VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Scott Pollak

This is an odd question since I was on the initial board of SaVoa and was one of the first 5 'official' sanctioned members.

I haven't been involved with them for several years now, other than to provide anonymous critique on one or two applicants' who were forwarded my way to judge quality and so on.

My membership is due to renew, and at $50 it's no big deal.

But really, is it even worth that now? What do you guys think? I'm not sure I see the value anymore.
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Scott R. Pollak
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Jan Anderson · Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 3:39 pm Post subject:

Hi Scott. This is an interesting subject to me because I was considering applying for membership. What were the intended benifits of being a member in the first place, other than the cool logo to have on your website? Wink

cyclometh · Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 3:40 pm Post subject:

Interesting, Scott- I was just putting Savoa into my mid-range plans as something to shoot for an accreditation with sometime next year.

It seems to have value to me, but that's just because I kind of like the idea of an independent accreditation. Like any other certification the value is in the eye of the beholder, but it does have value in proving you can make it past certain specific performance and technical criteria.

Is there something that triggered your thoughts that it may not have as much value?
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Philip Banks · Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 3:58 pm Post subject:

I will not be renewing.

Lee Gordon · Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 7:24 pm Post subject:

In my opinion, it's a great idea whose time has yet to come.
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Mandy Nelson · Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 7:35 pm Post subject:

No one has ever asked me if I'm accredited. They hear my voice, look at my experience and the get lured in by my sweat, hypnotic talk. snicker

Perhaps you should hang onto it for the prestige because that is always novel. Or, if your clients feel it is important then ok.
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paddyo · CM Joined: 12 Jul 2006 Posts: 975 Location: New York City

I like volleyball but not enough to referee it.

http://www.savoa.net/San_Antonio_Volleyball_Officials_Association/Home.html

Paddyo
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Mandy Nelson · Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 7:50 pm Post subject:

bobsouer · Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 8:04 pm Post subject:

Mike Sommer · Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 9:36 pm Post subject:

Has anyone really gotten a gig because they were a member? Not that I know of.

More than likely you got the gig because you were a good actor and or you were the voice they were looking for. And so it's safe to say, it wasn't the SaVoa badge the got you the gig.
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Monk · Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 9:44 pm Post subject:

I'm busy, not a member of SaVoa.

Heck, I'm not even a member of AFTRA, or SAG, or whatever.

I do feel like a part of VO-BB and that seems good enough for me. (oh I'm also a member of the BMW owners group and EAA, but so far that hasn't gotten any work yet.)

Do they get you discounts for microphones or headphones? I have a microphone collection, but just found out you can collect headphones and I'm terribly excited.
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Jen Gosnell · Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 10:51 pm Post subject:

In my planning for biz setup, based on what I have seen of SaVoa, I seriously doubted any real value. I was not planning to seek certification.

Of course this is my theory and not based on personal experience yet, but I tend to think your demo and online/personal presentation are the key factors. I think SaVoa membership isn't going to change anyone's mind about you, regardless of whether they were leaning toward or away from hiring you in the first place.

I could imagine feeling awkward about it, though, if I had been in on the ground floor of it as you were, Scott.

Jen
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Philip Banks · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 1:03 am Post subject:

THE voice over business as opposed to the rather skewed view of the voice over business as seen on an internet are two different things. If your goal is to move towards being in THE voice over business or staying in the voice over business then there are certain things you need to understand and accept. The fact you may not like them is not important. I don't like the price of a tank of fuel for my car yet I understand why it is what it is, I accept it and then drive my car to where I need to be.

SAVOA, whilst a grand idea, brings nothing to the business, your business and delivers nothing to clients or potential clients. There is potential for it to do all of those things but it simply does not have the industry clout, the financial resources or the credibility. The people who freely give their time to serve SAVOA are to be applauded but they simply do not have the time to make a difference.

Both SAG and AFTRA are about as much use as a chocolate teapot but they are perceived as "where it's at" for people in our business.

We must always be mindful that for the most part we are self-obsessed, self-promoting individuals who are all fond of the sound of our own voices. You may not like that thought but it's true, of me, of Bob the second nicest man in voice over, of ...insert name here... Does that make Bob a bad person? No, he would crawl over broken glass to help anyone and in a spirit of self sacrifice I would force myself to watch.

It's safe and warm and cosy in the internet voice over world but the real wins are in the real world both physical and online.

I say you're all..woot awesome dood ...That's true isn't it? You know that because I've called you and sent you a paid job or at the very least given a potential client a nod in your direction ...Think on.

Yonie · CM Joined: 31 Aug 2011 Posts: 906

A worthwhile read, especially for the young people who have yet to properly plant our feet, like me. People my age have an overwhelming tendency to entrust our entire beings into the aether.

I was going to make a comparison between one of my favourite sports and what Philip just said, but I think that post probably stands better without it.

Mandy Nelson · Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 6:34 am Post subject: