😀 Ok. I know it was April 1st, but is it wrong to *wish* that was true? 😉 Well done, Paul. 😉 Cool prank.
But you honestly *don’t* find any difference between a mic that’s just been turned on and a mic that’s been on for a half hour? I’m curious about that. Call me crazy, but it kinda seemed logical – which is, I think, why so many folks (including myself) fell for it. 😉
You’re too kind, Mary! If it’s any consolation: you were not alone. The number of thoughtful responses from voice-over group members took me by surprise. Of course it will take me at least a year before anyone will take me seriously again, but it was worth it.
Paul,
I’m very disappointed to learn that the German scientist is an April Fool. I had hoped that he would continue experimentation, next with hot mikes.
I feel your pain, and I’m in part to blame: Mea Culpa! You have been extremely diligent and did what any journalist would do: check the sources. When nothing came up, you did the next noble thing: trust a fellow human being. You’re a good man, John. Next year, I’ll let you in on my prank and we pull some legs together!
Now I have to take care of a computer issues. My laptop is generating too much heat. Do you think I should get a cooler?
This was masterful, Paul. Because I’m a chicken, I didn’t post yesterday to say: Methinks this has all the earmarks of an elaborate April Fool’s joke. I wanted to (and I know: it’s *so* easy to say so after the fact :D)), but I refrained when I noticed that Paul was enthusiastically responding to comments. I thought, surely he wouldn’t go that far, and tried to forget that I couldn’t find Herr Grünewald online. So, as I didn’t want to introduce myself by being insulting, I waited to see what would come out. Extremely well done, and thanks for your blog, Paul. 🙂
You’re more than welcome! This prank went much better than the first one I ever tried to pull off. I was young and I put my head through the steps of a winding staircase and then shouted for help. My alarmed parents came to the rescue and I made them believe that I couldn’t get my head out. It turned out I was right. I was stuck for about an hour…
I’m so sad to learn that “The Tone Toaster” will not be manufactured and that I will not receive a free one for coming up with the best name.
I was going to submit a feature request that the WAV files pop up and out of the device when they reach the optimal temperature, ready for the application of butter for an extra-smooth sound. Oh well. A girl can dream…
Well, call me a sucker for technology, but the Therma-Dyne SG100 would probably sell like hot cakes… pun intended.
I’ll be at the National Association of Broadcasters convention this month in Las Vegas, so since it appears you’ve released all rights to the patent, I will see if I can interest a couple of the big guns in the sound biz to follow through.
If not, you’ll find me sunning myself poolside with my Sennheiser 416.
As you can see, Rebecca Michaels (www.LoveThatRebecca.com), has surprised me with a magnificent statuette for the “Best April Fool’s Joke 2010”. At the awards ceremony in Rome, I was asked to speak a few words:
“Ladies and gentlemen; members of the Academy. Unfortunately, Dr. Heinz Gruenewald couldn’t be with us tonight, but I will gladly accept this prize on his behalf. How could the Academy of Laughter possibly know that I was in desperate need of a gold-plated door stopper? Joking aside, I am humbled and honored to receive this magnificent award.
I’d like to thank the faithful and unfaithful readers of my blog, who graciously endured this strange episode in the history of Double Dutch; I must thank those of you who have responded on various Linkedin groups (and still believe the Mic Warmer could be a best-selling gadget); and a big thank you goes out to those of you who were not amused and yet intrigued. Please remember: if all of us would have the same sense of humor, this planet would be a rather boring place…
And finally, I’d like to thank my dear wife Pamela, who has to deal with my silliness each and every day. How can you stand it? I can barely live with it myself! Thanks to you, my blog goes out into the world without too many slips of the pen. And in case my pen did slip, it did so on purpose. Thank you for putting up with me, Pam. I love you!
😀 Ok. I know it was April 1st, but is it wrong to *wish* that was true? 😉 Well done, Paul. 😉 Cool prank.
But you honestly *don’t* find any difference between a mic that’s just been turned on and a mic that’s been on for a half hour? I’m curious about that. Call me crazy, but it kinda seemed logical – which is, I think, why so many folks (including myself) fell for it. 😉
I knew you were a good sport! Any successful hoax has to be plausible and yet a bit outrageous in order to work. Thanks for playing along!
