We caught up with the brilliant and award-winning male voiceover talent Peter K. O’Connell a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Peter, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I was in kindergarten when I found my career path…but I didn’t know it.
My teacher, Sr. Donna Marie, took our class to tour a radio station – WEBR-AM. My concept of radio at the time was that the music I was hearing on the radio was from live bands at a “place” (didn’t yet understand “radio station”) and when their song was done, the next band walked in and started playing.
Don’t judge me, I was five years old and the fangled technology at that time was color TV broadcasting three channels and you needed something called a “rabbit ears” antenna!!
So when I walked into WEBR and saw the studios and microphones and mixing boards….well, I didn’t know what they did but I knew I wanted to do THAT!
Even when I started working professionally in radio after college, I didn’t really have a sense one could make money doing voiceovers unless you were in New York or LA. But I learned quickly.
Peter, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Having realized I wanted to and could work in radio – I became a bit obsessive about pursuing it. I read news (I was only a barely passable news anchor), became a DJ with a nightly show and also was picked to host a live, 5-hour, all-request oldies show on Saturday nights that was number 1 in the market.
But while I did that, I discovered another part of radio – that I didn’t initially pay a lot of attention to – radio production. That part of radio is where you worked on commercial scripts for advertisers, promotional announcements for the station and pre-recorded station ID’s. And I was good at it…to the point where radio station clients would ask for me to be the voice of their spot. Many times I got extra money on those spots because they played on other stations. CHA-CHING!
From there, I worked a variety of radio, TV and media production jobs (and some non-media jobs) but voiceover work was always there as it is today.
Today my voiceover studio is headquartered in Raleigh, NC (after decades in Buffalo, NY). I primarily voice commercials (for radio, TV and internet), narrations (training videos, explainer videos, documentaries etc.) some broadcast promos (for radio and TV stations) and then I also do live announcing at business functions, charity events and sporting events).
What I’ve always tried to do with my voiceover business treat my clients like I want to be treated as a client (“do unto others” is the goal). That means I need to provide a steady, client-centric focus on all projects. Listening first and foremost, contributing if asked (keeping my mouth shut if I’m *not* asked) and respecting the blood sweat and tears a producer has manufactured to get their project to the point where they hire me. With that plan, I’ve gotten to work with amazing regional, national and international brands on voiceover projects…like Amazon, Crest Toothpaste, Pandora, IBM, Duracell and PBS.
I’ve also become great friends with many of my clients over the years…that means a lot more than the awards I’ve received. That’s part of why I’m known as Your Friendly, Neighborhood Voiceover Talent.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Each social media platform serves its audience in a unique way. While I am experienced in social media, I’m not an expert in it…there’s a big difference between the two words. There is probably one common message that weaves through all social media platforms that I use (like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram & Twitter).
What I learned while attending my first social media unconference, Podcamp Toronto in 2006,is still true today…try and be authentic about yourself to your audience.
In my voiceover business, that means sharing information, stories, successes, mis-steps and funny stuff about my work to give my global connections, who in many cases would otherwise be strangers to me, a look into my professional life. They take what they like and leave the rest.
While I think anyone on social media can occasionally fall prey to it (myself included), also try hard to avoid posts that are little more than blustery “me, me, me” perfection posts…nobody likes a braggart and folks usually see through it anyway . Nor do you have to overshare.
Finally, to me, the real value of social media is as a tool to prospect for new business contacts. An example would be LinkedIn, where I can search decision makers by job title in my targeted business categories, look further into their businesses via web search (Google is your friend -sometimes) and, if there is a fit, try and connect with the prospect directly and then by social media. Some folks try the other way too (social media first, then direct). Find out what works for you and is not obnoxious to the prospect.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
On many of my voiceover projects, I am solely a voice actor sharing my vocal versatility in a recording session with a client.
A producer then takes my voiceover recording and I may never hear the final audio or see the video.
It is enormously satisfying to hear the finished radio or watch the fully produced video project to see how all the sound effects, music and video came together….especially when it’s in the hands of a really talented audio or video producer.
That’s when I get to hear and see how my contribution flowed with the production concept…as a voiceover talent, it’s a great gift to be a part of all that.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.peterkoconnell.com
- Instagram: @audioconnell
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peterkoconnellvoiceover
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterkoconnell/
- Twitter: @audioconnell
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@audioconnell
Image Credits
All photos courtesy of audioconnell.com