When Herta Suarez, from AFTRA, connected with Gene Meneray and Martha Little, from the New Orleans Arts Council (ACNO), she had no idea their professional relationship would be a long lasting and productive one. They brainstormed to come up with a plan that would improve the standards of employment for performers in New Orleans through education, training and access to job opportunities.
This cooperative effort was possible because both groups shared the same vision to re-energize the talent pool of performers. The Arts Council was interested in expanding their services to reach talent outside of the visual arts area, and AFTRA was committed to providing more services to New Orleans AFTRA members and reaching out to non-members.
That’s how the Talent Coalition of New Orleans was formed, composed of a diverse group of performers, union and non-union, that met several times before determining a few ways in which working together would benefit all performers in our market. Several Committees were formed.
The Voice-Over Committee and the Workshops Committee worked together to develop a training project that would have the long-term goal of creating a website for “New Orleans Voices”. The immediate goal was to reach people, train them, and assist them in preparing voice demos.
In July of 2004, the process began, spearheaded with the workshop presented by Connie Zimet, professional voice over artist, actor and singer. Connie came to New Orleans to teach a one-day introductory class. IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS! Many people called to enroll in the class but it was limited to 60. Enough can’t be said about this magnanimously talented woman who came to point us in the right direction and facilitate the process leading to the New Orleans Voices project. Connie, also President of the Miami Local of AFTRA, not only shared all her knowledge and tricks with the New Orleans talent but also energized all attendees to work harder at being better voice talent.
Requests for continued and more specialized classes from other experienced voice over talent developed into more personal/in-studio training with New Orleans’ voice over talent and teacher, Diana Boylston. Jeff Talbot, owner of Audio Works studio, volunteered his studio where sessions were conducted. Jeff agreed to engineer all work generated by the New Orleans Voices website project. Michael Ziants agreed to produce demos for interested parties, for a limited time, at a reduced rate.
There is no end to what the talent, determination, and goodwill of a united community can produce when we join forces for a specific goal.
Our goal ---- THE “NEW ORLEANS VOICES” WEBSITE – .
“NEW ORLEANS VOICES” – THE PROJECT
ACNO-AFTRA Voice Project
Purpose: The Arts Council and AFTRA are committed to revitalizing and adding relevance to the positive impact union standards can have to achieve standardization of fair wages and employment practices for the benefit of local talent.
Description: The Arts Council and AFTRA have developed a Website of New Orleans’ voiceover talent, NewOrleansVoices.com, to provide exposure to New Orleans voice performers and access to job opportunities.
Education/Training: Four in-studio voiceover training workshop were conducted. They each consisted of six hours (over two nights) of training for new voiceover artists. These workshops were presented by local voice talent/singer Diana Boylston at Audioworks Studio. They followed the kick-off event for the project – an all day workshop presented by Connie Zimet, Miami voiceover talent, at Tulane University.
Process:
• Selection: The jury consisted of 3 experienced/seasoned industry participants who reviewed the demos of all those who applied to be part of the project. Each juror applied an established standardized criteria to evaluate each applicant.
• Website: All selected voices will be accessible through www.NewOrleansVoices.com
website. The website will be a stand alone website. It will also be accessible through links at other websites.
• Promotion: Initially, Arts Council/AFTRA will target all ad agencies and production houses in New Orleans and other targeted cities throughout the South. Research in this area has been conducted and lists generated. Arts Council/AFTRA will work with a marketing expert to maximize exposure. Targeted parties will be mailed postcards and contacted through list servers. Follow up will also be done.
• Bookings and Recording Studio: Jeffrey Talbot from Audioworks will handle all the talent booking, and Audioworks will be the studio used by participants for work generated from the website. All work generated by booking any of the artists, union or non-union, featured in the website will be covered under the applicable AFTRA contract. Falcon Paymasters will handle all the talent payments.
• Preview of the New Orleans Voices Website: With a full house of mostly voice talent selected for the website, the New Orleans Voices website was introduced at a gathering held at the N.O.C.C.A. Institute on June 28,2005. Excitement filled the room as participating voice talent heard details about how the website will be promoted and jobs booked, priced, billed and covered under AFTRA contracts. The evening was shared with many that have been instrumental in making this project a reality: Diana Boylston, Michael Ziants, Jeffrey Talbott, Gene Meneray, Martha Little and Herta Suarez
