Show #46: How to make the most of the voice you have: Podcasting and voiceover tips from Joe Cipriano

This 23-minute podcast features an interview with renowned voiceover (VO) artist Joe Cipriano. In our discussion, he shares some of his tips for using a microphone properly, for keeping the vocal cords healthy, and for being a success in the VO business (it’s all about relationships, says Joe).

You may not know Joe’s name or face but you know his voice, because he is heard on TV and radio every day -- doing promos for Fox, NBC, CBS and other networks, and as the live announcer for the Emmys and Grammys.

You can download the show right here or subscribe through iTunes.

Here are the show notes:
00:01 Welcome
01:18 Introducing Joe Cipriano, one of the top voiceover artists in the world. Visit Joe’s blog and Web site and watch him in the Apple Podcast Recipe tutorial. Joe has also contributed to the book, Secrets of Voiceover Success
02:15 Joe is having a great time doing VO work
02:41 Joe discusses the biggest mistakes people make when using a microphone: talking too close, pulling too far away; not using a pop filter
04:46 How to gain experience using a microphone; wear headphones while you record and listen to yourself afterward
05:20 Does your voice vary day to day? Or is it your hearing? How the weather can affect your voice; how to protect your instrument
07:00 Techniques Joe uses in the VO booth when recording promos
09:45 The importance of learning about audio technology (EQ, compression and so on)
10:30 The Apple Podcast Recipe tutorial
10:51 Benefits of drinking lots of water
11:58 Quick chat about Joe’s days in St. Mary’s, Ontario
13:00 There’s no such thing as a bad voice
14:44 You don’t need to sound like the “voice of God” to be successful in VO or podcasting
15:10 Most important: the story
15:50 New podcasters often focus on the mic and other technology; you need a message first
16:00 VO hopefuls ask Joe what mic he uses, or what Don LaFontaine owns
16:48 Advice for newcomers: Opportunities for podcasters to be creative are mind-boggling; never have we seen a time like this when you can conceive of an idea and offer it to the world; new careers are being made every day; VO people need a strong foundation and should go to workshops before making a demo
19:40 VO business is about relationships; if you do all your sessions by ISDN, you can’t interact in person; in the promo world, 90% of the job is showing up on time
21:00 Where to send comments: email to trafcom AT gmail.com, call the comment line at 206-338-4200 or post a message to the Trafcom News Podcast blog
Look for the Trafcom News Podcast on Blubrry.com
21:55 Listen to the podcast created by Centennial College students last week during Donna’s presentation on podcasting
Theme music is “Beneath Your Surface” by the Elisabeth Lohninger Quartet from the Podsafe Music Network

Comments

[Voiceover]

Donna!

An interview with Joe... good for you! I've blogged about your podcast with Joe at VOX Daily.

Leesa emailed me yesterday and mentioned PodCamp in Toronto this coming February. I hope to attend.

Will you be there, too?

Best,

Stephanie

[donna papacosta]

Thanks for blogging about my interview with Joe, Stephanie. I appreciate it. I hope your readers enjoy listening to it.

YES, I will be at Podcamp Toronto. See my Podcamp badge on the Trafcom News Podcast page? ;-))) See you then!