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WoVO/FaffCamp Coupon

March 27, 2013 By Leave a Comment

coupon-2In just a little over a month, FaffCon‘s latest offshot:  FaffCamp will take place in Charlotte, NC.  (see details here).  More like a typical conference (rather than FaffCon’s “un-conference format), FaffCamp will nonetheless have a very faffy feel, and you’ll see a lot of your friends there.

Among the vendors being represented at the Table Top Expo at FaffCamp is voice-acting’s newest Industry Trade Organization:  World-Voices.org (WoVO for short).  Please try to stop by and chat if you’re gonna be there.

The organizers of FaffCon/Faffcamp are embracing the goals of WoVO, and are offering a pretty good deal that is a win-win-win.

  • WoVO gets greater exposure
  • FaffCamp gets more attendees
  • Attendees get a total of $50 break on costs at FaffCamp and WoVO.

Below is the coupon offer. It’s getting down to the wire for FaffCamp planners, which is why the deadline is short.  But, honestly, there’s still plenty of time to make your plans, and get in your registration…and now there’s even more incentive.

coupon

Can’t make it to FaffCamp, but still want to support World-Voices?  Peachy!  Just go to http://worldvo.org to sign-up online.  We’ve recently revamped our application procedure, combining the $25 one-time-only application fee, with the $49 annual membership fee for a total of $74 dollars initially… then $49 each year thereafter.

WoVO organizers have been meeting feverishly lately, and hammering out a lot of details that will make this an organization you’ll want to be part of, support, and help build.  Every profession that comes of age eventually launches an offshoot business trade group that helps represent the concerns of its members.  Go to http://worldvo.org for more explainers, and become part of our new free online social media site:  http://worldvo.com.  “”Our mission is to strengthen, improve and promote the artistic, professional and economic success of freelance professional voice actors world wide.”

CourVO

Filed Under: Faff Camp, World-Voices.org Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Get Campy

March 8, 2013 By 1 Comment

FaffcampIn the interest of absolute fairness, It behooves me to underscore the opportunities available at the OTHER major Voice Over Conference taking place during the first weekend of May  (I’ve already blogged about Voice World Toronto, organized by the fine folks at Voices.com).

What’s cool is that the universe of possible voice over people who would benefit from EITHER event is big enough that they will both be a success.

So, today, let’s talk about FAFFCAMP!!

As we all know, FaffCon is the bestest, most uniquest of all voice over UNconferences.  With five blockbuster events under their belt, the staff at FaffCon (led by the indefatigable Amy Snively), thought it might be a worthy idea to (1) open up the field of potential attendees, and (2) give FaffCamp a more organized structure, like you might find at most traditional conferences.

[FaffCon is limited to 100 attendees who are proven voice over pros, and the event has a delightful free-form attendee-centric design to it.]

Scheduled main stage speakers at FaffCamp are Bob Souer, Dan Friedman, Doug Turkel, and Rowell Gormon; all are FaffCon alumni stalwarts, and experts in their speaking role.  Of course, there are many other elements to the event, including the Table Top Expo, and breakout sessions.  Charlotte is a great place to visit, and FaffCamp is modestly priced.

FaffCamp returns to the scene of FaffCon5 at the Omni in Charlotte, NC, and is more of a weekend experience…so come early and stay late!  It’s probably best to head on over to the FaffCamp website, and get your registration done ASAP, as an early head-count helps in the organization of the event.

As luck would have it, I was able to spend some time on a Skype call yesterday with FaffCon founder Amy Snively, and her right-hand: Lauren McCullough.  The interview is below, and includes some info you have not yet heard concerning this May event, so take a listen!  Thanks Amy and Lauren!

FaffCamp Interview from Dave Courvoisier on Vimeo.

CourVO

Filed Under: Faff Camp Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Bits ‘n’ Pieces

February 21, 2013 By Leave a Comment

bitspiecesWe operate in an amazing world of information and connectivity, and voice actors are perhaps more in tune with that than other professions, ’cause we make our living online.

The VO world seemed to be humming yesterday.  Many of you who frequent social media like I do, may have seen some of the same things I did, so in the bullet points below, just skim past that, and go to the stuff you haven’t yet seen.

ANOTHER ONE?  VoicesOnlineNow.com looks to me like another online casting site.  The staff is based in Salt Lake City (Brent Marshall, Laura Gabour, and Mackenzie De La Torre), and the website is well-designed, concise, and full of content.  They deal in audiobooks, production, foreign languages, commercial, technical and more.  They also have a link for accepting talent submissions (info@voicesonlinenow.com).  Might be worth a look-see?

PROMO VOICES   The Commercial Production/Promotions Mgr here at my TV station is a real veteran.  He’s deep into the business of promotions, listens to lost of voice talent, and recently sent me a link to a great article published online this week.  You’d do well to take the 5 mins it would require to read it:  http://promocoderichanded.blogspot.com/2013/02/a-better-way-to-direct-voice-talent.html?spref=fb

40 CITIES, 40 VOICEOVRS   An Aussie VO talent and blogger by the name of Dave Kirwan wrote me last night to pass along a challenge.  He writes:  “…I’m setting myself and any other voice artists who want to get involved to raise money for a charity, whilst also travelling the world and doing voice overs in as many cities as possible. (From a portable studio)  Sounds crazy? I’ve already done it in over 30 cities with so many amazing stories to share on my blog…”   I promised him I’d help spread the word here.  Go visit his site to read more:  http://davekirwan.com.au/voice-over-artist-blog/

AUDIE NOMINEES   AudioBook narrating may be one of the few niches in voice-acting that actually has an extremely well-organized awards program for it’s talent.  That’s largely due to the efforts of the APA,, the Audio Publisher’s Association.  At the annual APA Conference (APAC) in May, this year, most anyone involved in the business of audiobooks will gather for the one-day event, then stay an extra day for the Audies awards, and might even attend the concurrent BEA (Book Expo America).  Here is a list of this year’s nominees, broken down into categories:
Audies2013PR.

HONORABLE MENTION   Don’t ask me how or why.  I guess it’s harmless, but how the heck did I ever become the subject of a Czech video/media site?!  You think they might have asked my permission?  http://video-hned.com/Dave+Courvoisier/

Well, what did I miss?   Please add it below in comments.

CourVO

Filed Under: APAC, Conferences, Links Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

2-Fer Tuesday

February 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment

ZollerAdSize_newVoice Over Virtual is gaining momentum.

The brain-child of VoiceOverXtra’s John Florian… VOV keeps growing, and adding new features, and for an out-of-the-box new idea, it’s got real legs!

To see how it’s all coming together, go to VoiceOverXtra and read about the people and plans for this innovative event coming to voice acting.

http://voiceoverxtra.com/article.htm?id=qouief9h

New to the team:  Tom Dheere, marketing consultant (nice going!).

Registration will probably open up in March, with the event happening in September.  VO topics include: Voice Acting, VO Business & Marketing, Home Studio, Audiobooks, Working Pro, VO Newcomer.

 Click on the above link will also reveal some of the sterling cast of characters assisting with this event.  Lots going on, and many top coaches and instructors asking to be part!

__________________________

Google keeps adding value to it’s Hang-Outs.

What’s a Hang-Out?  An online video gathering place for you and anyone else you invite.

You can launch a Hang Out from the top right of your G+ profile page.

hangout

 

Did I mention you can invite 10 other people with a webcam, and all of you can chat at the same time in amazing ease for nothing?   No cost.  Skype charges for something like that.  In addition, in a Google Hangout you can chat on the side, share docs, and even record the session so it can be found later on YouTube.

