Here's another episode in one of my "making the client sound relatable" campaign. It's interesting to turn a client into the voice of reason amidst the ramblings of an oblivious announcer. In other words--Seems safe to insist same series spots sound similarly silly in sequence--which is kinda the goal.

It's been my experience when a client voices their own ad, breaking it into short bursts interspersed with an announcer (in this campaign, one who's kind of a chowder head) tends to be more friendly to the ears of a casual listener. But occasionally it's good to let said client voice the whole thing. The caveat is making sure there's a fly in the ointment to keep the unpredictable campaign scenario going. In this sample I just had one voice part, which was minor. But, when you give the client palatable direction, they can pull it off and hopefully leave some members of the audience with a "sheepish" grin.

I know Memorial Day's just past. But special sales can still be a little irreverent when you've got a client voiced ad campaign featuring the same basic elements--the client, the same dopey pain-in-the-behind announcer--then sprinkle in lots of people's favorite Memorial Day activity--a cook out.

Sustaining long legs with a radio campaign can be a challenge. But I think it's what keeps an audience listening to hear the next episode of this "client dealing with an oblivious announcer" saga. So, what's say we combine TWO potential headaches for the client. Number one, an announcer who decides to wax poetic and, number two, the same announcer who STILL can't get the client's name right...

As we continue the continuing saga of making a client sound relatable as they contribute a voice to their radio ads, I find that the announcer getting the client's name wrong can be a hook that's got some legs to it and can be applied to numerous situations--even those that, if for just a fleeting moment, get the client's name right...

I know it's probably been done before, but I had to try it. "It" being the announcer getting a client's name wrong in the very ad they're voicing. This kind of playful deprecation, I think, not only helps listeners remember the client's name but also sheds a little light on said client as someone with a sense of humor. But since the sale info talked about things like family and holidays, I had to throw In a curve. So in this installment from one of my "making the client sound relatable" campaigns I added a female voice to the mix. Keeps the pressure off the client with short, punchy lines-yet continuing to play on the lack of trust the client has in the announcer's ability (or willingness) to get it right. Oh, did I mention this client only had the budget for 30's? Even more fun...

Client voiced radio ads can sure be a challenge. In a lot of cases you're giving a person who probably has little or no expertise interpreting broadcast copy a script to read. The result? They SOUND like someone with little or no expertise interpreting broadcast copy. In many cases you can avoid that. Case in point, this ad from a series I perpetrated from a successful campaign for a local mattress and furniture store. The client--by his OWN admission had NO talent to read a radio script. (and he was right) But I figured this guy deserved more than the predictable client read. So I set up two voice situations with him. That way, you can write them short lines and, like Chaplin used to direct, give it to them the way it should be read and have them repeat after you. The result, at least in this campaign, was a series where the client sounded like they had a likeable personality (which he DID--my job was to get it across in a radio ad). And the added bonus was that customers commented frequently about the ads when they shopped the store. That's the kind of feedback you want, I think. And it starts with the little extra effort of writing more than just a "client voiced script"

When the client has an idea in mind, sometimes it can really come together. This was a client written rap that I put together and voiced. Lots of fun and the client was amazed that we could pull it off.

The promo is for our flagship breakfast show with veteran broadcaster Bob Mabena and Thabo Mdluli. They get the nation talking every morning, with the latest news and riveting conversations.

Classic song turned into a duet by Don Elliot back in the days of 2-tracks and razor blades! Story behind the edit here: https://www.rapmag.com/a/372-15/jun15/3678-elvis-and-linda-love-me-tender

For a campus radio station, summer is the students favorite time. This audio is a trailer type promo getting ready for the best thrill ride of the season!! This was written, voiced and produced by 2nd year students in the RTBN program at SAIT. Pretty damn good for kids who don't even have jobs in the industry...yet!