Well, friends, I’ve been AWOL for a bit. Between preparing for the WoVOCon voiceover conference, attending the conference, and dealing with losing the part-time support job, things have been a bit in the air. But as I preach the pros of consistency, I’d like to get back to it. So I’m here to tell you a little bit about what you missed, if you weren’t there, the differences between my experiences at WoVOCon and VO Atlanta, and some questions to ask to help you pick the right VO conference for you.
First off, going into the conference weekend, I’m not gonna lie: I was nervous!
I’ve been acting professionally ever since graduating from college, but speaking as myself in front of groups of people has always been a bit more of a struggle than playing, say, Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof or putting on a mask to play Dottore or Columbina in an improvised Commedia dell’Arte show. Yes, I’m absolutely more nervous speaking to five people in a room as me than I would get singing in front of a crowd of 1500, and honestly? I think this is more common than people realize.
I was also finally meeting (and cohabitating for the weekend) with a group of voiceover friends with whom I’ve been meeting weekly for about three years, but whom I’d yet to meet in person. And one of those friend’s husband and child.
My hypothesis? The blurrier the photos, the better time everyone had
Honestly, all of that went better than I possibly could have hoped. I was greeted with hugs, and presents, and joyful squeals. That alone was worth it.
Just a few short hours after arriving at the hotel in a WAY TOO EXPENSIVE cab (seriously, carpool if you can), I was up to present. All of that’s a blur, but I survived and came away with some great thoughts about how to make it even better in the future.
The highlights for me were the unexpected moments—deep conversations with people I’d just met. Slumber party-like hilarity with pizza and face masks. Dancing with friends, old and new, at the silent disco (if you’ve never done a silent disco, honestly, you are missing out—they are way more fun than they sound).
Silent disco mayhem
Finding out that my cat may actually be in two places at once, living in Atlanta with me, and with a couple in Italy. Sharing plates of ceviche and the most amazing guac and chips at a local Mexican restaurant with 16 other voice actors, and visiting the rest of the group spread out over other tables at the restaurant.
Or running into some attendees at the pool the morning of my departure.
My conference dinner dates…
Not all voiceover conferences are made alike
There are a lot of strong opinions out there when it comes to VO conferences and events. Many people are turned off by the size of conferences like VO Atlanta, which boasted almost a thousand attendees this year.
Personally, I love VO Atlanta, because it’s busy, exciting, fast-paced, and you never lack for options. But I understand why some people might be more comfortable with a conference 1/10th the size.
If VO Atlanta is an action-packed weekend in Las Vegas, with lots of glitz, potential for spending money, schmoozing with strangers, and late night excitement before you do it all over again, then WoVOCon is a little more like spending quality time at an AirBnB in a sleepy beach town with you and your besties.
Is there anything wrong with either of those options? NO! But one might suit you, your mood, or your goals better at any particular moment in time.
In addition to those two options, you’ve got VOcation, OneVoice (UK and US versions), MAVO, and That’s Voiceover! as well. VO North and FaffCon were past offerings that are now, sadly, defunct, but who knows—by the time you read this, new voiceover conferences may have popped up.
Kay Bess presenting the keynote at VO Atlanta 2019
How to choose a voiceover conference
With so many voiceover conferences to choose from, how do you decide which one to attend? Here are some questions to ask to figure out which one you might vibe best with:
How large is the conference?
Will I be overwhelmed by the number of people or by the sheer amount of options available?
Does this conference suit my current goals?
What do I want to get out of this conference? Do I want to learn about a new niche? Find a new demo producer or coach? Make connections with agents or casting directors? Just commune with my colleagues? Who are the main attendees and presenters at this particular conference, and how might they fit in with my goals?
Am I turned off by sales pitches?
It’s just a fact that many people speaking at conferences have services that they sell to other voice talent—demos, performance coaching, business coaching, websites, marketing help, etc. Am I comfortable going into a conference where that’s more prevalent, or would I prefer one that specifically prohibits pitching services?
How much will attending this conference cost me?
Is the conference local, or do I need to figure in airfare and other travel costs? Can I get an early bird special if I book by a certain date? Can I volunteer to get reduced admission for the conference? Could I apply to present at the conference? Can I share a room or AirBnB, or even a ride from the airport with others?