Inevitably, the success of Google Hang Outs would spawn 3rd-party services that might help you FIND, search, and index HangOuts.  It’s http://www.hangoutslive.com.  Why the need?  “HangoutsLive is the first crowd sourced G+ community calendar that helps you find great live shows by category, tag and even keyword with one simple click. No more wishing there was an easier way post your events. You post your show and it shows up on the calendar”.

More and more voiceover-related events are happening on Google Hangouts.  Hangoutslive.com can help you find the various webinars and online sessions with people and information that will help your business.

There ya go…two blog articles all in one day!

CourVO

Filed Under: Conferences, VoiceOver Virtual Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Camp Faff for 2013

December 9, 2012 By 4 Comments

CampFaffWhen something’s that good, word gets around.  Faffcon is that good.

Having attended 3 of the 5 FaffCon Unconferences, and having sponsored all of them, I think I know of what I speak.

FaffCon was not only a novel idea for a conference, but a game-changer for voice acting in general.  Kudos to Amy Snively for conceiving and masterfully enabling FaffCon. People get it.  They want to be there.

But its very design keeps FaffCon from being an all-out affair.  100 attendees allowed, and you must show your mettle as a voice actor to be there.

Voice actors aren’t elitists, though, and neither is Amy.  She’s been looking for a way to be egalitarian and enabling of more Faffers, and the results of all that cogitation are now being announced.

The first Faff Camp will be held in Charlotte…the same site of the last FaffCon.  The hotel liked us, and vice-versa.  It’s coming up in May of 2013, and the barriers to entry are….none.  Well, you will have to find your way there, and there is an registration fee… but that’s about it.

This is good news for all of us in voice acting.  As FaffCon’s Peter O’Connell writes:  “…Faff Camp is a peer-to-peer professional development conference for working voiceover pros (not just voice talents, voice actors, and narrators, but ALL PROS who do work related to voice overs). It’s participant driven and highly interactive, just like its sister event FaffCon. But unlike FaffCon, most of the Faff Camp agenda is set in advance, which makes it possible for Faff Camp to welcome a larger group…”

O’Connell’s got the early word on Faff Camp, and I suggest you click on the link below to his site, and read more of what this event holds for you.  Although I plan to be in San Antonio in October of 2013, I must admit, Charlotte in May is likely a travel weekend for me!

Peter O’Connell’s VoxMarketising Blog on Faff Camp.

CourVO

voxmarketising – the audio’connell Voice Over Talent blog and podcast

Filed Under: Faff Camp Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Five Ways FaffCon Helps Us All

October 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Almost exactly two years ago the first Faffcon was born.  I shared that experience with about 35 other believers.

Now the 5th Faffcon is about to launch with a purposely limited list of just over 100 attendees, and the roster filled up within hours.  I won’t be there, but I’m a guaranteed beneficiary of the event.

How?

FaffCon is a culture-shift.  Faffcon is a watershed Voice Acting phenomenon whose hydra-like tentacles will touch most aspects of this business.  Those who attend are the best of the best of the best.  They’re passionate, committed, curious, magnanimous, savvy, and willing to share.  The 2-and-a-half-day encounter will raise awareness among our kind, and raise the bar in your mind.

If you’re not already on the list, you will not be going to Charlotte two weeks from now…but here are 5 ways you’ll benefit:

1)  You’ll hear about if from someone who attends, and they will infectiously share a nugget of information that you need.
2)  You’ll see it on Twitter, FaceBook, Storify, Blogs, and Newsletters (including pictures of smiling friends), and you’ll get several nuggets of useful information you can use.
3)  The weeks ahead will see new ideas, motivations, thought processes, and paradigms that were spawned by Faffcon.
4)  Your name will be mentioned by someone there to someone else who’s there, and you become included in the FaffCon family of inside information.
5)  The knowledge shared will raise VO standards everywhere for rates, technology, VO business models, demos, client relations and more.  You can’t NOT notice the effect

Honorable mention:  You won’t be able to STAND not being at another one, and you’ll end up going to FaffCon6 and be forever changed.

