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Last week Shelley decided that it would be a good idea for me to create a promo for this blog to be run on both KPBX and KSFC. As I had never written copy to be read before and had no experience in advertising, this was quite the daunting task. My first draft turned out to be far too long and not catchy enough for radio. So, with much editing from Shelley, I returned to my desk and eventually came up with a few usable versions of the promo. I timed each one, reading it out loud at a reasonable pace, to make sure that it would fit within the specified time limit for the slots between musical pieces.
When Patrick had some free time, we headed to the recording room. I was very nervous and kept wringing my hands as I ran through the copy, occasionally adjusting words or inflection with suggestions from Patrick and Shelley. I discovered that "KSFC" is surprisingly difficult to pronounce clearly. And never again will I write "s" alliteration into my copy. After a few good recordings, though, Patrick said that he had enough to work with and returned to edit the fresh promo. I was directed to find an instrumental song to layer behind each recording.
With that instruction, the next day I was set loose in the music library. I might as well have been given the keys to Candyland. Walls upons walls, shelves of CDs and vinyl records met my amazed eyes. There was even an entire shelf dedicated to one of my favorite artists, Tito Puente, "El Rey de los Timbales." I spent the morning browsing through the library and playing wonderful music on a dusty boom box to my heart's content. Finally I returned to Patrick with a stack of CDs, my favorite tracks marked on bright yellow sticky notes.
At the moment, Patrick is meshing my voice recording with a few different songs to create a couple promos to play in between daily programming. Soon, I'll get to hear my own voice on the radio. I can hardly wait!
Showing posts with label Shelley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shelley. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Helping with Dinner
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Much like the elementary school teachers who don't actually sleep under their desks each night like their students suppose, the folks at SPR also have lives of their own. This often results in a lot of good for Spokane. For example, each Tuesday, Amy, Shelley, and Stephanie head over to the Women's and Children's Free Restaurant to help provide over 80 nutritious meals in two hours for the needy people of Spokane. Recently, Amy was named Volunteer of the Year.
"I was really surprised," she said, blushing slightly. "I do so little compared to everyone there." But of course, every Tuesday for over a year, plus special events like their summer barbecue where the Restaurant feeds over 1000, tends to add up.
"It's a wonderful, wonderful place," Amy said. The Restaurant, which is located in the basement of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, serves the poorest zip code in the entire state of Washington. Dinners are provided on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, with a big lunch and fresh "take-out" produce on Fridays. The food is completely donation-based from local groceries, farmers, and home gardeners.
Amy had wanted to be more active volunteering in the community and "this is something I think does a lot of good for a lot of people," she said. "I'm in a fortunate position and everyone needs help from time to time."
For two hours each Friday women and children can come into the Restaurant and fill out "menus" detailing the food they would like for themselves and their families. Volunteers collect these menus, looks over them, and fill recyclable bags with the requested items. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, hot, healthy meals are served to all guests.
"It's really a great example of how a few people wanting to make a difference can become a lifechanging service," said Amy.
Much like the elementary school teachers who don't actually sleep under their desks each night like their students suppose, the folks at SPR also have lives of their own. This often results in a lot of good for Spokane. For example, each Tuesday, Amy, Shelley, and Stephanie head over to the Women's and Children's Free Restaurant to help provide over 80 nutritious meals in two hours for the needy people of Spokane. Recently, Amy was named Volunteer of the Year.
"I was really surprised," she said, blushing slightly. "I do so little compared to everyone there." But of course, every Tuesday for over a year, plus special events like their summer barbecue where the Restaurant feeds over 1000, tends to add up.
"It's a wonderful, wonderful place," Amy said. The Restaurant, which is located in the basement of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, serves the poorest zip code in the entire state of Washington. Dinners are provided on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, with a big lunch and fresh "take-out" produce on Fridays. The food is completely donation-based from local groceries, farmers, and home gardeners.
Amy had wanted to be more active volunteering in the community and "this is something I think does a lot of good for a lot of people," she said. "I'm in a fortunate position and everyone needs help from time to time."
For two hours each Friday women and children can come into the Restaurant and fill out "menus" detailing the food they would like for themselves and their families. Volunteers collect these menus, looks over them, and fill recyclable bags with the requested items. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, hot, healthy meals are served to all guests.
"It's really a great example of how a few people wanting to make a difference can become a lifechanging service," said Amy.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Un "Promo" Muy Caliente
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Early Tuesday afternoon, as I was doing a little design work, Shelley called my name.
"Could you come here for a minute? We need your Spanish expertise."
Because this year's An Evening Under the Stars fundraiser is Latin-fiesta themed, they've needed my limited Spanish much more often than one might expect from a public radio station inSpokane
"Errrre, errrre..." went Patrick, attempting to roll his "r's." "How would you say 'the beautiful grounds of Arbor Crest Wine Cellars' in Spanish?" Shelley asked me with a critical look at the screen. And so, I became one of the voice coaches to aSpokane
On Wednesday, after we had hammered out the perfect mixture of Spanish and English words so that an everyday listener might understand the promo, the three of us headed to the recording studio. Patrick's voice is naturally pleasantly mid-range but to transform into the sultry latino, he kept deepening it as he practiced the script.
"Buenos días," he said normally. "Buenos días," a little deeper. "Buenos días." With that, he went too deep, reaching instead the voice of a latino you would hope not to run into in a dark alley. Patrick readjusted and ran through the entire script several different times, pausing to ask the correct pronunciation of "señores," to perfect a Spanish-accented version of the word "radio," and several times just to laugh with Shelley and me at the silliness of the whole situation. When Patrick decided that he had enough usable takes, he took the sound recording back to his office to piece together the best versions of each section of the script.
Behind the promo recording he layered (what else?) music from the soundtrack to The Mask of Zorro.
Early Tuesday afternoon, as I was doing a little design work, Shelley called my name.
"Could you come here for a minute? We need your Spanish expertise."
Because this year's An Evening Under the Stars fundraiser is Latin-fiesta themed, they've needed my limited Spanish much more often than one might expect from a public radio station in
"Errrre, errrre..." went Patrick, attempting to roll his "r's." "How would you say 'the beautiful grounds of Arbor Crest Wine Cellars' in Spanish?" Shelley asked me with a critical look at the screen. And so, I became one of the voice coaches to a
On Wednesday, after we had hammered out the perfect mixture of Spanish and English words so that an everyday listener might understand the promo, the three of us headed to the recording studio. Patrick's voice is naturally pleasantly mid-range but to transform into the sultry latino, he kept deepening it as he practiced the script.
"Buenos días," he said normally. "Buenos días," a little deeper. "Buenos días." With that, he went too deep, reaching instead the voice of a latino you would hope not to run into in a dark alley. Patrick readjusted and ran through the entire script several different times, pausing to ask the correct pronunciation of "señores," to perfect a Spanish-accented version of the word "radio," and several times just to laugh with Shelley and me at the silliness of the whole situation. When Patrick decided that he had enough usable takes, he took the sound recording back to his office to piece together the best versions of each section of the script.
Behind the promo recording he layered (what else?) music from the soundtrack to The Mask of Zorro.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Paper Parade
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Today SPR is preparing for one of its biggest mailings just as The Guide is nearing completion for the printers. So, everywhere I turn there is paper. Third, fourth, and fifth versions of pages from The Guide hit my desk to be proofread and then passed on to Neesha or Stephanie's desk to be proofed again. Every little detail must be caught and made perfect before the finished product can go to the printers for distribution. Shelley types away correcting everything that the office full of proofreaders manage to spot, and dozens of papers in various stages flit from chair to chair.
At the same time, Mary, our Membership Coordinator, is organizing for a massive mailing on Friday. Just moments ago, Brian's voice came over the intercom with a polite, "If you'd like some exercise we could use help setting up for the mailing." Then came Amy's voice, a little more insistent, "Whether you want exercise or not, now is the time for action!" At that, people from across the office rose from their chairs and were put to work carrying stacks of envelopes, address sheets, and chairs down to the mailing room. By the time the paper parade came to a close, the room was ready for mailing and The Guide was ready to go to the printers.
Today SPR is preparing for one of its biggest mailings just as The Guide is nearing completion for the printers. So, everywhere I turn there is paper. Third, fourth, and fifth versions of pages from The Guide hit my desk to be proofread and then passed on to Neesha or Stephanie's desk to be proofed again. Every little detail must be caught and made perfect before the finished product can go to the printers for distribution. Shelley types away correcting everything that the office full of proofreaders manage to spot, and dozens of papers in various stages flit from chair to chair.
At the same time, Mary, our Membership Coordinator, is organizing for a massive mailing on Friday. Just moments ago, Brian's voice came over the intercom with a polite, "If you'd like some exercise we could use help setting up for the mailing." Then came Amy's voice, a little more insistent, "Whether you want exercise or not, now is the time for action!" At that, people from across the office rose from their chairs and were put to work carrying stacks of envelopes, address sheets, and chairs down to the mailing room. By the time the paper parade came to a close, the room was ready for mailing and The Guide was ready to go to the printers.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Taking cover from the Prairie
This week at SPR my job has become to help wherever I can... mainly by staying out of the way. The station is a flurry of activity as the countdown to "A Prairie Home Companion" rapidly draws to a close.
Shelley has been painstakingly designing and proofing program fliers for the event. Amy and Nancy are busy fielding phone calls about tickets. Soon, a small group will be headed down to the Spokane Arena to set up and make final preparations for the show. People fly in and out of the door bearing stacks of fliers, programs, and paperwork. Everywhere you can hear the low murmur of "Garrison! Garrison!" The entire station is driving to make this show the best it can possibly be.
As for me, I find I can be most helpful by keeping out of everyone's hair for a while and working on other tasks. I'll come out from under my desk when all this is over and we can enjoy the success of "A Prairie Home Companion."
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