Writing/Audio Production
Client: LBA Radio Commercial
Drain Cleaning
LBA Air Conditioning, Heating, and Plumbing needed a commercial to show off their camera pipe inspection, and pipe sleeving remedies. They hired Magnificent Cowlick Media LLC for copywriting, and using their jingle sing tag at the end, I crafted a :30 conversation that between a man and wife that was playful, fun, and got their important relevancy points out to the listener.
I also helped them seek out voice actors from two Kansas City talent agencies, and guided them in the final decision-making. The audio was mixed by me.
This commercial won 1st Place during the 2017 Missouri Broadcaster Awards for Large Market Radio.
Writing/Voice Acting/Audio Production
Client: MVP Electric Heating and Cooling
Jack Frost
The client wanted to advertise installing a new York heating system, but didn't want the usual list of name and price. They wanted something... different.
Working from the idea of "Don't Call MVP" as a way to surprise the listener, I came up with Jack Frost not as a mature marauder, but as a young, friendly slacker who would love to live in your basement, and just hang out with you, freezing your pipes.
I was copywriter, voice actor, and audio producer.
This piece won 2nd Place during the 2017 Missouri Broadcaster Awards for Large Market Radio.
Writing
Client: Buy.com (Mock up)
Santaclaustrophobia
Black Friday can seem more like bleak Friday, as rabid masses clear the shelves. Your choices keep getting smaller... and smaller... until you catch Santaclaustrophobia! Buy.com to the rescue.
I've been there, when the shelves seem empty of everything on your gift list. So I created this mock-up to help express the perky paranoia of the ho-ho-hopeless gift finder.
As copywriter, I used my not-exactly-awesome photoshop skills to create an accompanying visual.
Writing/Voice Acting/Audio Production
Client: MVP Electric Heating and Cooling
No Breakdown Guarantee
A DIY kind of guy guy chooses a pro to get his hvac running smoothly- as smooth as the hotrod in his garage. And it's good for his family, too.
Using theater of the mind (and a plethora of sound effects from which to choose), I created the garage, in suburban USA, our protagonist could work on his care, take care of his wife, and get his a/c fixed- thanks to MVP.
I was the copywriter and audio producer, with the voice actors including me and he excellent voice actor Catherine Mangan.
This was nominated for the 2019 Radio Mercury Award for Radio Station Produced Commercial.
Writing/Voice Acting/Audio Production
Client: Awesome Shrimp
Radio Series, incorporating a :15 Jingle
Wisconsin's "Awesome Shrimp" wanted a new commercial, something to "grab attention." The account exec mentioned the owner was a little "off the wall" and loved rock and roll.
Oh, really?
So I went zipping through the huge selection of music Entercom (Audacy) has rights to use in commercials, found a bed, started writing lyrics... and the :13 second jingle was born.
Then the client wanted it in :30 second spots... and where there's an audio maniac, there's a way.
I was copywriter and audio producer for all the scripts. I was also the sole voice actor, except the female voice in the "Muffy and Brett" spot (Shaylee Henning). That spot also won 3rd place for Humorous Commercial in the 2019 Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Awards for Excellence.
Writing
Client: Velveeta (Mock up)
Innagoddavelveeta, Baby
Velveeta. The party maker who's groovy with almost anything.
I had frequently sung this when the song would come on classic rock radio, and it struck me- what a fun ad this would make.
As copywriter, I used my not-exactly-awesome photoshop skills to create an accompanying visual.
Writing
Client: Manus Advertising Agency
Ryan Lawn and Tree :30 Television Commercial
Love means never having to say "your lawn is sorry." It can be amusing, too, with the way we suburbanites adore our lush landscapes.
Manus Advertising was looking for something out of the box, fun but still appealing to the suburban class, for television. I was hired as copywriter, plus you'll see my horrible storyboard artwork. Bless their hearts for not having to get therapy after seeing that. 🙂
Writing/Voice Acting/Audio Production
Client: Deluxe
Recruitment Robot
Making a recruitment spot no boring. Most places don't seem to care- but Deluxe did. In 2019, I wrote this for them at Entercom (Audacy).