Mark my words, in some grand or perhaps subtle way in the months ahead, your VO business will see a benefit from FaffCon.  It’s that big.

Attendees:  take copious notes on a free CourVO spiral notebook, and let us know what you learned.

The rest of us:  Plan on being the grateful beneficiaries of our friends’ largesse!

CourVO

(see Faffcon Fact Sheet Below)

FAFFCON 5 ONLY TWO WEEKS AWAY

Voiceover Unconference Welcomes Professional Voice Talent Beginning October 12

CHARLOTTE, NC – September 26, 2012 – The eyes of the voiceover world will be on Charlotte, NC October 12-14, 2012 as FaffCon 5 (www.faffcon.com), presented by Voicebank.net, takes place inside the Omni Charlotte Hotel. This event continues to be produced by professional voiceover talents for professional voiceover talents.

Voice talent from around the world (Australia, Great Britain, Canada, United States) have come to FaffCon since it began in 2010.  The objective for participants and guiding principle behind FaffCon is very simple- “Get What You Need, Share What You Can”.  FaffCon continues to provide a very educational, interactive and fun environment that encourages peer-to-peer professional development for all unconference contributors (who are nicknamed “Faffers”).

Since the success of peer-to-peer learning depends on all participants being peers, FaffCon is unable to open registration to individuals who are not already working pros.  The event was the brainchild of Los Angeles, CA voiceover talent Amy Snively who, with her team of volunteers from the voiceover community, has produced every FaffCon since its inception.

Other fast FaffCon facts:

The FaffCon 5 schedule can be accessed here: http://faffcon.com/schedule/

FaffCon 5 sold out in under 7 hours (a new FaffCon record)

FaffCon 6 will be held in October 2013 marking a shift to an now annual event

The location for FaffCon 6 will be announced to Faffers on Sunday, October 14th during the
Sunday luncheon

The name FaffCon is a compound word.  “Faff” meaning to spend time doing a lot of unimportant
things, wasting time. and “Con” meaning an argument against. Therefore, “FaffCon” is an argument against spending time doing unimportant time wasters, especially where our VO career is concerned.

Registration to FaffCon is limited to 100 professional voiceover talents who are vetted by a
committee to ensure their level of experience matches that of the other attendees

Previous FaffCons have taken place in Portland Oregon, Atlanta, Georgia, Hershey, Pennsylvania
and Ventura Beach, California

Voicebank.net (www.voicebank.net) is the presenting sponsor of FaffCon 5

 

Filed Under: FaffCon Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

4 Fer Tuesday

July 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

(1) 

VoiceOverCity.com looks like another one of those sites I’ve been writing about lately…the proliferation of online VO places where you can interact, be a part, and get some information, maybe even some new clients.

I think Steven Lowell of V123 is behind this one, but I haven’t had the chance to ask him yet.

Included, but not yet apparently developed or populated yet, is a forum, a classifieds section, a blog, an events calendar, and a directory.

There’s also a few blog posts already included, and a newsletter subscriber form.  This is a WordPress.com site, and a nicely-designed one at that.  ‘Wish I knew more, but just thought you should maybe put that on your radar screen.

(2)

Also, as of yesterday, a posting on WattPad.com was still looking for voice-actors for a video sims series.  ‘Might want to check it out…she apparently needs lots of voices…but no mention of what compensation is involved.

See:  http://www.wattpad.com/forums/discussion/253810/need-voice-actors-for-my-story-anyone-interested

(3)

THAT’S VOICEOVER is getting closer, and if you can make it to Chicago for this one-day blockbuster event August 25th, I’d highly recommend it.  Rudy Gaskins and his wife Joan Baker pack a lot into the day, and some of my favorite people will be contributing:  Nancy Wolfson, Dave Fennoy, Pat Fraley, Christopher Currier (fr. Sennheiser/Neumann), and Bill Ratner just to name a few.

(4)

If you were at VOICE2012, your ship has come in!  Executive Producer Penny Abshire writes:  the VOICE 2012 recordings are now available for FREE to those who were paid attendees if the convention and FOR SALE to those who were not. Just go to www.voiceconvention.com and click on the DOWNLOADS menu tab on the left. Follow the instructions and you’re good to go!  (or see:  http://voiceacting.com/voice2012/Downloads/downloads.html)

CourVO

Filed Under: Heads Up!, VOICE 2012 Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

FaffCon5!

June 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Never doubt that our business has come of age in the new millenia.

BIG TIME.

So much is available in terms of networking, relationship-building, and learning/coaching.

VOICE2012 is barely over, and FaffCon5 is launching it’s enrollment Saturday.  This 5th iteration of the fabulous VO confab, and will take place in Charlotte, NC, Oct 12-14, 2012.

The ONLY Voice Over UNconference is an event not to be missed.  Founder and chief Faffer Amy Snively sees to it that your experience there will be nothing less than a revelation and a cornucopia of knowledge nuggets, friendships, and poignant memories.  Go to the website now and look around.  Time to plan your Autumn UNconference!

While I’m at it, let me just mention that other presentations abound right now, Tom Dheere, Dan Lenard, Rudy Gaskins, Deb Munro, Pat Fraley, Bettye Zoller, and others are offering events, webinars, weekends, coaching sessions, and more.  None are quite as strong in community-building as FaffCon, but there’s no shortage of possibilities.

Waytago Amy!  I know this will be another memorable event!

CourVO

Filed Under: FaffCon Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Life is a Card

June 17, 2012 By 2 Comments

Since October of last year, I’ve been to five (count ‘em…5!) VoiceOver meetups.  There was That’s Voiceover! in LA, October of 2011; Erik Sheppard’s NYC Mixer, Dec ’11; FaffCon4 in March ’12 in Ventura, CA; APAC/Audies in NYC in June; and now VOICE2012 at Disneyland.

I’d have a hard time making the case that I’m an introvert.

If I continue this way, there’s Roy Yokelson’s VO BBQ in September on the East Coast and FaffCon5 in Charlotte in October.

That’s not counting all the WOVO, VOICE2012, and VO Mastermind Conference calls.

Four years ago, I wrote a blog about Immersion.  I believed then, and still believe in the notion that to be a success in ANY endeavour, you must immerse yourself in the culture.

But I’m starting to think immersion is one thing, and near-drowning is another.

But I digress.  At all these networkable meet-ups, you tend to get and give business cards.  How ’bout that?!!!

In the midst of all this digital online social media craze, it still comes down to having a logo, a brand, and your contact information, all printed out on a little 2X4 in. card-stock paper.

Now, here’s the important thing: people don’t give you these cards for no good reason.  They give you their card because it means they’re OK with you contacting them.  So, for all the agents, and publishers, and producers, and mentors, and consultants, and directors who can actually advance your career…this is the time to rev-up the follow-up machine and get busy.

with Chuck and Stacey of VO BUZZ weekly at Voice2012

There’s a finesse to that…a diplomatic way of being appropriately direct, and yet appreciative for the contact.  With audiobook publishers, it’s even a more delicate dance.  Most of them say they want to know you’re available, and you’re the right kind of talent for their company…they just don’t want to know TOO MUCH.  So, do I send an email or a postcard (or both)?…and how often?  Once-a-month?  Once every two months…three months?

And this sort of follow-up (in my book) is not just for those who are potential employers.  As someone who believes in fostering a true sense of VO community, I believe it’s important to also follow-up with my peers…the ones who make a difference in my business with their friendship, their encouragement, and their helpful tips.  Yes, they deserve a follow-up too.  Maybe an email, a pic posted on FaceBook…a shout-out on Twitter.

