Application Keyboard Shortcuts not working

[dhmmjoph]

So I'm writing this application is Applescript wherein I activate it with a keyboard shortcut, type a brief command into a dialog box, and then have a task executed. My friend who is a windows scripting semi-expert has a similar program and I thought I'd recreate it in Applescript as a way to learn it. I've been working on it on and off for a month or two, and am trying to trigger the application using a keyboard shortcut. My current method, as detailed in this macworld hints thread I found involves creating a service using automator to launch the application and then attaching a keyboard shortcut to that service in system preferences. Running the automator script launches the application, as does selecting the service from the application menu. Attaching a keyboard shortcut to it seems to work as well, except all that happens when I press the shortcut is my mac makes the alert sound. I have tried opt+space and opt+m, so I don't think the particular shortcut I'm using is at fault here. This happens on both my 2012 Mac Mini running 10.8.1 and my 2006 Macbook running 10.6.8.

Am I doing something wrong?