Paul, I’m so relieved to read this. I wanted to ask if it was an April Fool’s joke but didn’t want to insult you.
Good one!! Very well done 😉
You’re too kind, Mary! If it’s any consolation: you were not alone. The number of thoughtful responses from voice-over group members took me by surprise. Of course it will take me at least a year before anyone will take me seriously again, but it was worth it.
Paul,
I’m very disappointed to learn that the German scientist is an April Fool. I had hoped that he would continue experimentation, next with hot mikes.
I feel your pain, and I’m in part to blame: Mea Culpa! You have been extremely diligent and did what any journalist would do: check the sources. When nothing came up, you did the next noble thing: trust a fellow human being. You’re a good man, John. Next year, I’ll let you in on my prank and we pull some legs together!
Now I have to take care of a computer issues. My laptop is generating too much heat. Do you think I should get a cooler?
This was masterful, Paul. Because I’m a chicken, I didn’t post yesterday to say: Methinks this has all the earmarks of an elaborate April Fool’s joke. I wanted to (and I know: it’s *so* easy to say so after the fact :D)), but I refrained when I noticed that Paul was enthusiastically responding to comments. I thought, surely he wouldn’t go that far, and tried to forget that I couldn’t find Herr Grünewald online. So, as I didn’t want to introduce myself by being insulting, I waited to see what would come out. Extremely well done, and thanks for your blog, Paul. 🙂
Paul,
Try an ice pack. In my online store I sell a size that fits conveniently into the CD slot.
You’re more than welcome! This prank went much better than the first one I ever tried to pull off. I was young and I put my head through the steps of a winding staircase and then shouted for help. My alarmed parents came to the rescue and I made them believe that I couldn’t get my head out. It turned out I was right. I was stuck for about an hour…
I’m so sad to learn that “The Tone Toaster” will not be manufactured and that I will not receive a free one for coming up with the best name.
I was going to submit a feature request that the WAV files pop up and out of the device when they reach the optimal temperature, ready for the application of butter for an extra-smooth sound. Oh well. A girl can dream…
Voice-overs is our bread and butter. Breakfast isn’t going to be the same without the mic warmer!
Instead of “I’m lovin’ it” our slogan coulda been “I’m warmin’ it”…
Darn it!
Thanks for the fun- you win in my book for best April Fools ever.
Did I win anything, Rebecca?
Good one, Paul – it certainly had plausibility going for it! I was so busy yesterday I didn’t take the tiem to stop and think about the date!
Well, call me a sucker for technology, but the Therma-Dyne SG100 would probably sell like hot cakes… pun intended.
I’ll be at the National Association of Broadcasters convention this month in Las Vegas, so since it appears you’ve released all rights to the patent, I will see if I can interest a couple of the big guns in the sound biz to follow through.
If not, you’ll find me sunning myself poolside with my Sennheiser 416.
Cheers!
Linda
Paul – I have your prize but am unable to post it here… Must send via email.. perhaps you can post for all after you receive it!
As you can see, Rebecca Michaels (www.LoveThatRebecca.com), has surprised me with a magnificent statuette for the “Best April Fool’s Joke 2010”. At the awards ceremony in Rome, I was asked to speak a few words:
“Ladies and gentlemen; members of the Academy. Unfortunately, Dr. Heinz Gruenewald couldn’t be with us tonight, but I will gladly accept this prize on his behalf. How could the Academy of Laughter possibly know that I was in desperate need of a gold-plated door stopper? Joking aside, I am humbled and honored to receive this magnificent award.
I’d like to thank the faithful and unfaithful readers of my blog, who graciously endured this strange episode in the history of Double Dutch; I must thank those of you who have responded on various Linkedin groups (and still believe the Mic Warmer could be a best-selling gadget); and a big thank you goes out to those of you who were not amused and yet intrigued. Please remember: if all of us would have the same sense of humor, this planet would be a rather boring place…
And finally, I’d like to thank my dear wife Pamela, who has to deal with my silliness each and every day. How can you stand it? I can barely live with it myself! Thanks to you, my blog goes out into the world without too many slips of the pen. And in case my pen did slip, it did so on purpose. Thank you for putting up with me, Pam. I love you!