liz de Nesnera, one of the most knowledgable on the subject of telephony in the VO industry. We have some Skype issues and George gets Liz on IPDTL mid-interview. If you like seeing how we make the sausage, this episode is for you. Dan shares his thoughts finding now VO niches, George shares a Whittam's World on dealing with aging audio equipment, and we answer a viewer question on audio processing with Logic Pro X.

EWABS EP135 March 10, 2014 with Johnny Heller

Streamed live on Mar 10, 2014Johnny Heller joins us to discuss the world of audiobooks from the actor's perspective. He's a union talent from New York City with many years of wisdom to share. Dan helps you with your technophobia and George rants about getting bad tech advice from forums.

EWABS Episode 134 Audio Masters Roundtable March 3, 2014

Published on Mar 4, 2014Our panelists this time around include Cliff Zellman, Uncle Roy Yokelson, Joe van Riper and Stephen Sisk. We start off analyzing audio for quality, discuss the demise of isdn, and take your questions. Than to Livingston Studio in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

EWABS Episode 133 with VO Branding Expert Celia Siegel

Published on Feb 24, 2014We're ALL BUSINESS this episode as Celia takes your questions on branding and building a VO business, Dan talks about nurturing your referrals, and George gets into his version of Life Hacking.

EWABS Episode 132 February 17, 2014 with Erik Sheppard and John Taylor

Published on Feb 18, 2014Erik Sheppard, Agent from Today's Voice is our special guest, and friend of the show and entertaining morning show host John Taylor drops in to the LA studio. We start the show with Dan and George speaking via Source Connect Now, the latest in audio streaming over IP technology, George shares an interview with Source Elements founders Robert Marshall and Rebekah Wilson, and Dan shows us his RE20 and explains why NOT to us it for VO!

EWABS Episode 131 on February 10, 2014 with J. S. Gilbert

Published on Feb 10, 2014J. S. Gilbert is visiting the southland this week and stops in the EWABS West Studio! We get into the discussion about whether ISDN should or will remain king of the hill for much longer, or if new technologies like Source Connect and IPDTL will take over soon. George shares product videos from Winter NAMM show including the CEntrance MixerFace, Universal Audio Apollo Twin, and Equator D5 studio monitors.J.S. Gilbert discusses: ISDN with the guys.IpDTL is beginning to gain much acclaim among VO artists, for sound quality, and ease of use.The topic turns to some of the reasons ISDN continues to hang on. J.S. shares some personal experiences with studio production personnel.JS makes the analogy of how mics evolved for use on the west coast in VO workVisit Dan at HomeVoiceOverStudio.com/Or follow Dan's Twitter: @HomStudioManWhittam's World: Segments from the NAMM show featuring centrance myxer face, the Apollo Twin Thunderbolt Interface, and Equator Studio Monifors, and controller.Visit George at VOStudioTech.comOr follow George's Twitter: @EWABS_ShowSpecial thanks to Edge Studios. Full service voice over production, education, and resources.http://www.edgestudio.com/See George's Vlog "Whittam's World" at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F2Qm0...J.S. shares some advice on comparing yourself to others in the VO business.J.S. compares VO ten years ago, and today.J.S. goes in depth on just what is often expected from VO talent these days that isn't acting related at all.Dan shares a story of he and J.S. at dinner in San Francisco.Thanks to Harlan Hogan, and Voice Over Essentials. voiceoveressentials.com/Harlan is the exclusive supplier of portable studio booths for TED.John Florian, and Voice Over Xtra.  The daily resource for voice over success. http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/index.htmJ.S. relates how dan and george give so much added value to the vo industry.Js shares the details of his audio chain.George relates some stories of some of his higher end clients.J.S. lends his approval to studio suit as being installation, and cost effective when compared to the alternatives.Dan's Port a Booth demonstration video.AnnouncementsAn updated EWABS logo? Viewer challenge: Send your submissions in any medium. Prize: To be announced.Donations are always welcome.ewabs.com For Studio Suit Orders and Info.: http://www.vostudiosuit.com/ Like our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/ewabshop.Subscribe on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/ewabsewabs_show on TwitterWOULD YOU like to be one of our monthly sponsors??? Contact us at ewabshop.com to discuss!!! Visit World Voices at  the new web address Worldvo.com.Don't forget to get your gear !    shop.ewabs.comNext Week...Erik SheppardFeb. 24.. Celia SiegelWOULD YOU like to be one of our monthly sponsors?  Contact us at ewabshop.com to discuss!Join the EWABS Correspondent Contest.Make a VO or home studio related video, and send it to ewabshop@gmail.comThe best way to keep track of the shows activities is to visit the EWABS Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/eastwest.aud...EWABS Twitter: EWABS_ShowThanks again to our sponsors.Harlan Hogan's Voice over Essentials. voiceoveressentials.comVoice Over Xtra  http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/index.htmThanks to Larry Hudson, Silvia McClure, Larry and Elizabeth Davis, and Rosemary Benson for the show's bumpers, promotions and drops.Special thanks to the shows producer, Katherine Curriden, Dave Courvosier for providing the shows weekly intro, Lee Pinney for posting the podcast, and, to Jason Lawson for providing our weekly show notes.Send us questions, and be on our show where Dan and George will solve your home studio problems live! Call 818-47EWABS, that's 818 473-9227, and leave us your question in the voice mail box.  Go to ewabs.com for details.Contributions are also welcome at shop.ewabs.com

