~The Audio-Reader Staff

Many of you will have noticed I am no longer printing studio schedules and posting them to the doors. Though originally intended to make it easier for everyone to figure out where they are supposed to be, they have, of late, had the opposite effect. That's because every time the schedule fluctuates, the posted schedules grow more and more outdated. When what's posted doesn't match with what's actually happening, people get confused about where they should be, and upset if someone is in their studio. I finally decided the posted schedules were growing too outdated too quickly.

Instead of updating doors, the staff will instead make sure the online studio schedule remains updated to the best of their ability. Though there may be an occasional delay, this will be far easier on us and much more accurate than making changes to each door every time there is a minor change. That schedule will appear on the large TV monitor in the volunteer area upstairs. While it may not be completely up-to-date all the time, it will be closer to what's actually going on than the old paper schedules.

While we try very hard to keep those of you with standing appointments in the same studio week after week, we also recognize the need to keep things moving. There is no sense making someone wait ten minutes for "their studio" to open up when we can make a quick switch and keep everything in motion. Please double-check the monitor in the volunteer area to make sure you have not been assigned a different studio. If you arrive to find someone in your studio don't barge in- ask a staff member if there is someplace else or you to read. And though I know some of you have your favorite, please take into consideration it is not always possible to shuffle around changes and keep everyone in their studio of choice. Sometimes you will be asked to use a different room. When this happens, please remember we are doing our best to accommodate a lot of people and we can't always work around every complication that arises.

As with all technology, it will be unavailable at times.  If the schedule board is ever not working, please ask a staff member to check your studio time for you.

If you have any questions about how the studio schedule works, please let me know. Thank you for your cooperation!

 We invite you to join us once again for our annual reading and voice workshop! Dan Compo, Audio-Reader volunteer, professional actor/voiceover artist, and instructor at the Commercial Actors Studio, will join us to share techniques for improving reading and delivery. The workshop will be held Saturday, April 26 at 10 a.m. in the KPR Green Room (come in the Audio-Reader entrance and follow the signs). The workshop usually lasts an hour-and-a-half to two hours; you are welcome to come and go as your schedule allows. Please RSVP to Jen Nigro at [email protected]. You are also welcome to submit questions in advance for Dan! 

 Don't forget the 5th Annual Audio-Reader Golf Classic is just around the corner on Monday May 19th. Registration forms are available at Audio-Reader as well as on our website. Please contact Brenda at 864-4634 if you have any questions. The registration deadline is May 2nd.

Interested in supporting the event but not a golfer? Hole sponsorships as well as other opportunities are available. Please help Audio-Reader spread the word by letting your golfer friends and family members know about the event. Thank you!

Ellie & Bill Upchurch from the Raymore, MO Lions joined Susan Tabor and Felly Lovato-Winston for our On the Border fundraiser.

Thank you to everyone who ate at On the Border on March 10.  YOU helped raise $113 for Audio-Reader! The managers at On the Border were very impressed that so many volunteers showed up to support Audio-Reader.  The day turned into a nice social event for volunteers, donors and staff who showed up to enjoy a nice Mexican meal and support our mission.

  Audio-Reader applauds and recognizes volunteer Tom Van Fleet. Because of Tom's substantial volunteer work over the past year, his employer Sprint has awarded Audio-Reader with a Dollars for Doers grant of $250 in his name. Way to go Tom! Our gratitude and thanks go to the Sprint Foundation for recognizing Tom's volunteer efforts and the efforts of all of its employees in our community. Together, they are making quite an impact!

NOTE TO OTHER SPRINT EMPLOYEES: If you are an employee of the Sprint corporation, Brenda would love to talk with you about Sprint's Dollars for Doers program! You may call Brenda at 785-864-4634 or you may email her at: [email protected]. 

When veteran Audio Describer, volunteer Charles Decedue was asked, "What was your first reaction when you were offered the opportunity to describe the movie "Jayhawkers" at its world premiere at the Lied Center in February?" he responded, "Cool!"

 

Charles, who has described live theater events for five years in the area, took on the adventure of describing the very first feature film Audio-Reader was ever asked to do. "I knew there would be patrons in the audience since we were specifically requested to describe the film that weekend, and it is always rewarding to have listeners. Plus, it's a local director, using local people and I was reasonably familiar with the story of Wilt Chamberlain."

"What's the difference between doing a play and this movie? In the movie the camera mostly focused on the reaction of the person who is listening. That's a key element. In a play, you concentrate on the speaker most of the time. It's difficult to describe the reaction of a listener without stepping on the dialog." Charles went on to explain. "There was also a sequence when two things were happening at once and that was a challenge. The story split between the action of a basketball game and Langston Hughes reading poetry. You have a lot of decisions to make."

Charles attended one preview before he described the film and he thought seeing it one more time would have been beneficial. "Films are edited to switch scenes quickly. You don't have that with plays. But, it was interesting, different and definitely a challenge. I would do another movie if I was asked."

Charles' initial interest in audio describing came about after hearing it mentioned at a Rotary Club meeting and as the result of his being an amateur actor for years at what was known as Lawrence Community Theatre. In his "real" life, Charles is a scientist and served as the director of the Higuchi Biosciences Center for 18 years.

After semi-retiring, he knew he wanted to volunteer somewhere and had always kept Audio-Reader as an option in the back of his mind. Seven years ago, Charles and his wife Donna both became Audio-Reader volunteers. Charles, in addition to reading Scientific American magazine and "being at Jen's disposal", segued into also being an Audio-Describer. He now estimates he has described between 12 and 15 productions.

When asked what makes a successful Audio-Describer, Charles said, "You have to decide what matters and what doesn't because obviously you can't say EVERYTHING. You have to think quickly, speak quickly and then get out of the way. It's like being a play by play announcer at an athletic event."

His favorite moment in his Audio Description career happened when he was describing the play, "Doubt" at LCT. In that small venue, you could see your listeners with their headphones from the booth and he was able to describe some humorous business that happened without any dialogue during one of the scenes. He saw the patrons double over with laughter and knew that if he had not been behind the microphone to describe what was happening, that funny moment would have passed by the patrons completely.

The nicest feedback he ever received was a letter from a listener after

his description of "The King and I" at Starlight Theater in Kansas City. Apparently the gentleman in the audience had seen the movie "The King and I" with his wife

52 years ago. Now, with his vision mostly gone, he was still able to enjoy "The "King and I" with his wife and it brought all the memories back.

"I still have that letter," said Charles with a smile.