I wrote the script and mixed the spot. Voices included JP Pauley, Catherine Mangan, and myself as the announcer.
This commercial won first place for large market radio in the 2019 Missouri Broadcasters Association awards.
Writing/Voice Acting/Audio Production
Client: Pony Express Brewery
Mom and Dad's Slide Show
Pony Express Brewery in Olathe, KS, was revamping in 2005, and really didn't have a particular theme for it's marketing. I took the copypoints the Entercom account exec gave me, and as copywriter I ran with them. First, the slug line- and "Express Yourself," as this was a struggling microbrewery looking for its own identity. Second, I wanted it to be funny for the dominantly male demographic radio stations the commercial would run on.
I wrote the script, and the amazingly talented Jim Moore mixed it. Voice actors included myself, Jim Moore, and one of the office staff, a terrific lady who went by Patti.
This commercial won first place for Humorous Radio Commercial in the 2006 Kansas Association of Broadcasters awards.
Scriptwriting
Client: First Robotics
What's Under the Hood?
Engineers are a very cool, very unique breed. Especially entrepreneur engineers who like math, robots, rock and roll, and really good bourbon. Creating excitement can be a mix of old-fashioned back-yard mechanic know how, and the new breed of electronic wizardry.
This company would eventually bring you Hexbots, but at the time did (and still does) amazing work with young engineers. They hired me to be the copywriter for this ad, which they used in their program at a national event in Disney World.
Writing/Voice Acting/Audio Production
Client: Sit Means Sit
When Your Best Friend Becomes Your Worst Enemy
The client wanted to paint the picture of your dog obeying. They also liked humor. As copywriter for Entercom, I started with radio theater of two owners praising their dogs- for being very bad dogs. Then the announcer enters, with the answer for a very happy dog, and dog owner.
I was the audio producer, and the voice actors included Karen Gruender, Andrew Harlander, and myself as the announcer.
This commercial won Honorable Mention for large market radio in the 2019 Missouri Broadcasters Association awards.
Writing
Client: Xmas Marks the Spot!
Full-length Stage Play
In 2004, I belonged to a group of actors called "Commedia Sans Arte." We had time reserved time at the Off Broadway Theater in Kansas City for the Christmas season, and we were going to do a show. But what? We were improv players, and could do ye aulde sketch stuff. Except, what if...
What if I wrote a full length play, adapting "A Christmas Carol" to a piratic theme (pirates were hot in 2004, thank you Johnny Depp)...
Yes, and?
And we did exactly that. It was extremely successful, with hilariously talented actors willing to make this playwright's script shine, and allow me to direct with all the gentle skill of a ball peen hammer. It's not often that Ebenezer Scourge, treacherous pirate captain, is visited by three ghosts of Pirates Past: a drunk redneck, a psychotic psychoanalyst, and a dead Mary DeKay lady. It was a blast.
Writing
Client: Kansas City Roller Warriors
Dominated by Women
The Roller Warriors wanted a video to accompany their radio campaign. The radio account exec knew I had my own little media company, and got me in touch.
As a copywriter, the challenge wasn't dialogue/verbiage, because the fun was to show the action, and the client's branding that roller derby isn't just for guys. It involved planning shots, with the scripting at the end.
I was the videographer, the audio producer, the voice actor, and one of the male video actors.
Writing
Client: Magnificent Cowlick Media
Fiction Anthologies
Fiction. My first love, and favorite- because it's truth told through a crafted lie. To create a life on the pages, that touches others, is a joy that's hard to describe, other than thoroughly satisfying.
I've had stories and poetry published elsewhere, but I wanted these books to be...mine. In only one is the writing all mine; but the joy of being an editor guiding the writer, helping with the story; a publisher, working with a graphic designer and artists to create the covers and logos; creating my own promotional pieces for social media (you can see lots of those in ), selling the books at events...delicious. And a heckuva lot of work. I've published five books, and as of this moment am working on a poetry collection that's all my writing, and another anthology collection that will be all mine (don't ask about the novel; it's taking a looooong time).
As a matter of fact, NPR did an interview about my writing, and the great writing group I belong to here in KC:
