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VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!
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dagoldenknight86
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 Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:09 pm Post subject: To Union or Not to Union...? |
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I've very new to "this side" of voice work. I'm a production director for a radio station and almost all of the voices I work with are within the corporation. Only in the last few weeks have I been doing voice work for people outside the company.
Would you recomend membership in a union or no? If so, how does it work?
Thanks! |
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Hart
Assistant Asylum Chief
Joined: 03 Jan 2006
Posts: 2107
Location: Foley, AL
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| Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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Depends on a lot of factors. What market are you in, what market do you want to work in, what type of VO work do you want to do... and on and on and on.
This is where the search function can really be your friend. There are LOTS of topics on this in the archives and the vast majority of them are very helpful.
B
(a former radio production director)
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Hart Voice Overs Blog
Brian Hart Productions |
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dagoldenknight86
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| Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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Bruce
Boardmeister
Joined: 06 Jun 2005
Posts: 7978
Location: Portland, OR
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| Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:18 am Post subject: |
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A quick test as to whether you should join:
If most of the people making a decent living at VO in your community are members of the union, join. If most of those making money in the biz do it without affiliation, wait, possibly forever, to join.
B
(Your results may vary. Mileage figures are slightly lower in California. Consult your doctor if "inflammation" persists.)
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005
I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. . |
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dagoldenknight86
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| Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:26 am Post subject: |
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| I don't know any one personally that are union. One lady I know gets a lot of business because she's non-union and can offer a flexable rate. Again I'm new to this and wanted to see if there is a "right" way to do it... But I'm slowly finding out that like radio there is a "right" way in Voice Overs! |
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richgates
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| Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:36 am Post subject: |
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| dagoldenknight86 wrote: | | I don't know any one personally that are union. One lady I know gets a lot of business because she's non-union and can offer a flexable rate. Again I'm new to this and wanted to see if there is a "right" way to do it... But I'm slowly finding out that like radio there is a "right" way in Voice Overs! |
Well even if you are union you can go Financial Core and work both union and non-union jobs. There are a couple of minor inconveniences if you do Financial Core. You won't have voting rights and won't be able to attend their parties but will have full union membership so unless those two things are important to you, it isn't a big deal. |
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bobsouer
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Joined: 15 Jul 2006
Posts: 9883
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 12:04 pm Post subject: |
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| richgates wrote: | | Well even if you are union you can go Financial Core and work both union and non-union jobs. There are a couple of minor inconveniences if you do Financial Core. You won't have voting rights and won't be able to attend their parties but will have full union membership so unless those two things are important to you, it isn't a big deal. |
Rich,
A bit of clarification on Financial Core here (I hold said relationship with both AFTRA and SAG); it's not a "kind of membership" in a union. In fact, it's officially called being a "dues-paying non-member." Hence the reason one isn't allowed to vote, hold union office or attend the members only events.
You're entitled to work under all of the contracts, all of the medical and retirement benefits you earn under such contracts, etc.; but you are also not bound by Rule One (no work without a union contract).
I made the decision to go financial core for several reasons, but the key one is that in the markets where I've worked for the last 15 plus years, I could not make enough doing union only work to support my family. As Brian and Bruce have already said, if union work is rare in your market, it probably doesn't make sense to go union at the first possible moment.
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Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express |
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richgates
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| Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 12:06 pm Post subject: |
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| thanks for clearing that up Bob. |
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dagoldenknight86
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| Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks again, I appreciate it! |
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Chrissy
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, thanks Bob for the clarification. I'm AFTRA, and it wasn't a problem until this last year when I got into voice-over work. It's mostly non-union in my area. I didn't want to give up my AFTRA membership. This sounds like a good alternative. I was concerned about calling the AFTRA office, and somehow being discovered. Hey, I'm part Sicilian what can I say.
chrissy |
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bobsouer
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Joined: 15 Jul 2006
Posts: 9883
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Chrissy wrote: | Yes, thanks Bob for the clarification. I'm AFTRA, and it wasn't a problem until this last year when I got into voice-over work. It's mostly non-union in my area. I didn't want to give up my AFTRA membership. This sounds like a good alternative. I was concerned about calling the AFTRA office, and somehow being discovered. Hey, I'm part Sicilian what can I say.
chrissy |
Chrissy,
Moving to Financial Core status is as simple as writing a letter to your local office declaring that you are resigning from membership and requesting that you maintain a financial core relationship with the union.
But, be sure that's what you want to do before you do it. By and large, it's a one-way street. In the 7 years since I made this move, I've been given one opportunity to re-join the union. As I understand it, even being offered one chance is rare.
_________________
Be well,
Bob Souer (just think of lemons)
The second nicest guy in voiceover.
+1-724-613-2749
Source Connect, phone patch, pony express |
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