VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Deirdre · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:26 am Post subject: Studio Center

Don't talk about 'em in online forums.

From an email received this morning:

Philip Banks · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:46 am Post subject:

As long as what is discussed is legal, decent and honest there isn't anything this company can do about it.

The email above reads like something my Mother would say.

A kind soul once cautioned me "you have no idea who you're messing with". I replied "please enlighten me". It appears that he had no idea either.

Deirdre · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:08 am Post subject:

It was not easy to read in the email because whoever coded the HTML for it didn't keep the sizing tags consistent. And yeah, it was in a block, like this.
Here it is in full:

imaginator · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 10:14 am Post subject:

speaking as someone who almost wound up in their talent roster before reading the fine print...studio center (while a perfectly professional service) wants way too much control over the lives of people they deal with, for no more than they're willing to provide.

just one more group i don't need telling me what i can and cannot do.
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Lizden · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:20 am Post subject:

wow.

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bobsouer · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:21 am Post subject:

What Liz said. Shocked

(I know I'm saying that a lot lately, but Liz is one bright lady!)
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Lizden · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:29 am Post subject:

Thank you very much. Inoccent

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CarynClark · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 12:01 pm Post subject:

What Rowell said. Wink

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kitstern · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 12:08 pm Post subject: Timely post

I haven't been here in awhile, but I'm so glad DB posted this topic as I have a decision to make around Studio Center. I've been emailing with the Lt. Governor of Studio Center (I kid you not, that is his official title) because they don't have the original of the ISDN performer agreement I signed in 2005. They want me to re-sign & fax it back to them so they'll have complete paperwork. The ISDN agreement says it's a non-exclusive affiliation, but further down it says I must prevent other studios from marketing me, and there's also a non-compete! I already signed this agreement in 2005, but since then I've joined ProComm's roster, among others.

Has this happened to anyone else? It smells funny to me, and the work I get from them doesn't justify this. Also, are there any VOs who are exclusive with SC who can comment on how that's working for you?

Many thanks.
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 12:40 pm Post subject:

Sounds like pure arrogance. As if they're the greatest thing since sliced bread.
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

I don't like how they capitalized "American Business"...and they have a Lt. Governor? No surprises, they're based in the military town Virginia Beach.
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Deirdre · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 1:02 pm Post subject:

I think it's time I resigned my commission there. They never delivered what they had intended anyway.
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Lee Gordon · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 1:04 pm Post subject:

What Bob said. And what Rowell said. And what Caryn said.

Lee Gordon
Deputy Commissar
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Bruce · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 1:10 pm Post subject:

Observations:

There's a line between running a serious business, and taking oneself too seriously. They've clearly crossed that line and are making a dash for the deep end, right Lt. Governor?

Exclusivity in this business must come with a serious amount of guaranteed income which I can't imagine they are offering. "Trust me" doesn't work when you're dealing with someone's livelihood.

While this is a serious business it is also a fun business and anyone who comes up with fearsome lists of do's and don't's and implied threats has clearly lost sight of the interest and joy that can come from a well produced piece of audio.

Plus, threats over what??!! There are very few secrets in this business worth keeping. If you're hiring people who's ethical standards you don't know or trust, you ask them directly to be discrete....and when they are not you reprimand them or fire them. But threats spread amongst the community like this are draconian and show an incredibly poor and probably unethical business philosophy at their core.

Good thing I'm not under contract with them, huh?

B
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Deirdre · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 1:17 pm Post subject: