Whether you are a seasoned pro or new to the industry, this episode invites you to see what WOVO is about today: a collaborative, non-competitive force for good that partners with other industry organizations like NAVA and UVA to tackle challenges like AI and local industry crises.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How WOVO has evolved into a member-led educational powerhouse.
• The importance of face-to-face connection and local "cheeseburger summits."
• How to access a "college degree in voiceover" through the WOVO webinar library.
• Why being part of a non-profit trade association is the best ROI for your career.

Join the community at world-voices.org and become part of the organization that is shaping the future of the voiceover industry.

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The conversation dives into the mental gymnastics required to stay fresh. Barri explains her use of a color-coded "Emotion Wheel" to find nuanced shades of feeling, while Tim and George discuss the importance of changing the "moment before" to alter the energy of a read. They also debate a controversial strategy: "flipping" the audition by putting the wild, creative take first to survive the brutal three-second "ear test" during open casting calls.

Highlights include:

• Navigating "Celebrity Specs": How to capture the vibe of a Scarlett Johansson or John Ham reference without falling into a hollow impression.
• The Reality of the Numbers Game: George reveals his count of 42 "Morgan Freeman" style auditions in a single year.
• Professional Standards: Why listening back to your work is essential for quality control.
• Directability: Why showing range is more important than delivering a "perfect" final spot.

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The main topic is the restructuring and reinvention of the core mentorship vertical within the World Voices Organization (WoVo). The organization's mission is fundamentally "actors helping actors."

• The Problem: Previously, WoVo's mentorship was often unstructured, serving mainly as a "troubleshooting" or one-time advice service rather than a cohesive program for growth.
• The Goal: The new initiative aims to provide structured, supportive help to both experienced actors and, most crucially, those with less experience to help the industry grow.
• The Team: The initiative is being led by Nikki Lulow (a 20-year industry veteran and problem-solver/former teacher) and Rebecca Howe. George Washington III praised both women for their dedication to helping others and bringing new energy to the program.

The New Mentorship Structure

Nikki and George, Tim, and Barri, discussed the intentions behind the new, structured approach:

• Preventing "Unpaid Coaching": The program is designed to be a short, structured term (e.g., 12 to 13 weeks, once a week) to prevent the mentor-mentee dynamic from turning into an endless, unpaid coaching relationship.
• Focus on Solving Problems: It’s about "teaching someone how to fish" rather than just giving them a fish. Mentees will focus on one specific, agreed-upon goal to ensure progress. Mentors act as a guide to help deconstruct issues and find solutions.
• Symbiotic Relationship: Mentors gain significant insight into how others run their business, discover new software, and learn about different approaches to the industry, making the relationship mutually beneficial.
• Vetting and Safety: The leaders stressed the importance of vetting mentors to ensure high standards and that mentors are not just selling services. They aim to create a "safe space" where mentees can be vulnerable and ask for help.

Program Availability

The mentorship program is a perk of WoVo membership (available to both Pro and Associate levels).

• Rollout: There will be a slow, hand-selected rollout of a small group this fall to test the structure before it is widely implemented.
• WoVoCon: Listeners were encouraged to attend the upcoming WoVoCon conference in New Orleans to meet the leaders and discuss the program in person.

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This is an episode of the official Wovo podcast, hosted by Tim Powers, Barri Tsavaris, and George Washington III, where they discuss career paths in the world of voice acting. They address the transitions or "pivots" in a voice actor's career and how these can be unavoidable due to life circumstances. The episode also emphasizes the importance of staying connected with the acting community despite having to take on alternative jobs to support oneself.

