Voiceovers, WeWork, And Meetup

WeWork bought Meetup.

Here is the announcement from Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/about/allforwe.

And here is an article from Business Insider announcing the acquisition.

I’m not sure when the online platforms will reflect the acquisition or how it will work digitally, but stay tuned.

I think this WeWork/Meetup marriage is a brilliant move for a variety of reasons…

As this New York Times article points out, most WeWork spaces are used during weekdays. Many Meetup events take place on evenings & weekends so this benefits the WeWork spaces with more revenue.

It makes perfect sense for WeWork to make it easier for Meetup groups to find a place to meet. Panera,  your local church basement, or a Legion hall is perfectly fine to get together, but won’t it be nice to meet in a private, more professional environment with wi-fi, audio/video options for presentations, and possibly a kitchen or a ping pong table?

Since the setting for the Meetup event will be in a professional space that is more conducive for networking events, seminars, and workshops, I’d like to think that the Meetup organizers will step up their game. I’m pretty sure that many are willing to put out a few bucks to that end. That may mean they’ll have to charge more than before or charge something if they’ve previously been free, but that could be a plus.

I’d also like to think that some attendees will be more likely to be put out a few bucks to attend a swankier, more professional-looking and feeling event. Like will attract like, and the events may be that much better with greater potential for genuine opportunities, not just being accosted by financial planners and the unemployed.

Of course, some Meetup organizers will never cough up a hobo nickel for their event because they can’t or won’t and that’s fine. Despite that, this may create a new class of Meetup experience that professional voice talent like us will be perfect for.

TIP OF THE WEEK

If you are already part of a voiceover-related Meetup group or are planning to start one, see how WeWork can enhance your event. If you only attend Meetup Group events and want to have a potentially more fulfilling experience, check out those that will take place in a WeWork space.

If you’re one of those voice talents who stay home all the time, change out of your pajamas and get out of the house for once! If you meet voice seekers in person, you have a much better chance of making an actual connection.

BONUS TIPS!

My friend Melissa Exelberth is hosting a webinar on how to convert non-union voiceover work into union work. If you are in SAG-AFTRA, you do not want to miss this! It will be Tuesday, December 5th at 7PM EST. Click here to sign up!

NEWS AND NOTES

This week I and my friend & legal VO wizard Rob Sciglimpaglia, will be guests of the Jamie Muffett VO School Podcast! You can find the podcast on these platforms:

1. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vo-school-podcast/id1276341971?mt=2

2. https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iqfdld6wg5py6job5neqzl7galq

3. https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/jamie-muffett/the-vo-school-podcast

November 1st to December 15th: ACA Enrollment is here! Time is running out, so don’t dawdle!

Thursday, December 7th: my next “Marketing 201” webinar topic will be ‘Brand Yourself’.

Thursday, December 14th: my next “Business and Money 201” webinar topic will be ‘Goals and Action Plans’.

Wednesday, January 3rd @7PM EST: “Setting Your 2018 Voiceover Goals”. This class will be both in-person at their New York City studio and streamed live.

Tuesday, January 16, 2018: the next audio book I’ve narrated goes on sale! It’s called Stand Up! How to get Involved, Speak Out, and Win in a World on Fire.

HAPPY HAPPYS

Happy Cookie Day and International Ninja Day! Because only celebrating National Ninja Day just doesn’t cut it…

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

The inside of my mind looks like Denzel’s back in Glory. Dave Chapelle

From my village to yours; this is Tom Dheere, The H is Silent, but I’m Not.

---

Tom Dheere is a 30-year veteran voice actor specializing in corporate narration and commercials. Known as a "street-smart professor," he blends his theater-based training and guy-next-door performance style with mastery over voice over project management .

When he isn’t in the booth, he provides strategic business consulting at VOStrategist.com and produces the comic book Agent 1.22.