OK, where were we? We should have mentioned that Dan was involved in playing music, and not just on the radio. He sang in church, took up drums and guitar. He even dabbled in Music Theory. The theory of his music teachers was that Dan just didn’t have any talent. Nevertheless, he believes that this background helps him today in his work as World Famous Audio Producer, Editor and Voice Guy.
While playing the drums for a tiny acting troupe, Dan met his future wife, Vicky. They were married in 1980.
So more radio stations, yada yada yada, fast-forward to 1987, when Dan and Vicky moved to Ohio, where they now reside with their 3 cats. By the way, if anyone is looking for a nice pet...
It was literally days after coming to Akron that Dan started working as a freelance voice artist. In 1989 he started his own audio production company. Dan philosophizes, “Most businesses begin with ‘excellence’ as their goal. And most businesses fail. We set a higher standard: Colors Audio has always been perfect, and will always be perfect. And we’re committed to continuous improvement.”
An uninteresting bit of trivia is that Dan originally had intended to call his enterprise “Colors Audio Services,” but just before meeting with the graphic designer shortened it to the now-familiar name, dooming himself to receive endless phone calls about speaker installation and whether the new Madonna CD is in stock.
In 1992 Dan moved the business from the production room of a radio station built next to a fire station(!) to the basement of Steve Earl’s home (not to be confused with the songwriter of a similar name but with an “e” on the end who probably lives in Nashville, or at least somewhere warmer than this). This lasted until September of 2005, when Colors moved to its new and current digs.
Education, besides the Public School and University years, includes private voice coaching; acting classes; voiceover workshops, e.g. Marice Tobias; books; cassettes, CDs, podcasts...and many years of daily “on-the-job” training. Dan now helps other voice actors get established in the business.
Specialties include copywriting, honed over years of creating commercials and other broadcast projects; an affinity for teaching, which helps with technical narration; and music-intensive productions like album- and concert spots.
Awards: the usual local and regional Addys, a couple of national things. It’s been a long time since Dan has been concerned about contests, these days preferring to let his clients win the awards and pay the entry fees.
Dan has been quoted as saying, “I can’t believe I wrote all this in third person. I’m indebted to many people who taught and encouraged me along the way; but especially to the folks who required a lot of me and didn’t act overly surprised when I occasionally met their expectations.”
Dan is glad that this bio is finished. He hopes you had a good nap.
(Click email link if still conscious.)
