Of iPhone apps, quilt making and sitting on the toilet…
Dr Mumbo has received the following press release. He republishes it here in full, without further comment…
Ex sapientnitro account director & vic youngbloods chair debuts tonight on channel seven’s winners & losers
At a recent casting, Jana was asked ‘what do you do with yourself?’
‘I run an voice over casting app for iPhone, the Melbourne branch of Peekaboo Magazine, one for mums with kids, oh and I’m an actor’
“What do you do in your spare time, if any?” the casting director asked.
“Umm.. cooking, gardening, cleaning… general sorting of stuff… oh, and I’ve been making quilts”
12months ago Jana was in a month-to-month contract with SapientNitro. M&C Saatchi for nearly 4 years before that, and North Queensland, where she cut her teeth on some of Australia’s largest and most sensitive projects.
Approaching 29, Jana finally feels she’s on track. Her focus on her passion, acting, has helped drive her success managing the launch of a world first, the iPhone app talentplease, set to change the way agencies cast voice talent.
“The app saves agencies and clients time and money. It gives creative teams complete control over their campaigns, and for voice artists.
“We’ve done all the screening for you. Top talent, from top agencies, and freelance artists who have been around for years and now manage their own careers.
If you actually listen to the radio, the same people are voicing the ads we write and record. How can we expect key brand messages to cut through?
The extensive search criteria means you can drill down to the exact voice you’re thinking of in your head. Standard criteria such as gender, location, age range, then use the Style Builder to add as many different styles as you like.
The data is stored on an external server, not on your phone. You simply send your search query via the app, and within seconds a selection of premium voice artists are delivered to your phone. Listen, forward to clients, call the agent to check avails, and book instantly.
Jana first appeared on our screens sitting on a toilet, for OneHD’s Pro Shop, which led to this role on Winners & Losers tonight.
Jana assures us there’s more to her, than just bathroom scenes. Winners & Losers screens tonight on Channel 7, at 8:30pm.
Who said you need a PR agency to write your releases for you?
Just wow.
I’ve given many a media release writing 101 presentation, but this is something else. Although I can’t imagine why anyone would actually pay for such shoddy content, I assume some poor/ignorant person did.
Thanks for sharing – a great case study.
@ghostwhowrites
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My head hurts
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Exactly what or who is this supposed to be selling/promoting? I’m with Andrew. My head hurts too!
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I give up…is it Jana Wendt? Jana Pittman-Rawlinson? Jana Banana?
No matter how good or bad it’s written: it’s actually got attention.
That’s a success in itself.
Thank you for sharing Mumbrella!
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As a PR Consultant myself, it’s always irked me that people consider it one of those jobs ‘anyone could do…if they just had the time’. This is proof, if any more were needed, that it simply isn’t so. Problem is, those who need the help most are the least likely to recognise it…
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Are we sure this isn’t a stooge? Something this bad could be a set up! If not, then like Andrew and Dan, my head really hurts!
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At least she’s not working in advertising any more.
Probably has a great career ahead, quilting while sitting on the loo.
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Sometimes enthusiasm and excitement override technical ability and industry know-how. Jana had a message to get out and she did.
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I don’t think it’s that badly written. I simply think the vehicle is wrong, as this isn’t media release material. If it had been pitched to a few suitable targets, as a story about a new app, with an interesting back story about the developer as an added bonus, it probably wouldn’t have sounded so… well… silly.
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@ 12:16pm sounds like a much more rewarding career than working with Anonymous types like you!
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My favourite part is “If you actually listen to the radio” – it’s doubtless inadvertent misuse of language, but the subtext comes across as “which not many people do”.
What a great reason to hire voiceover talent for your next radio campaign!
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I love her and the strange yet shameless tone of random self promotion. I predict great success as an actress
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Interesting..quite a shocker.
I’m still studying PR and feel I could do a better job…
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I second Victoria. Have to give her points for chutzpah!
@3.23pm – Jana, clearly, is not a publicist so I would hope you could do a better job.
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Jana Wilkes.
A gold star for effort. A chocolate starfish for execution.
I’ll wager she has a cat.
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A dog actually…
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Lovely. Give it a pat from me.
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To be clear – there is nothing redeeming about this release at all.
Sure, it got *our* attention (ie, industry professionals who care about the quality of their work), but I doubt it achieved anything other than annoying/frustrating/confusing the very people it was produced for.
There’s no lead or clear angle; the quotes are terrible (and not punctuated properly), and there’s a litany of other grammatical sins. I’m with Robyn – the “anyone can do it” mentality is not just wrong, it’s dangerous. The best you could hope for is that the poor person on the receiving end of this read it out aloud in the newsroom and joked about what a shocker it was.
What’s much more likely is the stressed, time-poor journo probably opened it, only to register an instant “WTF?” and then made a mental note never to read releases from the PR/agency again.
That Tim chose to fish this out of the flotsam that is his daily email says it all really.
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@Nerissa I would expect a level of “industry know-how” from someone who was an Account Director for Sean Cummins. Getting your message out there is great; sabotaging your credibility isn’t.
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This did make want to download the app…. now I’m about to delete it because I cant work out how to turn off the annoying push notifications..
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For those of you who aren’t friends with Jana on Facebook, here is her status update in response to this: “Assumption makes an ass of you and I, or does it? What happens when one assumes journos research their releases and / or call for comment, rather than a simple cut and paste. Happy Wednesday!”
Who wants to tell her that the point of Press Releases is they contain approved content that can be published immediately? You’d think she would atleast have googled “How to write a Press Release”! Assumption makes an ass of you when you think you can provide ridiculous content, that journos wil fact check it AND contact you for comment.
