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 dear friend Tracy Lindley has put together a killer LinkedIn course. I checked it out in beta and it is fantastic. If you want to learn not just how to use LinkedIn but how to land more clients with it, take her course. Go to www.thelinkedinedge.com to sign up! If you have attended FaffCon or WoVO Con, click on these links to get a discount:
My other dear 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:
November 1st to December 15th: ACA Enrollment is here! Time is running out, so don’t dawdle!
Thursday, December 7th: my next Edge Studio “Marketing 201” webinar topic will be ‘Brand Yourself’. Click here to sign up.
Thursday, December 14th: my next Edge Studio “Business and Money 201” webinar topic will be ‘Goals and Action Plans’. Click here to sign up.
Wednesday, January 3rd @7PM EST: My first-ever class at Abacus Entertainment! It’s called “Setting Your 2018 Voiceover Goals”. This class will be both in-person at their New York City studio and streamed live. Click here to sign up.
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 20-year veteran of the voice over industry who has narrated thousands of projects for clients in over a dozen countries. He is also a coach at Edge Studio, voiceover business consultant known as the Voice Over Strategist, and is currently producing the comic book “Agent 1.22”.