Welcome back, lovely readers! I took a short hiatus the past two weeks to go drink the Kool-Aid at VO Atlanta.
Usually, the term “drinking the Kool-Aid” is used derogatorily to mean someone is blindly following a group.
But I think there are times when we can just allow ourselves to go with that…to surrender and enjoy an experience. (Even if it weren’t just a metaphor, I highly doubt anyone in the VO community is going to lace our beverage with any poison intended to ascend us to Fivvr heaven)
This last year was rough, and I definitely needed some feel-good time with my community—dare I say it?—“now more than ever.”
OOooooh, that Kool-Aid is good! There’s just something about how this event is put together that makes me feel all Kumbayah, like I’m friends with the Snuggle bear and we’re getting high in a blanket fort. I’m all warm and fuzzy inside, and I just want to hug everyone and make flower crowns for them.
No matter how awesome and welcoming the voiceover community is, it’s got its own share of personal drama. Of people and companies taking advantage of newcomers. Of misunderstandings and miscommunications that cause rifts.
Coming back to VO Atlanta is the opposite of that. For a week, we get to feel super awesome about our community. To cheer each other on as we read for coaches and casting directors. To encourage each other (this year virtually in the Zoom chat). To bond over a shared love of the B52s. Or cats. Or Baby Yoda.
While some people question whether the price of attendance is worth it, or state boldly “well, I’ve never booked a job from attending a conference!” I will gladly fork over my money every year for the experience.
Why?
Here’s my fifty cents—I’ll take a Dixie cup of cherry please!
Because it’s energizing.
Every year, I come away from the conference inspired and energized to do more. As the week goes on, my to-do list gets longer, but my enthusiasm for my to-do list also increases. I leave the conference both exhausted and ready to take on the world.
Because I always learn something
Every year, I pick up some new trick…a new skill, or a useful piece of information, either from the sessions or from my fellow talent. Whether it’s a practical tip about a particular type of read or one casting director’s preference on using lead-ins (or not), everything I learn just deepens my subject matter knowledge.
Because of the connections.
Every year, I get to know my community better, from brand new voice actors excited to be joining our ranks, to seasoned coaches and casting directors and demo producers. Thanks to VOA, I have friends all over the US, Canada, and a few foreign countries, and I’ve gotten agents and work through referrals from people I’ve met at the conference.
Couple of downsides of this year?
The disappearance of the Spanish track. While I don’t know the story, I noticed it was gone and that there were a lot fewer Latinx talent in attendance. I’m sure VOA had their reasons (regrouping after a global pandemic, I assume), but it seems like a missed opportunity, and I do hope they’ll bring it back in the future.
Not gonna lie…conferences are definitely WAY better in person. I want to roll out of my bed, into the elevator, and straight into the conference rooms every morning. It’s just not the same dancing in my booth, and Zoom karaoke is terrible.
I was really hoping that this year might be my year to win a drawing prize. After JMC threw in that Euroretreat plus airfare, I got up to refill my coffee and slipped on the puddle of drool under my feet. Alas, twas not to be!
But seriously, I can’t complain. I got to watch some amazing sessions, listen to some of the most heart-wrenching stories of resilience, and meet some pretty incredible people. Overall, it was an awesome week!
Thanks to everyone who made it memorable, and thanks to Gerald and the team for putting on a great show.
I’ll be back for more Kool-Aid next year…OH YEAH!
P.S. If you know, you know: