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As a voice artist trying to land imaging work at a radio station, to
whom do I address my demos?
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Is it better to send a format-specific demo or a more generalized
imaging demo?
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How do you feel about lifting copy and specific call letters when
creating your first demo?
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Is there any particular imaging voice sound that is particularly in
demand right now?
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Is there a trend toward more imaging by the radio station's jocks?
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What is more important: Shotgun IDs, beatmixing montages, or
positioning statement IDs?
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When working with freelance voice talent, do most stations prefer
to use ISDN or Internet?
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When is the best time of the year to pitch yourself to most radio
stations as an imaging voice?
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What's the general range of pay for freelance imaging producers
and/or voicers?
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How is imaging billed? Per page, per liner...per 20? On retainer?
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What is a competitive fee structure for various market sizes?
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What are typical rates for fully produced imaging pieces?
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How do you make a promo stand out?
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What's the best way to learn more about EQ'ing, frequencies,
etc.?
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I can't believe someone would still mail a PD a demo. Why not
email a link to a blog or website with a demo or send it via an
FTP service?
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What factors do you consider when choosing elements,
transitions and effects in imaging?
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When making a music montage, what advice can you give about choosing songs from the station playlist to use? Do you consider tempo, key or feel of the song to be most or equally important?
What other factors do you consider?
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Have you run into any old-timers who want the music to be really,
really low so it won't "get in the way" of the promos?
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What types of "branded intros" work best? And for what types of
songs should we use them: New or familiar music? Singovers vs.
voiceovers?
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What do you think of a voice talent sending a dry read of a few sweepers as they're appearing on that radio station, as an
audition?
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Do most stations use one or two contracted voices for imaging,
or do they pick & choose from a variety of voices?
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Where does a voice artist find a good coach for radio imaging
and a good producer for his demo?
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What is the secret of mastering a promo/sweeper so that it
sounds LOUD ("bigger than God") when played on the radio? I
compress my sweepers and they sound impressively loud when
played via the studio monitors; but whenever I hear the same
production materials on the radio, they actually sound LESS loud
and much 'thinner' than even the aired songs and station's
announcers during the breaks! A friend suggested it's a mistake
to "hard-compress" the promos. Yet, isn't that the sound we're
after?
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Could you give some insight into how you use EQ and plug ins to
highlight various parts of the voiceover? Do you start with the
voice and build the elements and music around it, or do you work
the other way around? Or does it depend on the individual
project?
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To help achieve a consistent sound, how much do you rely on a
session template? Is it best to perfect a template to include plug
ins and settings/presets for your EQ, compression and limiting
that you are comfortable with and only have to make minimal
changes to, or do you just include the plug ins you use regularly
and set them for each project?
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What is the best way to get a message across? I hear what I
think is way over-produced stuff on stations; the message is lost
in the "stuff." How do you know when enough is enough?
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When it comes to the imaging of a CHR station, based on what
criterion do you decide if it's going to be a male or a female
voice? My ex-PD insisted that ANY well-produced playful female
voice is always more appealing when it comes to imaging, while
my current boss prefers male voices for "authority." Which factor
weighs more: "seductiveness" or "authority" when it comes to the
image of a CHR station…and why?
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Which is best for promos and sweepers: production music or the
music the station actually plays?
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How can we convince radio stations not to renew with their
existing talent and give some of us talented newbies a shot?
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What is your opinion of online services that promise to coach us
and/or get us station imaging work?
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Many stations are automated and some of these systems have
their own production hardware/software. This can impact your
ability to produce solid promos. In today's cost cutting
environment is there a turnkey system you recommend in a
production studio setup?
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I don't mix audio formats. I stick to a common .wav format with
like sample rates throughout the system. Some people try to mix
mp3 files with .wav files, and there are quality control issues. Can
you address that?
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Most of the scripts I produce are written by others (PD's and
APD's). There are times when I don't necessarily agree the
finished product is the best it could be despite the writer being
happy with the end result. Usually when this happens, the thing
I'm not happy with is a result of a directive from the writer. I'm
trying to get involved earlier in the process and discuss and offer
ideas before the script hits my desk. Do you have any advice on increasing my influence over the end result while maintaining
respect for their positions and directives?
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As a producer, I find there's never enough time to get all the work
done. How do YOU do it?
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How much notice do you take of your direct competition and their
imaging? Am I correct in thinking it's better to stay 100% true to
the format and style of the station I'm working on rather than to
consider what the opposition may be doing?
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Having been at the top of your game for so long, how do you
keep it interesting? Are there things you use to challenge
yourself to develop further? How do you stay motivated in a field
where it's common to get "burnt out" by workload and repetition?
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What you should include with your demo (including something
that most PDs want but most VO talent don't think to include)
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What to say in your demo cover letter
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Following up on your demo
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How long your imaging demo should be
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A common mistake people make when submitting demos to
major market stations
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The single most important type of piece an imaging director
produces
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Imaging in a "less is more" world
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The type of imaging piece that Dave personally devotes the most time working on
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Classical Conditioning and Station Imaging
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Proper use of "Tweeners"
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Mp3 vs. .wav
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The one thing you never should compress in a promo
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The importance of occasionally "pulling a Madonna"
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The single most effective medium to use when sending your
demo to a station program director
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Effects still being used by some imaging producers that brand
the radio station as hopelessly outdated
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Two exercises for developing your voice imaging range
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The precise plug-in Dave created for that "Voice of God" sound
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How to know when you're using too many effects in your piece
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Differences in using male vs. female voices
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Most important elements to highlight in Talk Radio imaging
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The importance of featuring Talk Radio "hooks" in your imaging
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The private URL where Dave uploaded his promo pieces for
approval by his PD — including virtually everything he
produced for Z100 over the past couple of years (!)
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The two effects libraries Dave personally recommends
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