What will help me get the most out of the conference I attend?
Does the conference offer replays? Separate paid specialty breakout sessions? Do I need to be on-site at the conference hotel in order to make the most of the limited time? Should I get my own room, so I have a private place to record VO, take a nap mid-day if I need one, or just make sure I get enough sleep?
In the end, knowing yourself, your preferences, tendencies, budget, and current goals will help you make a decision. Everyone is different!
Don’t worry about getting invited out with the main crowd…create your own group and do your thing!
My personal experience
Choosing conference accommodations
The first year I went to VO Atlanta, I shared a room with a friend in the overflow hotel, which was fine. It helped us both save money on what would otherwise have been a somewhat pricey trip.
Would I recommend the overflow hotel? It might be fine for those who hit the sack early, but for anyone wanting to stay at the party late, it added an extra layer of complication, always having to wait for the shuttle to get to the main hotel.
The following year, I decided I wanted to be able to stumble upstairs from the party, and then roll myself into the elevator and out onto the conference floor in the morning. Also, I wanted the option to run upstairs and take a nap midday or do an audition if I needed, without having to miss even more session time waiting for a shuttle.
For WoVOCon this year, my friends and I shared rooms, so it definitely felt like a large slumber party. While I don’t think I’d ever do that for VOA, it worked well for how chill WoVOCon was.
Don’t forget to set up your pillow fort!
Arranging your conference schedule
I’m a HUGE fan of getting the replay option if it’s offered.
No matter the size of the conference, you’re always going to miss sessions that you really wanted to attend, and it’s helpful to have access to watch things later. (Honestly, if you’re like me at all, worry less about “watching” them and more about listening to them. The visual quality of the recordings isn’t always great, but you can listen to them more like a podcast and glean the majority of the information). I have made great connections even by watching replays and then reaching out to the speaker afterward.
Because WoVO is a smaller, volunteer-driven nonprofit organization, WoVOCon does not offer a replay, so I definitely felt a little bit of FOMO from missing certain sessions, but no matter what conference you go to, that will happen. You just can’t be everywhere at once.
Planning ahead to save money
The first year I went to VOA, I decided fairly last minute to go (only about a month in advance), so I paid full price. The second year, I booked my conference attendance and room WELL in advance, so I got the early bird price, and then I also applied to be an ambassador, so I volunteered my time in exchange for a reduced rate. As an ambassador, though, you will lose some of your precious conference time, and if you’re manning a session, you can’t just leave when you figure out it’s not what you thought it was going to be, so there are tradeoffs.
For WoVOCon, I applied to present, and got free admission to the conference in exchange for presenting twice, so for that one, all I paid for was airfare and hotel. But planning ahead will always save you money on airfare, and will also help you ensure you get a room in the main conference hotel if that’s your preference.
Going in person or virtual
In 2018 and 2019, I attended VO Atlanta in person, and this year, I attended WoVOCon in person. While many balk at the virtual conference format, it’s a great option for those unable to travel due to work, kids, financial considerations, or other life circumstances. During the pandemic, I attended OneVoice and VO Atlanta virtually, and I honestly have never had such a great time dancing and socializing with others over Zoom!
Does it truly compare to in person…no. Definitely not. But I was still able to network, make connections to casting directors and coaches, make new friends, and learn a ton, all while doing my dishes, cleaning my house, going on long walks, and not missing out on any voiceover jobs at all, because if they came up, I was already no more than a few feet from my booth.
Are virtual conferences over, now that we’re back to business as usual? NO! Just like working from our home studios, I believe they’re here to stay. VO Atlanta and OneVoice offered/are offering virtual versions this year, and eVOcation in September is totally virtual.
This is what a party at a virtual conference looks like…😜
Want to keep up on all voiceover-related events?
Whether you are looking for a workout, a class or workshop, or to get your conference on, if it’s happening in voiceover, it’s probably on the Abaton calendar!
What about you? Have you been to a voiceover conference, either in-person or online?
What was your experience like? Please share in the comments!
Until next time, friends!
Billie Jo Konze
P.S. If you enjoyed this article, check out my archive for more posts about voiceover, accountability, etc.