EWABS Ep. 130 Feb 3 2013 with Mike Pongracz

Published on Feb 4, 2014Toronto, ON, Canada voice actor Mike Pongracz is our special guess this week. Dan reminds you to not over think a home studio, and George shares sage advice on choosing audio cables.

EWABS Ep 129 January 2014 Hangout

Streamed live on Jan 27, 2014Join Dan and George at 9 Eastern Time! If you'd like to be directly in the  hangout, let us know now, we have room for 4 more participants. Otherwise, join us in the usual chatroom and watch live (Sort of ) on You Tube!Google hangout guests included:Ann RichardsonGene DixonScott ChambersKaryn O'BryantHosts:George WhittamDan LenardGeorge logs in from the edge studio offices in New York, and gets us up to date with his New York trip thus far.Visit George at VOStudioTech.comOr follow George's Twitter: @EWABS_ShowSpecial thanks to Edge Studios. Full service voice over production, education, and resources.http://www.edgestudio.com/See George's Vlog "Whittam's World" at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq8VuT...Visit Dan at HomeVoiceOverStudio.com/Or follow Dan's Twitter: @HomStudioManHang out questions, and topics included:What is considered the standard resolution, and bit rate for voice over work?George's experiences at the NAMM show this year.The terminology of "Sound Damping."Client audition requests which become red flags.How to price readings for screenplays.How Dan was once quoted by Al Jazeera.The recent Blue Microphones user group email.Dan shares an interesting logo based on a Smith Brother's cough drop ad.Equator monitors that George saw at the NAMM show.Thanks to Harlan Hogan, and Voice Over Essentials. voiceoveressentials.com/Harlan is the exclusive supplier of portable studio booths for TED.John Florian, and Voice Over Xtra.  The daily resource for voice over success. http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/index.htm Announcements:An updated EWABS logo? Viewer challenge: Send your submissions in any medium. Prize: To be announced.EWABS E-support membership :Unlimited one on one help with Dan and George. $39.95/mo.Click the support Link at the top of ewabs.com Donations are always welcome.ewabs.com For Studio Suit Orders and Info.: http://www.vostudiosuit.com/ Like our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/ewabshop.Subscribe on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/ewabsewabs_show on TwitterWOULD YOU like to be one of our monthly sponsors? Contact us at ewabshop.com to discuss! Visit World Voices at  the new web address Worldvo.com.Don't forget to get your gear !    shop.ewabs.com Next week: Mike Pongracz of the Three Amivos.Coming Soon: J.S. Gilbert, Celia Siegel.WOULD YOU like to be one of our monthly sponsors?  Contact us at ewabshop.com to discuss!Join the EWABS Correspondent Contest.Make a VO or home studio related video, and send it to ewabshop@gmail.com The best way to keep track of the shows activities is to visit the EWABS Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/eastwest.aud...EWABS Twitter: EWABS_ShowThanks again to our sponsors.Harlan Hogan's Voice over Essentials. voiceoveressentials.comVoice Over Xtra  http://www.voiceoverxtra.com/index.htm Thanks to Larry Hudson, Silvia McClure, Larry and Elizabeth Davis, and Rosemary Benson for the show's bumpers, promotions and drops.Special thanks to the shows producer, Katherine Curriden, Dave Courvosier for providing the shows weekly intro, Lee Pinney for posting the podcast, and to Jason Lawson for providing our weekly show notes.Send us questions, and be on our show where Dan and George will solve your home studio problems live! Call 818-47EWABS, that's 818 473-9227, and leave us your question in the voice mail box.  Go to ewabs.com for details. Contributions are also welcome at shop.ewabs.com