Interesting businesses are popping up all over the Walker's Point neighborhood. A gay, burlesque night club will open in a couple weeks. Next spring, a micro-creamery cheese factory will occupy the ground floor of the currently-under-construction Healing Collective building. And recently, Loft 117 – a full-service production studio – celebrated its grand opening in a mixed-use space at 117 W. Walker St.
Loft 117 offers audio, video and new media services. Audio services include voice-over recording, mixing, sound design, audio book production, broadcast production, music production and composition, CD mastering and more.
Video options include in-house or on-location shoots, and new media services provide clients with podcasting, iPhone / Android application creation, social network advertising and more. Copywriting, casting and photography are also on Loft 117's menu.
"We really have our fingers on the pulse of what's going on," says chief engineer David Connor.
Because Loft 117 houses a production studio, the group is able to complete all aspects of a job under one roof, something Connor says is appealing to customers because it lowers costs.
"We can start with a client, come up with a concept, find talent, record it and mix in-house. We don't need to hire contractors for anything," he says.
Connor co-founded Loft 117 with Ron Ricco, who serves as Loft 117's CEO. Connor has a background in music – he plays "just about every instrument" including trumpet, guitar and drums – and has worked as a commercial writer with the award-winning voice actor and commercial radio producer Dick Orkin in Los Angeles.
"It was great, but after seven years, I got tired of Los Angeles, and I wanted to venture out on my own," says Connor.
Connor came to Milwaukee three years ago on a 13-degree, January day for work purposes and, despite the frigid weather, was instantly smitten with Brew City. His first night in town, he went out with a few local artists and says by the end of the evening he was sold on moving to Milwaukee.
"I didn't even own a winter jacket at the time, but Milwaukee impressed me. There was no question about it," he says. "And the people I met during my first night in Milwaukee are still friends today."
The small media company has worked with a big range of clients, including Disney, Kohl's Department Stores, Levi's, Durex Condoms, Goodwill, Hal Leonard, Carlsberg Beer, POM Wonderful and more. The group has also created work for musicians R. Kelly, Diddy, Tyrese and Keith Sweat.
Loft 117 offers voiceover classes to people who would like to break into the industry. An introduction to the classes is held the first Wednesday of every month at 6 p.m. at the studio. It costs $15 and includes drinks and appetizers.
Dave Redimond instructs the classes, and graduates of the program are put in Loft 117's "pool" of available voice talent. However, the voice over industry has changed over the years due to technology, and voice talent for a Milwaukee spot can be digitally recorded and e-mailed from anywhere in the world. (Milwaukee-based voice talent Bob Smith hints at this in a recent interview.)
"We are always looking for new talent," says Connor.
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
