The voiceover industry can sometimes be a lonely one.
Most voice talents these days audition, record, and market from home in a dark closet, sound booth, basement, or attic. Some live in relatively remote locations where the nearest voice talent is many miles away.
Many friends and family members don’t understand what we do, how we do it, or why we do it. Some wonder when we’re going to become rich and famous (because that’s exactly why we’re voice talents, right?) or get a “real job”.
Then we go to FaffCon and everything’s alright. Mmm, FaffCon.
FaffCon 8 was held last week in Minneapolis, Minnesota and this was one for the books!
For those of you who are not aware, FaffCon “is a participant-driven professional development event for working voiceover industry pros. Its highly-interactive, peer-to-peer learning environment is consistently credited with helping establish VO-industry pros take their careers to the next level. Prospective participants must meet certain criteria and apply to attend. FaffCon sells out very fast, every time.”
This was my eighth Faff event (six FaffCons and two FaffCamps) and as always I was informed, enlightened, entertained, and fulfilled.
Only about 100 voice talents are allowed to attend and we provide the content. There are no slated speakers or vendors; just voicers helping voicers become better at what we do. I attended many fascinating peer-led sessions about everything from how you improve your LinkedIn presence to copy-reading sessions to how to not be a jerk on Facebook.
Here are some pics of me and 100 of my best friends…
Here’s our fearless leader Amy Snively showering us with jokes and wisdom.
That’s me at The Mall Of America. Dude, that place was huge!
That’s me and a bunch of Faffers after they rode the log flume at the Mall. Yes, there’s a freakin’ log flume inside the Mall Of America.
TIP OF THE WEEK
As a voice talent, you are not alone. You are never alone.
There is someone, many someones actually, who is going through the exact same challenges that you are. Its your choice to be a part of this amazing voiceover community. Whether it’s through FaffCon, another voiceover conference, a Meetup Group, or just calling a fellow voicer on the phone. There is plenty of work for everyone and many, many fellow voice talents out there who are happy to help you get to whatever is your definition of the Promised Land.
Oh, and there are only TWO FaffCons left! Go to www.FaffCon.com to learn how you can be a part of it.
NEWS AND NOTES
Who wants to win a free download of the audio book “Art of Community” by Charles Vogl? The first three people who email me at tom@nulltomdheere.com, that’s who!
HAPPY HAPPYS
Happy Swap Ideas Day and Wonderful Weirdos Day! Appropriate since we’re talking about FaffCon, ay…?
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Steven Colbert: What’s the difference between a geek and a nerd?
Richard Clark: Geeks get it done. Nerds don’t.
From my village to yours; this is Tom Dheere, GKN News…
Tom Dheere is a 20-year veteran of the voice over industry who has narrated thousands of projects for clients in over a dozen countries. He is also a coach at Edge Studio, voiceover business consultant known as the Voice Over Strategist, and is currently writing & producing the comic book “Agent 1.22”.