Some people say that industry conferences are a waste of time and money.
While I’ll agree that they can be expensive, and intimidating if you’re more of an introvert, I will throw down with anyone who argues that they’re just “not worth it.”
Going to VOAtlanta quite literally changed my life. In the three years since I attended, I have achieved so much more than I could have if I hadn’t gone.
Why?
Because awareness of possibility determines the possibilities available to you.
Whether you’re an absolute beginner, or a pro with 30 years under your belt, there are so many benefits to attending a conference in your industry.
Wherever you’re at in your personal VO journey, here are the three reasons why you (YES, YOU) should attend a VO conference ASAP:
The Atlanta Panel at VOA 2019
To learn about the industry
If you are new to voiceover, going to a conference will open your eyes to all of the options out there in a very short amount of time.
At VO Atlanta, I learned that there are at least 23 niches in voiceover… 15 of which I’d either never really thought about or hadn’t heard of. Every single niche has its particularities, and a conference can help you see the reality of each genre, so you can get an idea of which paths you might want to follow, and which might not fit your lifestyle.
The conference also opened my eyes to many aspects of the industry I knew very little about about, like equipment, technologies, professional coaches and demo producers, the pros and cons of different casting sites, how to get agents outside my market, foreign markets, etc.
I’m not saying you can’t get this information in other ways, but a conference just makes everything more intense and more immediate. It’s the difference between getting a self-study course that you open once and taking a semester-long class where you have to show up. You’ll get more out of the latter.
Kay Bess giving the keynote speech at VOA 2019
On the other hand, if you’ve been at voiceover for a while, and are starting to feel a bit stagnant, a conference is a way to catch up with the industry as a whole. If you aren’t keeping up with what the trends are, at some point it will affect your business.
No matter how long you have been in an industry…how long you have been an “expert” at something, there is always something new to learn.
“It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.”
-Epictetus
To meet other industry professionals
My acting teacher used to say that acting is moving your life forward through other people, but this idea is apt for real life too.
You cannot accomplish anything of note without the help of others. Most of your opportunities in life don’t come from strangers, but through people who know and like you.
“Your network is your net worth.”
-Tim Sanders
There are three types of people you should be trying to meet at conferences:
The major players
Conferences are great for getting to know who the big names are in your industry. Find out who’s working and what it is about them that makes them in demand.
At a conference, you get to hear these people speak, and often to work with them for free or for only a reasonable extra investment. It’s a great way to vet a potential coach or vendor’s personality before deciding whether to work with them one-on-one. Often, there are agents, casting directors, or producers in attendance. I met one of my agents at VOA last year, and was able to use that as an “in” when I applied.
Often, you’ll have the opportunity to meet some of these people socially as well. Just don’t monopolize their time, and you know, maybe don’t be weird.
Uncle Roy works so hard at VOA, he deserves a hug
Your peers
In my opinion, meeting your VO peers is the most delightful part of conference going. As an extrovert, I have a special fondness for this part, but even introverts can benefit from meeting others who are pursuing similar goals.
In the past few years, the peers I’ve met at conferences have helped me with tech questions, offered me referrals to agents, helped me edit, provided moral support, and more, and I love helping my peers in return. The voiceover community is a very welcoming and giving place.
Newbies
I’ve found that a lot of people who’ve been in the industry a while tend toward skepticism of newbies, and I understand the reluctance to engage when you’re constantly inundated with coffee requests and your brain has been picked dry.
However, I believe that meeting serious-minded newbies can be mutually beneficial in many ways.
First, I think that anyone who’s been in the industry a while has some moral responsibility for keeping the industry strong. It’s best for all of us if we at least try to lead newcomers toward trustworthy resources.
But additionally, people who are just plain pumped to pursue their goals can help reignite your passion for the business if it’s flagging.
Sometimes, like a giant oak working with its mycelium buddies in the soil, it’s possible to form a symbiotic relationship with the right newb…you give them the knowledge and encouragement they need to grow, and they bolster you with energy and enthusiasm.
Bonus: To have fun with people in your industry!
People in other industries have offices that they go to. They get to hang out with colleagues and talk about work on a regular basis. They form bowling and softball leagues. They go to happy hours.
Me and my friends Jessica Holtan and Pavi Lustig
Voiceover is one of those weird professions that’s pretty isolated. Rarely do we get to work with our fellow voice actors. Even in the days when going into a studio was more common, we would usually be working with a sound engineer who we may or may not know. Some ad agency people, who we probably don’t know. And maybe a client or two.
If you’re lucky, and live in a city that has a lot of other voice actors, you might have a regular meetup group. VO workouts and chats about business goals are great, but sometimes you just want to hang out with your colleagues and get to know them as real people.
Clockwise from top left: Ian Fishman, Jacob Barrens, Jessica Breed, me…and so much shellfish!
To meet potential clients and learn about their industry niches
Most of your potential clients are not attending voiceover conferences.
Once you have some voiceover experience, consider attending a conference specific to the genre of voiceover you are interested in, be it video games, e-learning, radio, audiobook publishing, etc.
When you do this, you’ll most likely be only one of a few voice actors doing this, which is great news for you. Winning people over with your personality is a lot easier in person rather than through a cold call or email.
Attending these types of conferences also allows you a glimpse into the world of your client. Once you know the kinds of problems your clients struggle with on a regular basis, you’ll have a better idea of how to market your skills and services to them as a solution to those problems.
If you’re interested in this option, do some research on the individual industry or industries you’re most keen to work in. This is not an area I’ve personally dabbled in yet, but there are bound to be opportunities if you go looking for them.
If I’ve convinced you that it’s time to attend a voiceover conference, you’ve got a few options to choose from in the next few months.
Due to the pandemic, all of them have gone online for this year, but that doesn’t make them any less fun. On the contrary, it makes them more accessible and more affordable. OneVoice USA was only about $200 for a whole weekend’s worth of information and networking opportunities, as well as two more whole conferences worth of information from previous years—Tell me that isn’t a steal!
Upcoming voiceover conferences:
VO North Interactive 2020 - October 16-18, 2020
Mini-MAVO 2020 - November 6-8, 2020
That's Voiceover!™ Career Expo 2020 - November 20-22, 2020
At the 80s Party at VOA 2019…me as Jem, Stephane Cornicard as Boy George, and Jennifer Bateman as Ms. Pac-Man
Hope to see you at a conference soon!
(Still unconvinced? Click here to read my review of the recent OneVoice USA virtual conference.)
Me, Dan Friedman, Celia Siegel, and Paul Schmidt
JD Kaye, belting it out at karaoke!