Rambling with Gambling | Tom Clifford Guest Appearance

Family Tradition Ends

It was announced that John Gambling would be doing his last radio show on Friday, December 20, after 27 years... ending a family tradition that has lasted since the 1930s & '40s. And according to the Guinness Book of World Records; "Rambling with Gambling" is the longest running radio show in history.

In 1997, I had the good fortune to sit-in with John as his Traffic Reporter For-a-Day on his early morning WOR radio Show. Ah, it was a chilly December 10th morning as I recall... and dark too. 5:15 AM was the call time at WOR Studios - 1440 Broadway. We did the traffic at 6:40 AM and that's when the fun would begin with celebrity characters detailing the roadways of New York.

John was a pretty good sport and great foil straight-man. We had something in common of a theatrical nature, in that he and I were both on the soap 'Loving'. He played a Fire-Chief in an episode and I had the Doorman gig as Sturgeon for about 2 1/2 years. I did a lot of voices on that show...including King Kong!

Here's John in the studio at WOR. For a highlight of the December 10th, 1997 show: Click to hear show

 

Here’s how it all got started.

Minding my business in Nov of ’97, I got a call from Anita Tapia, a pal of my apartment days in Queens.

She told me that WOR was running this contest for a stand-in traffic reporter on the John Gambling Show.  She thought I’d be a shoe-in if I did some imitations reporting the traffic as my audition.

The rest is history. You can hear part of the audition at the opening of the program.
By:  +Tom Clifford, VoiceOver & Creative Services

New tech A-D-V-A-N-C-E-S opportunities !

Got something of an education on this one.

Advance at Home PT - had asked for a message program after seeing a Special Offer email  the New Hyde Park Chamber ran for TC & Company in October. TC & Company Special Offer - NHPC Email

At the time, Advance had a rudimentary phone system and was using Google Voice to administer their navigation of calls and outgoing messages. Google Voice accommodates wave & mp3 produced audio files.
Problem was, Google only allows 30 second lengths of outgoing message and Advance had much more to say.
By December, Advance had done some homework into the VoIP market and selected: Ring Central as their new business phone provider...Well, talk about voice & production options. Plus, they were now able to avail themselves of Ring Central's On-Hold feature. TC & Company wound-up producing all their VoIP programs. Here's a portion: Click to hear - Advance at Home Physical Therapy (Message Program)

 

By: +Tom Clifford, VoiceOver & Creative Services

ATD refers TC & Company

Always  a pleasure to receive business from a referral. ATD COM installers of VOIP & telephony systems that had known my work for various other clients recommended +Tom Clifford, VoiceOver & Creative Services for more than a talented professional voice-guy. They needed talent that was savvy enuf to be able to work the system prompt parameters. 

Ensemble Travel Group and Price, Raffel & Browne, we're being equipped with a state-of-the-art VOIP systems that would allow audio file uploads. But, if there were glitches, they wanted the assurance that they'd be online with system announcements. That meant doing the announcements  'old-school' ...L-I-V-E!
By:  +Tom Clifford, VoiceOver & Creative Services

 

Blog Talk Radio - Radio Magic

 

John Reid, renowned magician is our guest on Blog Talk Radio program - "Practical Social Media".

  John is an accomplished magician, an immensely creative balloon designer and owner of Tricky Business (Magic Shop) in East Meadow, New York. He performs regularly at parties, conventions...even the White House. I had met John at a Networking meeting that Joann Winkart was throwing for the Victims-of-Sandy relief fund at K.Pacho's event venue in New Hyde Park. 

John had designed a 'balloon' dress for Joann and it was the rave of the evenings ceremonies. He had talked about the social areas of business and was considering doing an on-hold message and maybe other creative when he re-vamped his new media. I visited John's facebook business page Tricky Business and 'liked' it. After his feeds on his performances and balloon creations, I had called and asked Caitlin, his manager, if he'd consider doing a BTR show. John was performing in Utah and would have to wait for his return. We taped the interview on Nov. 5th, that would later be broadcast on Nov. 7th, after some post editing with +Tom Clifford, VoiceOver & Creative Services 

Here's the link to a re-broadcast of the show that aired Thursday, November 7th, 2013. John was a regular plethora of information about his business, the social media he chooses to make it grow, the talented people he collaborates with and his desire to be the B-E-S-T at what he does. Click to Play:  

By: +Tom Clifford, VoiceOver & Creative Services

"Quick Cuts" video production Tips

Here's a quick lesson on the ease of putting together a "Quick Cut' video.

