Sponsor Hello: Audio Heirlooms
One reason I love writing this blog is that I find out about some of the coolest companies and their offerings. This sponsor is one of those. When I found out about Audio Heirlooms, I had to run here and share. Just wait, I’m sure your mind will be racing like mine, running through possibilities and people who you could completely delight with this new find.
Meet Evan Roberts.
Evan has pieces on radio stations across the U.S., and has worked for a couple places that may sound familiar, like WNYC and the New York Times. He’s worked on some weighty pieces, ranging from refugees in the Middle East to exonerated prisoners in California. You can see a few more shots of Evan at work on the Audio Heirlooms Facebook Page. Including a shot of him gathering audio in a chicken coop (Evan?) I’m telling you, the man takes this job seriously.
Now I’d like to introduce you to what Evan does.
Evan makes personalized Audio Heirlooms. Do your realize what this means? You can have a personalized audio documentary (ahh! I love documentaries!) An audio documentary with crisp audio, artful timing, and all of that good stuff, made just for you. Audio Heirlooms has dropped in and recorded a baby’s early moments, bridesmaids prepping for a wedding, a pre-wedding manicure (how great is that?), and more, which you can check out on their site.
I love that Audio Heirlooms makes the whole process simple and fun. With an audio card, for example, Audio Heirlooms will give you a toll-free number to pass out to all your friends and family who you want to make an audio appearance in your piece. Everyone can dial in from home and leave their fond wishes by phone, simple as that. This would be so ideal for my family, we are spread out everywhere.
Audio Heirlooms has all kinds of happy customers, including Scott Hamilton (the Scott Hamilton) and Kimberly Williams-Paisley (wife to Brad Paisley, the Brad Paisley). I already feel cooler just for knowing about this company.
If you’re like me and are stowing this idea away for a few big upcoming celebrations and honorees, you can subscribe to the Audio Heirlooms newsletter to stay posted and get some samples and inspiration. Or contact Audio Heirlooms and get a free sample CD.
I’ve already started putting together my Audio Heirlooms wish list.
I would love an audio of memories of each of my grandmothers. One I’m really close to and the other I never got the chance to know. (These are a couple pics of them. Aren’t they lovely?) Would love to pass this on to my daughter.
I’d love to get an audio card of wishes either for my baby or for my daughter when she is baptized next year.
Do you know whate else I would love? An audio cookbook. I have some relatives who can share a recipe the same way some people tell a good story or joke. Would this not be the perfect grad gift?
Also, would really love to get a series of bedtime stories for my little ones to drift off into their dreams to the sound of beloved grandmas and grandpas, uncles and aunts.
I’d love to hear, who would you like to get on tape? and what would you want them to share?
Tags: baby gifts, gifts for grandma, gifts for grandpa, gifts for landmark birthdays, gifts for the grandkids, graduation gifts, retirement gift ideas, wedding gifts
June 22nd, 2010 at 9:09 am
How cool! I wish this was available when my dad was still alive and all of our “family” lived nearby. To hear all the hustle and bustle of our family together on a holiday or any day, listening to the stories and laughter from young and old.
I have to ponder this idea some more because I think it would be so awesome to have my husband record some of the stories of his childhood. I wish to record an ordinary day in our household — the sounds of the kids playing or their favorite shows or the cooking and the moaning of having to do chores. Ordinary moments that I am sure to miss one day.
June 22nd, 2010 at 11:31 am
Oh yes, this is one of my “if-I-coulda-I-woulda-at-every-opportunity.” I would love to compile wedding advice from the attendees at my best friend’s wedding, or a audio-tome of all my relatives favorite jokes, or even, if I dared, the best tales told by all the performers my husband knows. golly gee, hello audio heirlooms!
June 22nd, 2010 at 12:31 pm
What an amazing idea! My grandma is about to turn 93 and I feel like I’ve never really gotten the chance to know her. This sounds perfect.
June 22nd, 2010 at 7:48 pm
This is such a cool idea! And I’m so happy someone has gone out there to pursue this!
I would have to say I would love for my family to recount tales from the past. The most memorable tales for each individual within in my immediate family! Also, would love the audiocookbook idea!!! Oh, to catch those traditional recipes from both my side and my husband’s side of the family to pass down!!! That would be ideal for me!
June 23rd, 2010 at 1:40 pm
Wow, these are some great ideas and I’d like to address them all.
Sherry: I love this idea of recording just an ordinary day in the life of a household- the sound of kids playing with their toys, lunchtime chatter, or yelps around the sprinkler in summertime. I think photographs can only hint at our actual experience, while sound can actually catapult us back to those moments to, in a way, reexperience them. I do this for my own family- every time I visit my sister and her family I try to record my nephews and niece.
Zom G: How people tell jokes is the surest way to illustrate their personality- that would be a great piece to record at a family reunion. Great idea!
AP: Just curious, but what are you waiting for? I can’t tell you how many people have said “Oh, I wish I had done this when my mom or dad was alive.” My own grandmother recently passed away and I was so thankful that I had taken the time to sit down with her on numerous occasions and record to her stories. Now when I listen to her voice, it brings back so much of her personality. I can remember all the little quirks about her that I’ll never see again- the way she moves her hands when she talks, how she laughs, even the smell of her make-up and shampoo comes back to me. If an Audio Heirloom isn’t something you can commit to now, look into bringing your grandmother into a StoryCorps booth (www.storycorps.org). I believe you’ll be so happy you did.
K.Dingfelder: This Audio Cook Book idea is a fantastic one. I can imagine recording the entire cooking process along with interviews with the chef, with the idea that later you would listen to it and cook along with this person- almost like a cooking podcast, but hosted by your mom! I am positive so many family stories would come up around discussions about food.
Thanks all for your wonderful comments and ideas! And feel free to email me directly with more comments or suggestions. evan@audioheirlooms.com