This past weekend was the FULLY VIRTUAL One Voice USA conference, hosted by the online voiceover learning platform Gravy for the Brain.
If you weren’t there, you definitely missed out. But I’m happy to fill you in.
It was SUUUUUUPER BORING.
Me, if I had actually stayed at the party until 6am
Okay, I’m totally lying.
At first, I was concerned that there was no way I could learn as much or have as much fun at a virtual conference, but I’m happy to report: I WAS VERY WRONG.
Beyond a few technical hiccups (and the fact that Zoom karaoke will never hope to match in-person karaoke) the conference wasn’t hindered in any way by being online.
Come on! Belt it out, buckaroo!
On the other side, the fact that the conference was virtual opened up a few other opportunities that an in-person conference might not afford.
Virtual means more accessible
Because it was online, a lot of people were able to attend for whom traveling would have been impossible because of family or work obligations, or for whom in person conferences are simply cost prohibitive.
Virtual mingling is equal opportunity
The social hours were held as almost a chat-roulette, where we got tossed into a virtual room with 3-4 other people at random for fifteen minutes at a time, which kept things interesting.
At a regular conference, there’s no way I would have approached Joe Cipriano, but because I wound up in a virtual room with him at one point, I had no option but to just have a normal conversation.
I guess another option is “pretend that I’m having technical issues and pull the plug on my router.”
I’m not intimidated by the pros. I just feel like they’ve gotta get overwhelmed by so many people wanting to talk to them, so I usually don’t go there without a good reason (or a few cocktails).
So, anyway, it was nice to sort of meet some of the bigger name people in the industry on more equal footing. Joe Cipriano was very pleasant, and Everett Oliver was a HOOT.
I also had a really great chat with audiobook narrator Scott Brick, who I’d never heard of until this weekend, even though he’s narrated 600 titles including Jurassic Park, Dune, and Blade Runner. (Forgive me, Scott! I don’t live in the audiobook realm… and apparently I’ve been in a cave)
Simultaneously watching a session, eating lunch, and cuddling Teddy. I’m talented.
Another benefit of virtual: MULTITASKING!
I spent the weekend watching sessions while cleaning, cooking, and taking care of other household chores. I may or may not have shaved my legs in the middle of one.
What can I say…I’m a bit fidgety, and it’s really hard for me to sit still all day. There’s more than one reason I don’t have a desk job.
Virtual can be fun!
Both nights featured hours of mingling with fellow voice talent. I met a bunch of really cool people who I’m excited to get to know better, and hopefully meet in person some day as well. The Saturday night party went until 6am Eastern Time! I heard the Brits rejoined the party close to the end while having their morning coffee, but I was asleep before 3am.
It was the best of times…
But wait! There’s MORE!
Other bonuses? I didn’t spend a ton of money on terrible food. And the line for drinks was nonexistent.
Even though I miss the experience of the in-person conference, and I look forward to the day we can do that again, One Voice was a grand ol’ time, and a great value besides.
I did shell out a little more for one paid workshop on negotiation with Maria Pendolino, which was not only informative, but also inspiring.
Virtual offers a lot of value
But for the base cost of about $200, I not only got to meet a bunch of other voice actors from around the world, and learn from industry pros…but I also get access to any of the recorded sessions I missed, and the recorded sessions from the past two years! I’m going to be playing catch up for quite a while.
If I met you this past weekend, please, reach out! I never figured out that whole virtual business card thing, so please send me an email, friend me on Facebook, follow me on Instagram (@billiejovo), or find me on LinkedIn!
And if I didn’t meet you, hope to see you at the next one!
You definitely missed out.
The Gravy for the Brain behind the scenes team… THANKS FOR A GREAT CONFERENCE, EVERYONE!