Don’t Give Up, Hope.

Watch the video to hear how I express my shame at having attempted to give up on something after having spent criminally little time in my attempt to master it.

The Monthly Malt – Highland Park 12 Year

This month, our panel of seasoned and amateur tasters tackles the Highland Park 12 Year, an island Scotch that they themselves describe as “Rich with well balanced malt and s subtle floral smokey aroma”.

Again, the primary function of this series is to showcase that there is no prescribed professional vocabulary that must be used to describe things(beverages in this case). Listen to their thoughts by clicking below.

Highland Park 12 year is currently available for $49.96 in Michigan.

Christmas Folk, An Original Audio Play For Christmas

This story has become something wonderful for me, not just because it marks the first time I was able to employ a full cast behind the mic, but also because creating it reminded me of the wonderful, innocent, beautiful magic that surrounds this season. I dearly hope you enjoy, and please, share with your friends and family.

Now presenting – Christmas Folk

Written, produced, and edited by Doug Dorda.

Pecos Bill – Dan Rickabus

Babe – Colin Ragan

Johnny – George Benson

Photo Essay, Frederik Meijer Gardens Holiday Traditions

My wife and I recently visited one of our favorite destinations in all of Michigan, The Frederik Meijer Gardens. Around this time of year they display their holiday traditions. Allow me to say only, that it is so beautiful I asked my wife to marry me at the gardens during their time of display, I hope these pictures might inspire you to visit.

 

In front of the tree she agreed to marry me under!

Christmas spirit abounds at the gardens

DIY Sound Booth

Since I have decided to become a voice actor, a dedicated space in which to record my vocals has become something of a necessity. Searching for home, or portable solutions that were also less costly often led to mixed opinions and varying degrees of success. Finally, I decided to grab the bull by the horns and come up with my own design. Attempt one was meant to be something  of a temporary solution, and quite frankly, it shows. However, the PVC Cube wrapped in moving blankets and lined with gun case foam did prove effective. For proof, listen to any of the preceding audio I have posted on the blog.

Materials for V:1 Audio booth.

Admittedly a bit hard to see, but the structure housed my mic, computer, and scripts for recording.

V:1 of my audio booth cost roughly $30 to create, for anyone interested in the plans, please comment below. Though the structure worked, it was also stifled by a few limitations. Chief among the limitations, the fact that I was forced to sit to record. Anyone who has recorded before will know that it is a hell of a lot easier to sound natural and lively while standing. With this goal in mind, I decided to design an upgrade…

For this project you will need: 1. Any power drill. 2. Any Power Saw. 3. Staple gun, brad gun, or nail gun. 4. Wood and shelf Brackets of your choice. 5. A kick ass assistant (specifically in this case, my wife. Her patience with me is to be praised). 6. Moving blankets, or whatever sound deadening material of your choice. Pictures of the construction of the booth, our experience building it, and the fist recording from within the booth are in the video below. Please comment for greater detail, or step by step instruction.

The Monthly Malt – Forty Creek

The monthly malt is a new monthly series in which you can hear candid perceptions of whiskey as it is tasted and smelled for the first time. The panel of tasters will be comprised by novice and experienced whiskey drinkers in order to gain the broadest perspective. The goal of the series is to showcase the fact that there is no prescribed professional vocabulary for describing the taste and smell of whiskey. Or, more simply, to do away with the sometimes “stuffy” nature of simply enjoying a beverage.

The first whiskey we taste is Forty Creek a wonderfully affordable bottle that will satisfy Bourbon, Scotch, or Canadian Whiskey drinkers alike.

To Create Or Consume, That Is The Question…

As I have decided to make more of a concerned effort to dedicate time to my voice acting, my mind grapples each week with the prospect of either creating or consuming. To simplify, I mean to say that I either want to enjoy stories in the form of books, movies, shows etc… or try to create my own stories that might potentially come to life in the minds of those around me,so long as I take the time to tell them.

I’ve been listening to the podcast Voice Acting Mastery, by Crispin Freeman and it has done nothing if not inspire me to “love the art in myself”. I have extrapolated this quote to encompass art as a whole. I envision art like a vast, glimmering ocean. From the oceanic “art”, there are contributing streams and rivers, as well as runoff streams and rivers. In my mind, I see myself as forming a tributary current into the art whenever I create stories of my own. In that way, others may form a “run-off” current from the vast art collective that may include my own art! That is truly a marvelous thing.

It is in this spirit that I feel confident allowing this week to be one of creation. There is a frightful wonder riding within me as I type, for this week I have decided to script a story that has not yet been told. This nervous anxious electricity reminds of what it felt like to believe as a child does, allowing the never before seen to become my oldest friend in an instant. In short – no audio this week, but a promise of a story to come.

Michigan Made Craft Beverages For Thanksgiving

Hear me offer my suggested pairings for all of the delightful and daunting moments of Thanksgiving dinner.

Featuring: Founders Breakfast Stout , Tart Side Of The Moon by Brewery Vivant, 3 Scrooges by Griffin Claw Brewing co, Nunica Pine by VanderMill, and Bill’s Michigan Wheat from New Holland Distilling

Duluth Trading Co. Firehose Gear Bag Review

A truly exceptional bag is beyond a mere convenience, in fact, it constitutes a necessity for those who journey through this world. The firehose gear bag from Duluth Trading Co. is quite possibly the most versatile, rugged, cool, and practical bag I have ever had the pleasure of owning. This bag, as well as any of the other wares offered by Duluth Trading co. are, for lack of better terminology, mid-westerner armor! Don something of their make and you will most assuredly be ready for anything mother nature has in store.

The Golden Voice of the Great Lakes, Or Why I Want To Be A Voice Actor

As a young boy, my fathers voice boomed from loud speakers as he announced my peewee football games. Robin Williams simply breathed into Peter pan, a genie, an old woman, and a hopeful, if not complicated, doctor. Jim Carrey donned a mask and I tore around the neighborhood screaming AWOOGAHH! My mother read my brother and I to sleep, and for that, stories did not seem real unless they were punctuated by her laughter and the scent of Vicks on her chest. The whole of my upbringing seemed to be painted in the hues of rich character voices that turned the world into something more than just what I could see.

My father used to announce himself at games as “The Golden Voice of the Great Lakes”! Though the days of peewee football are long since gone, the power of his and so many other voices to inspire me into action is something I treasure so dear that I have made it my life’s ambition to follow in their footsteps and inspire wonders by painting the world with my voice. My hope is that I will paint with a shade of gold that my father and mother would be proud of.