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Hi Tim/Robin, Can you tell me for future reference how you prefer to receive Press Releases and whether PDF format would do?
Ta
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Hi Alison,
PDFs are fine but it would be great if you can also copy and paste the text into the body of the email.
Cheers,
Alice – Mumbrella
I downloaded the app too, it promised so much and delivered so little. It’s clunky to operate and the talent listing is poor… very poor. Jana’s approach to try to sell this thing to talent and to those who book talent could be likened to a bulldog eating porridge; ferocious, messy, ugly.
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@mw learn how to use your iPhone settings.
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@3balls next thing you’ll say is that google is just a search engine with a clunky White interface…you twat!!!
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@Sarah Jana tells us her background is in advertising. Not PR. Very different gigs.
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@ghostwhowrites: I think we all realise that isn’t a quality piece of work. Perhaps you should lighten up a little? Sure you have a point, but your condescending tone doesn’t do yourself any favours either.
@3balls & @About to unfriend: Well… just… wow… the guise of anonymity, hey? Amazing.
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I used the app…. I like it. Great idea – wish I thought of it!
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Regardless of what some may think of Jana’s press release, she is obviously an interesting and quirky individual with a hell of a lot of passion. I agree with Victoria and also predict great success as an actress.
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I like the app, I just downloaded it then.
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Is it just me being cynical, but the only 4 positive app reveiws are “anonymous”?
Im thinking Jana is doing some quick, but subtle like a brick to the head, damage control here.
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@Thomas Dodson I agree. I would not use a pseudonym usually but being able to see Jana and her mates commentary around this on FB is priceless.
@Nerissa advertising and PR are both about communications – one isn’t necessarily an expert at the other but a level of understanding is expected. Friends should stop friends from making fools of themselves.
@KJ You missed the tone of Victoria’s post.
Admission – I did actually watch Winners and Losers and didn’t see a new character did the debut happen?
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Mmmmm? I’d agree with the comment that this doesn’t read like a press release, because it really isn’t one…which is why I hate the comment ‘who said you need a PR Agency to write your Press Releases’?. Of course you bloody need one, or at least someone who understand where to put the focus…’cos in my reading, that’s where this piece falls down…but geez…some of you guys are positively vicious! I know Jana and ‘chutzpah’ is a great word to describe what she has. If you ever wanted to work with someone who throws courage, enthusiasm and talent behind everything she takes on, work with her. I know the app too. Hell, I’m on it. As a v/o artist, why wouldn’t I want to part of this innovative new (and evolving) technology?
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Do you really think she would?
Her view on ‘anon’ is pretty clear here:
https://mumbrella.com.au/sean-cummins-hate-comment-on-industry-blogs-made-me-think-about-topping-myself-48508
@ all the PR professionals, instead of slagging off, why not poach yourself a new client?
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@Abbe: I agree wholeheartedly. I’m not sure why there are so many ill-spirited responses here. Press release perfection it is not, but to shoot down a talented woman with a quirky, endearing style is just mean-spirited and rancourous.
I’m a professional voice artist and I use the app to great success. It’s a functional and convenient way to be cast for jobs and also see what other artists are out there. Jana is supportive, enthusiastic and a tonne of fun, as she looks after us ‘talent’.
@ghostwhowrites: I find your posts rather condescending and somewhat elitist. Perhaps not too far from the acerbic attitudes of the ‘haters’ of same sex marriage equality that you have denounced on Twitter of late?
A cup of tea, a Bex and a good lie down for all. For the voice over business, Talent Please represents the future. Don’t slam it, embrace it.
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Is Lee Perry on the app?
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Wow! 38 comments.
@ghostwhowrites – thank you for your feedback. I’d love to see the case study when you’re done.
@Robyn – I agree.
@acatinatree – of course people listen to the radio. The question is, do the writers who write the ads, or the producers who work with them to cast? Most ad agencies I’ve been in have their own music playing, and most creatives I know work til late at night, which makes me wonder when would they listen? When would they know that the same tried and trusted voice artist they love and wish to cast, have also been cast by 7 other brands…. and played in the same ad break. Cut through, anyone?
@About to Unfriend – Really? That extreme? Go forth, please do. You obviously know me and who I am, so if you can’t tell when I’m taking the piss out of myself (which, being me, happens a fair bit) then I find it hard to think you’re a ‘friend’ of mine.
@Kirsty – you must have deleted your comment as I can no longer see it. As I have only physically visited a handful of recording studios, and all but one have signed on, I do wonder who you must be. Either way, I’m sorry you felt that way and hope to catch up with you soon to address all your concerns.
Bottom line: talentplease has been developed by a sound studio passionate about making the voice casting process more efficient for producers and creatives, saving clients, agencies, studios and talent time and money. It’s a NEW way, and it’s constantly evolving. We want it to work for you, not against you, to bring you premium talent, and save you the legwork – which is what it does.
Please, take a look and email me personally with any feedback – positive or negative – and I’m happy to come meet you and talk you through it too.
And PR pros, perhaps you would like to take us on?
Have a lovely day, and thank you Tim for publishing.
Cheers
Jana
@3balls – Thank you for the feedback. I’m sorry you feel that way. Please, get in touch, I’ll buy you a beer and you can tell me all about it.
@Thomas Dodson – Sent a personal reply to Oddee, given that was the only contact you listed. Is that your site? Nope, no ‘damage control’ there, would love to know which ‘Anons’ were flying our flag – thank you.
@Abbe & Ranjeet – the world (and perhaps this blog) needs more people like you.
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Finding voice-over talent is ridiculously easy. Do you want –
a) Adam Zwar
b) Samuel Johnson
or
c) Angus Sampson
There you go – no need for an app.
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…this whole feed is just really awkward. And man there’s a lot of haters out there.
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