 
I was asked to help-out with some camera & production work for the New Hyde Park Museum during their street fair on September 21st. Just shooting yourself or participant while talking and later putting a few finishing touches with a basic movie editor like Windows Movie Maker, allows for a social video post (YouTube/Facebook etc) with all the SEO benefits.

Do as many 'takes' as necessary and get it in-the-can as they say for editing out the flubs later. When you edit, you can chose the beginning & end of the piece, maybe adding a title or simple fade-In's & fade-Out's.

Here's Frank Scaturro for Congress doing his thing at the fair. We did 2 takes because one of them had a jet going by. With a nice title and some polish of the sound & video, makes it look fairly professional.

By: +Tom Clifford, VoiceOver & Creative Services 

Halloween "Out-Break" at the Mortuary

Just in time for the season to start creepin-in, the Mortutary breaks-out its 'Zombie OutBreak' spot!

Featuring the fast talking creepy-guy; Tom Clifford, with a slash of un-n-e-r-v-i-n-g video cuts...to make Patient Zero a dead-ringer for fright! The voice is a combo of nasty snarl with some evil (Vincent Price) tongue-in-cheek goin for it. Been in demand since Elswarro started puttin it to use almost 10 years ago. Jason Swaar is an independent film maker and can be found at: Jason Swaar interview - Halloween Date Base 

Click to play TV spot - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwWhNoq1zsQ

By: +Tom Clifford, VoiceOver & Creative Services 

Hey, you never know

In-A-World where you can be at two places at a time, it's still amazes me that a guy from N.Y. can do a scary voice for a firm in Arizona and somehow have it make its way back to N.Y. to play on N.Y. cable. Click to play TV spot

That's the story behind this weeks mutli-media campaign for Karts Raceway that features its 'Fright Night' venue for the Halloween Season. It all starts with seeing the spot quite by accident last October. Figured, maybe worth a call to Karts to see if they ever want to use that scary/creepy-voice for some custom media. Well, it wasn't all that easy. I'd have to say that it took almost a full year of calling indiscriminately every couple of months to finally speak with the owner and find that he would be ecstatic to use my voice for all his Halloween media and my other voices for the racetrack for the rest of the year.

It started with customizing their Tv & Radio spots to gate announcements, website audio greetings, outgoing answer machine messages to in-the-park tutorials.

By: +Tom Clifford, VoiceOver & Creative Services 

International Imaging for To-Your-Door Foods

Tv Commercial with +Tom Clifford, VoiceOver & Creative Services as voiceover for Meat The Fish.   Plan-A Advertising's novel approach of the "right-to-your-door" food service industry, that's built around it's social structure with upscale select fish & meat products.

It's being viewed as the flag-ship start up company for what is envisioned to become a franchised art form.  Click to view Spot.

By: +Tom Clifford, VoiceOver & Creative Services  

Halloween production 'Earlier' than Ever

The Haunt industry has been stretching Halloween's duration window for the last 10 years. Today, Halloween eclipses Christmas with a window of 4 to 6 weeks, starting as early as Mid-September.

Production for all the promotion and advertising now typically starts in Mid-July.

The Mortuary, in New Orleans, never out-of-step with trending moods, features a Zombie Outbreak this year called the Awakening with Patient Zero discounts.