Can you do too much of that?  I think not.

Can you do too much conferencing?  Yeah.  I think you can.

It’s time to hunker-down and actually start implementing the incredible results of my networking.  All that good will, the friendships, the sharing, the contacts, the business cards, the invitations to make contact and follow-up.

THAT’S how I’m going to spend the rest of my 2012.  Time to give the airlines a rest (for a couple of months, anyway.)  :)

CourVO

Filed Under: Conferences, Connecting Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

VOICE2012 – Day 3 at Disney

June 14, 2012 By 6 Comments

Up at 7am.  Really?  Normally, I’ve had just 3 hours of sleep at 7am, but on THIS day I’m expected to be chipper, entertaining, wise, and informative at that hour.

Yes, I’m reprising my role as a self-styled Social Media know-it-all along with my equally-afflicted VO colleague, Terry Daniel.  ’Difference is, this year, we’re joined by the talented VO and Twitter maven, Trish Basanyi.

None of us slept well.  The three of us talk for a living, but not with people staring back at us.  We all know this stuff like the pledge of allegiance, but will the words come out right when we try to tell others?

After some funny schtick to get people laughing, we expose our FaceBook/Twitter/LinkedIn T-shirts, and Terry Daniel dives right into his presentation on FaceBook.  15-or 20 minutes later, Trish begins her talk on Twitter, and I bring up the rear with info on LinkedIn, YouTube, Google+, and Pinterest.  The time flies, and we take good questions for a half-hour.  Then we’re done.  Gone in a flash!  What was all that angst about anyway?

Terry’s top tip:  The FaceBook app Fan Rx lets you upload your demos to display on your FaceBook page.

Trish’s top tip:  Use Twellow.com to do meaningful Twitter searches for worthwhile VO people to follow.

Dave’s top tip:  Google+.  It’s here to stay, and Google is putting huge resources into making it an eventual success.

I’ll admit, the rest of the day seemed like a welcome relief once the big Social Media presentation was over, but honestly, there were some top-notch presentations on all sorts of useful topics today.

 

Erik Sheppard on the top myths in the Voice-Over world today.  Example: You must live in NYC or LA to make the big voice over bucks.

 

William Williams on ways to be the top auditioner on Pay-2-Play services like V123 and Voices.com.

 

George Whittam and Dan Lenard on audio production techniques demystified.

 

Andy Boyns moderating a panel of International Voice talents, the challenges and the advantages.

 

Vanessa Hart moderating a panel of AudioBook superstars: narrators, publishers, ACX, agents, and even SAG-AFTRA were represented, along with Scott Brick, Hillary Huber, and Pat Fraley.

Tim Keenan on how to succeed in corporate narrations (seen here in the red shirt tweeting).  Tim later hosted an after-hours party at his  Creative Media Recording studios not far from Disneyland.

 

John Florian and Elizabeth Holmes on how to run a better VO business.

 

 

Gabrielle Nistico moderating a panel on how to get a top agent.

 

And there were even a couple I didn’t have the chance to visit…. TONS of great information on many chief aspects of the voice over business.

My apologies for not fleshing-out more tips from each of these presenters, but with my duties as host…flitting back and forth to get pictures and facilitate the seminars, I wasn’t always able to hear much of the information being offered.  As a staffer, I will get a complete DVD copy of each session, though, and that will be available to you as well, once the event is over (there is a cost for the DVD, but well worth the price, believe me!).

Everyone agrees on several points:
1)  The Voice Over business is still in the throes of big change (mostly due to home studios and the internet)
2)  There are more voice over jobs than ever (globally)
3)  There are more people vying for those jobs than ever (grrrr)
4)  This is a healthy industry with good prospects all around.

Six more seminars Friday from great information providers like Edge Studio’s David Goldberg, Randye Kaye, Tom Dheere and others.

CourVO

Filed Under: VOICE 2012 Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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