The Sharper Image... and the bankruptcy isn't my fault!

I had the pleasure of doing a series of national radio spots for The Sharper Image. It was pretty dry an started off with, "Are you bored? Or bored sometimes... like right now? Then go to the Sharper Image Store. They have robots that give free massages right in the store!"

I excitedly shared news with friends after the first one I did a few months ago only to be met with the fact that they declared bankruptcy! :) They were still up and running for a while... and I still got paid so it was all good. I just emailed the contact there to see how things were going and if they had a new spot yet. Autoreply told me he no longer worked there... research told me that everybody no longer worked there (except the bankruptcy guys taking the phone calls)... they closed up shop. So now what do I do with the great reference i received from him? :) Does including the spot on my demo give the appearance that I "killed" the store?! :)

Tags: bankruptcy, image, sharper, voice

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mark Jensen on June 18, 2008 at 1:45pm: Hi Dave,
Just my opinion; but if you did a good job for them (and I'm sure you did), then tout your work to the hilt.

Your concern simply shows that you take a lot of pride in your work.

Best,
- Mark; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dina Monaco-Boland on June 18, 2008 at 2:06pm: Ahhhhh.... so now I know who's fault it is! Wow, talk about bringing down the house... you brought down a whole company!!

JUST JOSHING!!!!

Seriously though, I think the great reference you received still stands. I also do not think that including the spot on your demo would give the appearance that you "killed" the store.... unless...... Don't you own stock in Hammacher Schlemmer? KIDDING! JUST KIDDING!!!!!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave DeAndrea on June 18, 2008 at 2:27pm: Well.. I'm just starting to worry that people might think I'm a jinx... I mean... ya see... um... before this gig I was the voice of Enron.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by CJ Adams on June 18, 2008 at 3:50pm: Dave, whatever you do, do NOT take any gigs voicing for Coke Zero - I live on the stuff - the first "diet" soda I could drink without rinsing my mouth afterwards with something that tasted better - like, say, strychnine...or cat litter.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dina Monaco-Boland on June 19, 2008 at 12:31am: Hey, I rather like the piquant taste of cat litter. It also has great texture.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by James Clamp on June 19, 2008 at 9:27pm: Hey Dave, I agree with Mark and Dina. If it fits in your demo put it in and then don't be ashamed to tout your work as any proud VO artist should/would. Good luck mate, James; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Roy P. Cunningham on June 29, 2008 at 11:33pm: Dave... I love this story... it's really funny that you stste you killed the store... OH MY...
just great!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by J S Gilbert on June 30, 2008 at 1:41pm: There's a lovely little story about this particular voice talent that an ad agency I was working with wanted to use for a rather big ad campaign. However, the talent had done a ton of those Nazi narrations for the History Channel and in the end didn't get the ad job because they felt his voice was too associated with Hitler, et al.

Oh well, what's a talent to do?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave DeAndrea on June 30, 2008 at 1:59pm: I can totally understand that. Just this past weekend we were watching a movie and a certain actor came on (who's name I don't know) who i always remember as playing this "creepy pervert" guy in a film years ago. So, ven though he was playing a kind, grandfather type in this film, in my mind, he's still the creepy pervert guy.

Perhaps it's because that was the FIRST impression I had of him. Some actors can pull of a variety of roles and that doesn't happen. Like Anthony Hopkins.. he can go from Hanibal to CS Lewis and when I watch Shadowlands I don't feel like his CS Lewis character is going to make a human face mask out of anyone. :)

I'm sure (or at least I hope) the actor is actually more like the kind, grandfather and less like the CPG...

Guess it pays off in the long run to be selective as to which roles you pursue and accept.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Roy P. Cunningham on June 30, 2008 at 2:04pm: You guys are lucky... look at my mug...
...guess what supporting / extras character I got lots of work to play?; ▶ Reply to This