See below Rowell’s comments as posted in Thom Wilkins’ Feb SaVoa newsletter:

Greetings, all:

You may be too young to remember a satirist/singer named Allan Sherman (”Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah”), but he once did a live concert LP with the Boston Pops in which he actually conducted the orchestra.

As part of his introductory remarks, he told the audience, “You have no idea the insane feeling of power one gets…standing here waving a stick at 140 professionals who know what they’re doing!” 

While I’ve been doing voices since I could talk and have been getting paid for it regularly since the late 60s, I approach being the newly-selected President of SaVoa in much the same way.  Most of you have been in the organization, if not the business, longer than I have. So you won’t be hearing any big, firery manifestos of radical change from me.  Seems like a lot of what’s in place is working quite well. 

I do have a few ideas and will offer them when appropriate.  I also plan to help out where my talents and experience could benefit the group.  At other times, I expect to listen and learn a lot.

Mainly, I’m hoping my association with SaVoa will prove as valuable and satisfying as the interaction I enjoy among talented professionals here in my own market.  We know and respect each other, we offer help when it’s asked for, and are quick to recommend trusted friends.

You can contact me by email via rg [at] voices2go [dot] com, or phone me direct at (919) 779 1476.  If I’m not in the studio or near the phone, just leave word with my audio butler. 

Let’s see what we can build from the solid foundation that’s been put in place.

Note: Ed Gambill will remain on the SaVoa Executive Board in the position of Secretary/Treasurer  

In recent weeks, the Savoa Advisory Board (SAB) hammered out the process and the language for entering into affiliate agreements with a number of industry professionals.  Some of those details are posted at the bottom of this blog.

The major categories of affiliates are:
1.    Coaching
2.    Casting/Talent Agent
3.    Pay-to-Play Sites
4.    Professional Services
5.    Consultant

Just for starters, all affiliates agree to cross-promote SaVoa on their website, as SaVoa is doing for each affiliate on the SaVoa.org website.  The Affiliate program will increase the visibility and value of all members’ SaVoa shields.

Here are the new affiliates who’ve already been approved, and what members can expect from the relationship:

1)      ALL IN ONE VOICE, LLC  Voice Actor and Attorney Robert Sciglimpaglia is on our SAB and became our first affiliate mostly because we relied on his legal advice so often.  Robert is offering a special until the end of 2009 on the formation of an LLC for your VO business.  You can click on this link:  http://allinonevoice.com/pb/wp_1d95235f/wp_1d95235f.html to see the offer.

2)      EDGE STUDIO, LLC.  This NYC-based Voiceover Studio, run by David Goldberg  lobbied early-on for a relationship with SaVoa.  Savoa members will receive from Edge:

·        20% off these voice over training services: career guidance, candid assessments, voice over coaching, demo production.
·        25% off these voice over training services: marketing consultations, home studio consultations and set-up, demo revisions, business training.
·        50% off these voice over training services: demo evaluation
·        Free tele-conferences on a variety of subjects, such as marketing, audiobooks, home studio, podcasts, and others.

3)      ELDORADO RECORDING SERVICES  Professional Voice Actors everywhere rely on George Whittam for his expertise with technical and audio issues.  George is offering a significant discount off the normal hourly fee he charges, and a discount on his Premium Membership support plan.
For details, go to: http://eldorec.com/savoa-members/ but first write one of the SAB members for the sign-on and password (sent individually by e-mail only)

4)      VOPLANET  This Atlanta-based talent-subscriber site passes on to it’s upper-echelon members some of the best VO leads in the business.  Here’s what SaVoa and VOPlanet have worked out:

·        Any Talent represented by VOplanet as of October 31, 2009, that applies to SaVoa for Technical Evaluation and Peer Review and who shall pass both shall be awarded an Accreditation period of four years membership in SaVoa instead of the regular two years for the price of two years.
·        Any member of SaVoa in good standing as of October 31, 2009, who shall apply for representation by VOplanet shall be a offered a discount of $40.00 off the annual fee charged by VOplanet to be listed on the website. VOplanet membership fees are based on the level of membership at VOplanet. Any member in good standing of SaVoa as of October 31, 2009 who is also a fee paying member of VOplanet as of October 31, 2009 shall have available the discount mentioned above upon renewal of their annual membership with VO Planet provided they remain in good standing with SaVoa at the time of renewal. This discount can be combined at any time with other discounts offered from time to time through VOplanet discount coupons. 

At least two other recognizable names in the VoiceOver business are already seeking approval as an affiliate of SaVoa.  The SAB feels the addition of these high-value partners will increase the incentive for people to consider becoming a SaVoa member.

See Continue Reading below for a more formal definition of an Affiliate, and how members can go about nominating or seeking censure of an affiliate. (more…)