Tom Clifford has been in association with the Mortuary Event Venue going on 4 years as their S-C-A-R-Y and Character voice-guy. Here's the latest quick tags for the Mortuary's September -  Friday the 13 Awakening: http://youtu.be/yjKDkzoqZUM
By: +Tom Clifford, VoiceOver & Creative Services 

International Sizzle needed for Franchisor Services

The heat was on this week for Plan A to put together an inspirational sales presentation for the F & B groups of the Cravia Co. Tom Clifford, VoiceOver & Creative Services was chosen to represent the Middle Eastern part of the World with a Call-to-Action corporate sound to compliment franchisor roll-out.

Although, the temperatures were somewhat reversed for Lebanon & New York, where a sizzling 104 degrees couldn't dampen the needed technologies of Skype and cloud uploading of massive AIFF files. All worked according to plan, albeit with several brown-outs along the way. 

http://youtu.be/V3DvhaXOR30
By: +Tom Clifford, VoiceOver & Creative Services 

New York Dermatology Practice for First Line...

Always a good feeling to get referred from a client. One more reason to think we did a good job...good enough that a client would not only vouch for TC & Co, but put it on the line for us. After all, it's their reputation.

Modern Dermatology is a recent start-up dermatology office, offering full dermatological services in N.Y's. Financial District.

Hearing what I had done for another dermatology client, they wanted the same polish to make their limited ad spending pay off with a campaign of continuity from the moment people call their office. TC & Co, gave them the professional image they deserved while On-Hold. From this end - you could tell that doctors Iyer & Frew are detailed individuals. Making sure what was said was accurate and wanting people to feel that their practice is all about being approachable. Good qualities that are a pleasure to convey.  They're located at: 65 Broadway near Rector Street. By: +Tom Clifford, VoiceOver & Creative Services

FMI rolls-out their 'Open Perils' TV with Tom Clifford

Franklin Mutual Insurance keeps the continuity of their radio with the roll-out of their "Open Perils" campaign with +Tom Clifford, VoiceOver & Creative Services . It's a pleasant tribute to any actor that conveys enuf signature image association on one media to be chosen for an entire campaign. The folks at  Morbelli & Russo Advertising  and Media Mechanix, partnered to produce a tv commercial that confronted the issue of "what's covered" with most insurance policies. 

FMI 'Open Perils' TV spot with Tom Clifford voice over

Miscommunication spawns new VO for Franklin Mutual Insurance

Been doing the voice for  FMI going on 2 years. When the agency came calling to do a TV voiceover for the insurance company they wanted to give me a guide and suppied a few YouTube videos as examples to go by. After receiving the VO takes the agency called and  wondered why I was veering from the continuity of my radio tone...the client loves your voice

Geez, I thought this was an audition and they wanted something more in line with the sound on the videos.

Well, the production co.came back after having the client had a listen and said they signed off on the first take. Saying that it still sounded like Tom's radio tone, but with just a bit more youthful lilt that was perfect for the TV.

So, it just goes to show, that a simple change-up from the normal everyday, regardless of how it came about, can have rewards. Will post link to spot when edited for release.

General US Grant's War-Time Letters

Oregon Historical Society will be exhibiting General US Grants letters and used the talents of Tom Clifford, VoiceOver & Creative Services to engage visitors of how he sounded while drafting the letters.

Tom recounts Grant's letter drafting regarding a meeting with General Longstreet. Grant  resists the meeting until one of his generals interviews Longstreet first before he will decide to meet with him.

As a bit of trivia; Lincoln and his wife invited the Grants to accompany them to Fords Theater on April 14 1865, the nite that John Wilkes Booth assassinated the president.

Still amazing after all these years

It's no wonder that after the introduction of the internet someone is able to be in two places at once...without leaving the confines of one's studio.
But recently, it still amazes me that a guy in New York can be cast from his long-time agent in Atlanta for a radio spot in Hawaii for a company in Columbia...and oh yes, speaking with a Colombian accent.

