As HOLDCOM celebrates its 20th Anniversary, it’s only fitting to recognize some of our clients who have embraced our services from the beginning. Such is the case with The Holdcom Voice’s November 2008 Client of the Month: Big Apple Car – a loyal customer since 1989!

Since 1983, passengers have depended upon Big Apple Car to transport them to their destination in a safe, comfortable, and timely fashion. As the only New York State- and New York City- certified Women-Owned Businesses in the black car industry, Big Apple Car also provides specialized services through three separate divisions: VIP Gold, which provides upscale, "umbrella, red carpet" ground transportation service; Goldstar Transportation, which serves the needs of their Asian clientele`, and Echelon, the "green" division, which offers fuel-efficient, luxury-chauffeured transportation in Lexus hybrid vehicles and - as a first in the black car industry - Lincoln Town Cars fueled by compressed natural gas.

Nineteen years ago, Big Apple Car decided to use their telephone hold-time to communicate with their clients to promote their services while keeping them on the line. Since their very first message, the company has continued to keep their content fresh and informative with regularly scheduled updates of their Message-On-Hold programs. Recently, they decided that a portion of their On-Hold Greeting would be voiced by Diana Clemente, company President. So one weekday morning she visited Holdcom’s recording studio for her session. “This is a great way to show our clients that commitment comes from all levels, and we are grateful for the assistance Holdcom provided in making this recording,” explains Diana. “Indeed,” she continued, “we are very pleased with every aspect of customer service we receive from Holdcom; everyone has been so friendly and helpful, especially Vito, whom we would like to especially thank.”

A professionally recorded On-Hold greeting allows Big Apple Car to make the best possible first impression when call volume is too heavy for a live operator to immediately greet the customer. The inserts also allow the company to introduce new services and convey important information to customers while they are waiting on hold.

Throughout their years of service, Diana and Big Apple Car have been proud recipients of numerous awards and honors, including a ranking as one of the Top 25 "NY Area's Largest Women-Owned Companies" by Crain's New York Business every year since 2002. But Diana emphasizes that the loyalty of her clients and the commitment of her team are the greatest rewards of all. She was pleased to note that Big Apple Car recently honored over 40 employees and drivers who have given 20 or more years of service to Big Apple Car. Learn more about Big Apple Car by visiting www.BigAppleCar.com today!

Congratulations Big Apple Car!

Globalizing Your Brand for Foreign Audiences

HOLDCOM recently completed an interesting project for a major bio-pharmaceutical company that required multi-lingual audio production for a video presentation. With offices and markets in numerous countries, our client needed to “globalize” their existing corporate video, which featured employee interviews, testimonials and a speech by their CEO...all in English. After considering several language options, they decided to start with a Japanese version of the presentation, using a format known as “U.N. style” (United Nations). “U.N. style” refers to the timing and dynamic level of the dubbed translation; there is a slight delay in positioning the Japanese voice track so the original English can still be heard faintly in the background.

Since scripts were not available, the first step involved producing a transcript of the English narrative. Timing cues were a critical component of this script, which had to be carried over into the Japanese translation to ensure accurate synchronization throughout the recording process. Holdcom’s “authentic” Japanese voice talents (male and female were required) were enlisted to record approximately 30 minutes of audio, followed by careful post-production, involving audio to video editing, mixing and assembly. Holdcom successfully combined the Japanese language recording with the original English audio and video track, and re-authored the client DVD to match the original menu screens and navigation options.

If your company or organization is interested in an effective solution to reach employees, prospective clients, and new partners on a global scale, whether for a training video, a research presentation, or an executive speech or seminar, Holdcom can meet your needs. Your multi-media project need no longer be limited to a single language, culture or country.

And, utilizing this process, Holdcom can produce a DVD with multiple, selectable languages, as well as subtitles! Contact us today to find out how we can globalize your corporate videos.

Irene had some fun while under the Voice Over Spotlight for her November 2008 feature. Read on with a smile…

Holdcom Voice: How did you get into voice over work?
Irene: Kicked down doors. It was tough to break in, but I was persistent, and had something to offer. Contrary to rumor, I am not a stalker. I was never convicted of that charge.

HV: How long have you been working as a voice over?
Irene: Over 20 years. I owe it to my vanity not to get specific.

HV: What is the most exciting/interesting aspect of working as a voice over talent?
Irene: The envy of on-camera talents, who clearly wish they could work in their pajamas, too.

HV: Is there anything you’d like to share about yourself with our readers?
Irene: I teach acting at the University of Richmond. I’ve written two books of fiction and six collections of monologues. I’m an excellent parallel parker.

HV: What about career highlights… any that you’d like to mention?
Irene: I’ve played the long-suffering wife in dozens of movies and TV shows, I narrated the award-winning documentary film: In the Face of Evil: Ronald Reagan’s War in Word and Deed, I supplied the voice to a talking Mercedes Benz…and I was once yelled at by Anne Bancroft.

Imagine how much energy Irene could put behind your next recording! Sample her voice at www.holdcom.com/voices.

OK Holdcom Voice readers – The Eco Tip department is giving you a homework assignment. Go Green in your office by following these 3 simple tips:

-Consider how you use paper. The age of technology was supposed to make us a paperless society, but we’re far from it. Order/Buy recycled paper and use both sides as often as possible. Many companies have also added something like this to their email signatures: "Thank you for respecting the environment by not printing this email unless necessary".

-In addition to the paper we read and write on – is your company utilizing paper cups for coffee and at the water cooler ? Suggest everyone bring in their own reusable mug !

-Change your cleaning supplies to all-natural. Chemicals go down the drain and into our water supply. Many of today’s green cleaning products are, in fact, more effective then traditional chemical-laden cleaners.

-Change your light bulbs to Energy Star certified compact fluorescent lights – they use 75 percent less energy to produce the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs. Plus they last ten times longer and produce less heat!

This is undoubtedly a time when we all need to tighten our purse strings and consider how our daily lifestyles are affecting the environment. These 4 simple steps will help in both manners.

Has your office done anything unique or substantial to Go Green? The Holdcom Voice would love to feature you. Email megana@holdcom.com with the details. Consider highlighting your accomplishment in your next message-on-hold program too!

Tony Hsieh, Zappos.com