AFTRA

AFTRA Sponsorship at VOICE 2007 a Success

Participation at first-ever voiceover convention generates groundswell interest in AFTRA

More than 200 voiceover actors—both pre-union talent and experienced AFTRA members—discovered how professional performers have a stronger voice with AFTRA at VOICE 2007, the VoiceOver International Creative Experience convention, which was sponsored by AFTRA.

VOICE 2007 and “An Evening with Don LaFontaine” were covered by KVBC, a Las Vegas area NBC affiliate, and can be viewed by clicking here>>

From Kentucky to Denver, Miami to New York, and all across the west, voiceover performers came to VOICE 2007 seeking to improve their skills and marketability—and AFTRA staff members were there to promote AFTRA membership and services as a critical step in moving forward with a career in the voiceover industry.

Assistant National Executive Director Mathis L. Dunn, Jr. answers an attendees questions.

“VOICE 2007 was an extraordinary learning opportunity for AFTRA and all convention participants,” said Mathis L. Dunn, Jr., AFTRA Assistant National Executive Director for Commercials, Non-Broadcast, and Interactive Media. “The experiences shared and learned during this process served to inform future AFTRA voiceover performers in a way that can assist them in making wise and critical decisions about their careers going forward. I'm extremely proud that AFTRA participated in VOICE 2007.”

Held in Las Vegas from March 27-31, VOICE 2007 featured AFTRA staff from the National office and the Los Angeles and New York Locals who distributed flyers, brochures, and promotional materials to hundreds of mostly pre-union convention attendees from almost every market in the nation.

Promotional AFTRA poster for "An Evening with Don LaFontaine." The highlight of AFTRA’s participation at VOICE 2007 was “An Evening with Don LaFontaine,” sponsored by the AFTRA Los Angeles Local. Convention organizers interviewed Don about his career and professional experience, treating the audience to clips of Don’s work as well as a recent profile on celebrity voiceover talent, including Don, on “The Today Show.” An AFTRA member for more than 40 years, Don praised his union saying, “I have seen first-hand the hard work and dedication of the people who represent me, and all the others who belong to AFTRA. My admiration and respect for AFTRA and AFTRA members cannot be overstated.”

During a question-and-answer session afterward, Don was joined on the stage by his agent Vanessa Gilbert, President and Partner at TGMD Talent Agency, who along with Don, shared insights and tips on being a professional voiceover talent.

(Left to right) AFTRA Los Angeles Director for Commercials and Non-Broadcast Treslyn Williams, AFTRA member and special guest Don LaFontaine, Mathis L. Dunn, Jr., and Assistant Executive Director for the AFTRA New York Local Ralph Braun.

Vanessa stressed the importance of being an AFTRA member saying, “For over 25 years I have provided voiceover talent for the top employers and casting directors in the entertainment industry, and these employers and directors WILL NOT hire non-union talent. Period. So, if you’re serious about your career as a professional voiceover performer, if you wanna play with the ‘big boys,’ you should seriously consider becoming an AFTRA member.”

Following the Q&A, each attendee had a chance to meet Don face-to-face, shake his hand, and take a picture in front of the AFTRA banner.

(Left to right) VOICE 2007 attendee poses for a picture with Don LaFontaine.

“This was an opportunity for AFTRA to be recognized as a performer friendly organization,” said Treslyn Williams, AFTRA Los Angeles Local Director for Commercials and Non-Broadcast. “We were able to put a face on AFTRA and the caliber of professional performers we represent. More important, we were able to dispel many negative notions non-union performers had about AFTRA prior to our attendance. The feedback we received and the interaction we enjoyed is priceless. We were able to convey to prospective voiceover performers the importance of putting value to their talent by establishing themselves with AFTRA.”

AFTRA’s outreach to future AFTRA members included a new “Voiceover performers have a stronger voice with AFTRA” brochure, which was included in the convention show bags along with AFTRA luggage tags and a copy of the recent AFTRA Magazine featuring a cover story on audiobooks. All convention attendees also wore name badges on AFTRA lanyards.

At the AFTRA booth, staff offered VOICE 2007 attendees ten distinct flyers, each addressing a specific seminar or workshop from the viewpoint of AFTRA members. The one-sheet flyer topics ranged from promoting the benefits of working under AFTRA contracts in animation, audiobooks, videogames, and podcasting and new media to the vast array of classes, workshops, casting access programs, and other educational opportunities for members.

Convention participants were able to fill out an AFTRA interest card with their contact information, which entered them into a drawing for a free vocal coaching session with AFTRA Los Angeles member Keri Tombazian at DG Entertainment in Los Angeles, which was won by AFTRA member Adrianne Baughns-Wallace from North Carolina. The cards can also be mailed to AFTRA Los Angeles where all cards will be sorted and sent to the appropriate Locals for direct, person-to-person follow up.

Drawing winner and AFTRA member Adrienne Baughns-Wallace thanked AFTRA saying, "I am thrilled about winning the vocal coaching session with Keri Tombazian, and I can hardly wait to take advantage of it. I am on a mission of success in reinventing my self in the voice industry. Thanks so much AFTRA for supporting this incredible experience."

AFTRA staff members noted a significant number of membership inquiries—with than a dozen participants indicated a willingness to join right away.

One attendee said, “I will be joining officially this upcoming May. I appreciate your organization's sponsorship and presence at the conference. I received very valuable information that has helped me to commit to AFTRA membership. It was also great to hear feedback from an African-American perspective from within the organization.”

(Left to right) Treslyn Williams promotes the benefits of AFTRA membership to an attendee.

Another performer said, “Thanks again for being a sponsor of the convention and for bringing Don. Both have been valuable to my growth as a voiceover actor.”

The successful outreach at VOICE 2007 to the pre-union talent pool of voiceover performers already has AFTRA staff members planning additional partnerships as a sponsor of future conventions.

AFTRA staff also had a very positive series of meetings with the owners of Voice 123, an online marketplace for voiceover performers and co-sponsor of VOICE 2007, to share ideas about the online service and to explore ways of working together to increase employment opportunities for AFTRA members and organize employers. AFTRA staff will continue meetings with Voice 123 to ensure close collaboration between the two organizations.

(Left to right) A VOICE 2007 attendee asks Ralph Braun questions about how being a member of AFTRA will benefit her career as a voiceover performer.

AFTRA staff who attended were Mathis L. Dunn, Jr., Assistant National Executive Director for Commercials, Non-Broadcast, and Interactive Media; Christopher de Haan, National Manager of Communications; Treslyn Williams, Los Angeles Director for Commercials and Non-Broadcast; Ralph Braun, Assistant Executive Director of the New York Local; and Sophie Carpenter, Los Angeles Commercials and Non-Broadcast Department Assistant.