 Click to listen to spot

The Mystere Magic & Adventurers Club

Just completed the audio portion of the new Mystere Tv Spot. They wanted to step away a bit from the Mortuary tone and distinquish themselves as a premier venue for magic, entertainment and comedy. Using more of an MC promo style seemed to work for the Adventurers venue..
 https://www.facebook.com/photo.phpv=550010775043443&set=vb.153804194664105&type=2&theater

Web Touring in Toronto with Valmont Wealth Management

We're in Toronto this week with a voice of distinction for Valmont's Wealth Management Group. Working with Skype and emails for sampling, Johnson Fung of Message Studio was able to get just the right image sound for investors to get a welcoming feel of professional trust. Made as a web tutorial when you land on their website with company history and active call-to-action. 

By: +Tom Clifford, VoiceOver & Creative Services 

Terminal Bar Celebrates its 10th year on YouTube March 1st, 2013

Terminal Bar

Terminal Bar

This film pulsates the reality of what it was like in this area of New York City, before it became Disneyland…when you had to be tough to walk these streets.

It’s a bit rough around the edges for younger audiences. This 2003 Sundance Jury Prize winner for short film explores the customers who frequented the Terminal Bar – a down-&- out watering hole in Times Square across the street from the Port Authority. Sheldon Nadelman, the bartender, shot over 1,500 black and white portraits during his ten year stint there from 1972-1982. The bar was owned by Murray Goldman, Sheldon’s father-in-law. This film also uses a technique that brings to life Sheldon’s still photos with the collaboration of narrative & an original scored music from Stefan Nadelman. The result is a textural journey of electrifying images and sound. I was proud to be part of the narration and character portrayal that I hope lends this film some authenticity and enjoyment.

For more information visit:

http://www.touristpictures.com/termin…
For the followup Terminal Bar vignettes, see:
Porters, Bouncers, and Bartenders: http://youtu.be/USDCEyHt7rI
Pimps and Prostitutes: http://youtu.be/AdyZ9LOXmZA
The Garbage Can: http://youtu.be/w5_BRQ3gITI
Directed and Animated by Stefan Nadelman
Narration by Tom Clifford
Music by Dick Zved, Michael Reid, Steve Rossiter
By: +Tom Clifford, VoiceOver & Creative Services 

Yes you Can

Well, it just goes to show you, when you’re closed down creatively it ain’t gonna happen. Thing is, sometimes you can’t see that wall. Happy to say that with the right people behind you, you can shake-off the negative influences preventing you from being creative and think inside the ‘B-O-X’ again.
My agent in Texas actually noticed that something had come over me. They had a Big-Ass soda client asking for an audition that on the surface didn’t seem to have that much to wonder about it. Specs for the read were of the typical garden variety; voice should be personable…maybe with a wink here & there.  Ahhh, but there was one startling wrinkle as they say, the spot was a :60 and there was 290 words of copy. I was initially resistant and asked my agent to convey to the client a consideration to edit out some words.
They wondered why I was counting words, whereas I would normally use them as a guide or key to develop the character. They were right…I was creatively shut down.
Okay, shake off the negative, forget for a second the spot defies the normal standard of 140 words per minute. Now, what sort of character could gobble-up all those words without it sounding like fast-talker John Moschitta, from the classic Amex spots. Chris Tucker-ish maybe? OR a Dennis Leary-ish rat-a-tat-tat patter could work. Hummm. Laid down a few passes of possible characters. Sure enough, had something that sounded right and came in at :60. Actually :60.2 seconds.   Love not Like
Morale of the story – try and limit the negative influences…but, more important, catch what they’ve done to you early on.  And they don’t need to be editorialized to anyone. You wind up, perpetuating and reliving them.  And, you’re still thinking like them. It’s rubbed off. That negative, no-can-do mind set. For me, the next time I make an excuse or try and rationalize that it Can’t be Done, I’m gonna S-T-O-P the presses, Shake-Off yesterday and start coming around to the good life.

Teen Years are off to a Great Start!

Almost not enuf time to Post…With the New Year starting off with unbelievable voice & production activity!

This year off and running with the Plan-A Agency in Beirut, Lebanon, MV-Productions in New York, Occupy Phoenix in Arizona and social media clients all wanting to be heard.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Crazy-Man Productions, Muller Video productions, Plan-A Creative Agency, Tom Clifford | Leave a comment