The title of today’s post reads like a clickbait solicitation for a cult, I know. Now you’re afraid that I’ve shaved my head (except for one thin patch down the middle) and quit my job so I can sell flowers at the airport. But that’s not what this story is about. …
Lisa’s Pieces pieces have been on the move. Here’s an update on where to find us when you’re in London. …
I posted this tribute to Skip Prokop in June of 2016 as he stepped down from performing. Skip died this past week and I noticed some new comments on this post, so I thought I would share it with you again. Skip was a genuinely nice man whose talent was under-appreciated, I think. He will be missed.
The name Skip Prokop has been part of my consciousness since I started choosing my own music to listen to. The founder of Lighthouse and Canadian rock icon has come in and out of my life over the years, although I doubt he’d recall my name if I saw him this week. In other words, his brief cameos in my life have been much more memorable than mine in his. Skip recently announced his retirement from performing. His son, Jamie, has been behind the drum kit for Lighthouse since 2014, but now it’s official. Jamie is also working on his Dad’s biography. Skip suffers from a long list of health problems including diabetes, heart issues – including surgery and having to be revived twice following major heart attacks – recovery from alcohol abuse and other fallout from a hard rock life.
…
Repost – Throwback Thursday – Skip Calls it a DayRead More »
Hate isn’t the opposite of love, fear is. I truly believe that the root of hatred, whether it’s white supremacy or any of those other disgusting world views, is fear. Ignorance. Insecurity. They might be buried deeply but they’re down there. …
When Ken’s away, I’ll do whatever it takes to not be boring.  Our morning show – a talk show, may I remind you – eats up so much more content when there’s just one person at the helm. Without Ken there to keep the conversation going, there’s only so much I can do alone that’s interesting. Oh, I could prattle on incessantly if I loved the sound of my own voice a bit more! But “interesting” is the key! …
Months ago, we were given an old sewing machine and I knew immediately that I wanted it to be the base for a table. Meanwhile, we bought another couple of machines and earmarked them for the same fate. But we had to wait for just the right piece of wood. I wanted live-edge and beautiful but imperfect. …
Donald D’Haene is a retired London performer, reviewer, TV host, author and columnist. He’s also not a hugger. Today, I’m handing my blog space over to him.Â
…
Guest Post by Donald D’Haene – Thank-you Jerry SeinfeldRead More »
Although Derek continues to make tables and other items out of wood, he seems to have found his niche in making one-of-a-kind lamps. He also loves the work. I tell him that they’re functional works of art and he says, aw, g’won. But they are. …
About once a year since I moved to London someone will ask me if I know Allison Graham. When I say I don’t, they’re always surprised. Everyone knows Allison Graham! And if they don’t yet, they will once her new book gets around. …
Update April 2022: This post still brings me regular email! And I think it’s only fair to point out that it’s SIX years old, and things have changed at Voices.com. They’re transparent about their fees, and there are other things that have improved. My experience is historical now and out of date.
As I write this, I’ve been a full-time voice actor for nearly 4 years. I still maintain that carefully selected Pay-2-Play voice-over casting websites can be a worthwhile supplement to a full-time voice-over career, but they shouldn’t be relied on. Thanks, Lisa
Since joining Voices.com a few years ago, I’ve been its champion. I have the greatest respect for homegrown founders, Stephanie and David Ciccarelli and the company has grown dramatically. But I’m not going to renew with them as a voice actor when my membership expires in January. Since I’ve been so public about my support for them in the past, I feel I should be just as open about why I’ve changed my mind. I’m directly responsible for no fewer than a half-dozen people joining the site. I need to update my stance. …
It’s been eight years since I made a permanent move back to London from Toronto. Eight. I hope that by repeating it, it will sink in as real because it’s a big number for what feels like a short amount of time. …
When our Mayor revealed his affair with his then-Deputy Mayor, we – as a news organization – were called names and overwhelmed with texts and social media postings about how awful we were to report it. Keep in mind that Matt Brown had gone from news organization to news organization on what I now refer to as his “apology tour”, and there were many questions about whether this affair affected city hall business. …
It’s been a year since I started at CJBK. And we’re already launching the second morning show of my career stop there.Â
…
I first met Dick Williams when I was working at 1039 FM here in London. His son, DJ, was the station’s Sales Manager and Dad had dropped by before joining him for lunch. Dick is a broadcasting legend in this city and he’s finally releasing to the public the stories that have entertained his friends for so many years. …
For years, I wanted to see England and France. Eight springs ago, I finally got my wish. It was a wonderful trip with a few days in Paris, a few days in London, time spent in Kent and Nice as well as a week at a beautiful bed and breakfast in a medieval town called Cagnes Sur Mer. …
Whenever someone mentions Prince, the following story comes to mind. And yesterday, when news of his death at 57 started burning up social media, it came back in vivid purple colour. It was the time Prince came to London, Ontario. In 1984, I was working at CKSL and so was Derek when his purpleness was spotted in the Forest City. As my friend Dan Brown writes, this was long before he lived in Toronto or had any ties to Canada. …
Perhaps you’ve heard of the latest dumb thing to come out of my city. I love London, but sometimes we lead the country in idiotic ideas. …
For years, when we drove down Colonel Talbot Road toward Lambeth, we’d look at a large, grey-sided house set back in a generous yard and oooh and ahh over it. It came to symbolize a “dream home” for us. It had an attached double-garage and looked very stately and beautiful. …