#VoiceActing #VOPods #VoiceoverCareers #CareerPivots #TheVOCommunity

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Tim Powers, Bari Savarris, and George Washington III share personal stories of finding work through unconventional ways. George booked a job narrating documentaries about the

Rosenwald Schools after singing at a family friend's funeral, demonstrating that work can be found in unexpected places. Bari, after a chance conversation at a church celebration, was hired to voice the automated phone system for a landscaping business. Tim details his "detective work" strategy of finding decision-makers in non-traditional media. By relentlessly tracking down the hiring manager at a car dealership and following up with a box of donuts, he secured a long-term client for whom he now records 30 spots a month. Bari also shares that simply making sure people on an LG commercial set knew she was a voice actor (in addition to being the on-camera talent) led to her being hired for the voiceover on the spot)

The hosts offer actionable advice for finding work:

• You must tell everybody all the time about your voiceover work once you are prepared.
• Leads are everywhere. If you leave the house without a business card, you're not helping yourself.
• Volunteer at local colleges with animation, sound design, or video game coding programs. The students you help now will be the decision-makers five or six years from now
• Regarding working for free: go ahead and do it for
• student projects or for a not-for-profit you believe in, but don't work for free so that other people can make money

The episode concludes by promoting WoVo (World Voices Organization), a peer-to-peer learning and support organization for voice actors12. Membership is $99, and their annual event, WoVoCon, will be in New Orleans in mid-October

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Highlights 🌟

Stories from the voiceover day-to-day, including unusual experiences and cultural challenges.

An honest discussion about the highs and lows of the profession.

Focus on the importance of controlling one's ego and serving the client's project.

Introduction of WovoCon, an event without main speakers, focused on collaboration and learning.

Keywords: Voiceover industry, Voice acting career, Voice artist, Podcast for voice actors, Voiceover tips, VO career challenges, WovoCon event, Voiceover professional advice, Behind the scenes voice acting, Voice talent stories, Creative professional career, Navigating the voiceover industry, Adaptability in voice acting, Continuous learning for actors, Cultural influence voiceover, Professional collaboration, Tim Powers, Barri Tsavarus, George Washington III, The "real" voiceover industry, Ego control for voice actors, Client relations voiceover

A unique opportunity for access to renowned professionals without direct sales pitches.

Key Insights 💡

The glamorization of the voiceover industry does not necessarily reflect the daily reality of professionals.

Versatility and adaptability are essential for success in voiceover.

Continuous learning and collaboration are fundamental for professional growth, as demonstrated by WovoCon.

Cultural and linguistic experience can enormously influence a voiceover career.

It's essential to value and recognize the unique contributions that each professional brings to the community.

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Highlights

• The episode addresses the role of conferences in the voiceover community.
• They create opportunities for making lasting friendships and getting agency representation.
• Conferences provide accessible ways to learn about new genres.
• The social aspect is a fundamental element of these events.
• WovoCon offers an intimate experience driven by the interests of the attendees.

Key Takeaways

• Conferences are an excellent way to get a "taste test" of different voiceover genres without a huge initial commitment.
• Smaller events, like WovoCon, strengthen community building and long-term connections.
• WovoCon, being an "unconference," allows for a dynamic exchange of knowledge based on the group's experience and interests.
• They provide an environment to build confidence and leadership skills, allowing attendees to become recognized experts in their fields.
• The absence of online components and hidden costs at WovoCon encourages a unique and authentic experience.

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Also, Tim's dog barks a few times.

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''George Washington III', '00:06:40', 'Watching the light go on in that room was one of the most inspiring moments that I have ever seen, where people opened up, came to their friends, and reached out for emotional support through a rough moment, recalling the things that all of us have endured or something like it.'

'Tim Powers', '00:08:14', 'It was impressive to see grown, mature, experienced veterans in the industry sobbing because they had a moment of vulnerability and clarity, and they weren’t sobbing because they were reliving past trauma—they were sobbing because of the relief that came from realizing that we spend all our time alone in a little room, but all of a sudden you’re in a hotel ballroom with 150 or 200 other people who are all fighting the same dragon every day, but we don’t know it.'

'Barri Tsavaris', '00:09:06', 'There were a few people that spoke about one story in particular. I won’t name names, but one woman talked about how she was offered the voiceover opportunity of a lifetime—her dream opportunity—but she had something happening in her family and had to make a difficult choice. The client wouldn’t wait 24 hours for her, and this is somebody that I look up to, who I thought had it all figured out. To just hear that she is also going through this made me feel so much better about where I’m at and the difficult choices we have to make about that work-life balance.'

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