I went to my first voiceover conference in 2019. It was VO Atlanta, the world’s biggest voiceover conference I think that’s what they said. Now, I’ve been doing voiceover work since 2012, but I will tell you, I felt like a total noob. I didn’t know anyone, didn’t know anything, didn’t know how to market or network. It was a disaster. Did I learn stuff? Oh yeah, I had my hair sufficiently blown back. Drinking from a fire hose is an accurate metaphor for all that I was exposed to at VO Atlanta. I had been direct marketing and developing my brand just for a few months leading up to the conference, so I really didn’t know anyone.

Motivated, I signed up for VO Atlanta 2020, but alas, Covid cancelled everything that wasn’t nailed down. 2021 was a virtual affair, and while those in charge did a yeoman’s job of putting that on, it just wasn’t the same.

2022 rolled around and VO Atlanta was on in person. We were back. I had 2 years of online marketing and relationships with other talent and such built up. I was down 70-80 pounds and feeling good. I was ready. I went and had a great time. I got to see a lot of people in person that I had conversed with only online. People like Josh Alexander, Mark Rider, Mike Carnes just to name a few. I attended many classes and I learned a lot, made new connections, and then thought to myself, would I go again next year?

It’s a lot to think about. VO Atlanta is the biggest voiceover conference around. It is right in my backyard. It would be silly to skip it, I mean it’s “right there”. It’s not like VO North (which I think 2022 was the last year), The One Voice Conference, or some of the European ones, and I’m sure there’s one in LA (maybe? Let me know) that are far away from me. VO Atlanta attracts industry folks from all over the world. What an opportunity right?

So, for those who are considering a conference, here is a list of pros and cons that I’ve come up with concerning voiceover conferences. My opinions of course and if you have others, please leave them in the comments and we can talk about it.

Pros: (Unlike 2023, let’s start with the positive)

1. You can network like nobody’s business. You have access to so many titans in the industry. You can take classes and get to know big name talent, marketing folks, and casting directors and agents. Months of online efforts packed into one hotel for one weekend. Shooting fish in a barrel so to speak.
   
2. The variety of classes cannot be matched. You can learn about every aspect of voiceover: Commercial, promo, automotive, trailer, animation it’s all there. There’s a whole track on nothing but audiobooks! There are classes on marketing and branding, the business side of voiceover, classes on things you’ve never even thought about. You can showcase your talent for lots of people who can affect your career.
   
3. There’s many sponsors that have the newest toys for you to try in the sponsor hall area. Neumann, Sennheiser, Vocal Booth To Go, J. Michael Collins are all staples at the conferences. You have a chance to try out some pretty cool stuff and meet with the reps ( and J. Michael) and ask all the questions you want from the folks who know their stuff, not that one dude at Guitar Center who may or may not know what mic works best.
   
4. For VO Atlanta specifically, it’s easy to get to. It is right next to the world’s busiest airport. It’s a short Uber ride away and there are plenty of rooms available. Spring is a great time of year to visit Atlanta.
   
5. On the personal side, voiceover can be a lonely business. You sit in a quiet box all day by yourself and the only contact you have with others is via email or text or zoom. Human beings are social creatures. We need the in-person contact. Covid has really messed up a lot of folks. Some people will never go out in public again. Conferences are a great way to get that interaction that we naturally crave. Basically, it gets you out of the house.
   

Cons:

1. Let’s the big one out of the way first. It’s expensive. Attending a conference is a big chunk of change. A lot of cheddar. Loads of moola. Ok, I’ll stop. Seriously though, once you factor in the cost of the conference, hotel and plane tickets, you’re looking at a price tag into the thousands in some cases. Not everyone can afford to do that and that’s ok. It is an investment in your career, but sometimes you need to choose where that investment goes. Maybe it’s better suited for coaching or a new demo or a marketing plan. It’s your money, you can choose where to spend it. In the case of VO Atlanta, there are special sessions called X sessions where you can get more in depth with a particular coach on a subject and those cost extra. If you can afford the conference but not the x sessions, you might feel like you’re not getting the most value out of your experience. You get out of the conference what you put in is a mantra I’ve heard often. While they mean effort, I really think they can mean money.
   
2. If you’ve followed my content for any period of time or any other voice talent for a while you’ve seen the advice, “Don’t compare yourself to others”. When you go to a conference, that comparison is turbo charged. You see those who are way more successful than you and you compare yourself. Why am I not at that level? Talent are going to their rooms to record jobs and you’re not, you’re thinking, what am I doing wrong? It can make you spiral pretty badly and you end up sitting in a corner and you’ve blown the whole weekend.
   
3. Speaking of the corner, conferences are hard for those of the introverted persuasion. Walking up to a stranger and saying hi strikes fear in the heart of introverts. It is something you must overcome.
   
4. This one is touchy. Like any groups of people that are together, there will be cliques formed. Some people at conferences have known each other for a long time. Those in the upper echelon of the business tend to congregate which is normal. It’s hard as a new person to break in or not feel left out. Most of the folks I’ve met at VO Atlanta could not have been nicer, but there are some that are more, shall we say, prickly? We are all human and none of us are perfect. Just know going in that you might not be included in a lot of conversations or the after parties.
   
5. The final one I have actually goes against one of the pros. Despite there being a lot of industry folks at the conference for you to network with, the overwhelming group attending a voiceover conference is well, voice talent. I’ve been struggling with my online content reaching only talent, only talent interacting with my content. While it’s good to know other talent, other talent normally aren’t the ones hiring talent. I haven’t seen a lot of agents or casting directors at VO Atlanta. They’re there, but not in a great number. The ones I have seen are hanging out with the talent they already work with, the famous ones. The conference is there for talent to learn it seems, not to find work as much. Maybe I’m wrong. Tell me in the comments.

Those are my pros and cons for voiceover conferences. Will I be attending VO Atlanta 2023? I’m still on the fence, but I’m leaning no. I’m sure J. Michael will do a great job taking over for Gerald Griffith. What do you think about voiceover conferences? What are your pros and cons and thoughts? I’d love to hear them. Tell me in the comments and share with other talent and industry folks to get their thoughts.