VOICE 2008 - A Corollary

Peter Ganim · **Voice Talent** Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 115

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Kara Edwards · **Voice Talent** Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 347

Don't forget to add in $20 per day parking if you plan to rent a car. It's the same price at all the Century City hotels. So, if you stay in a different hotel, you will spend $40 a day for parking. If you don't rent a car, add in cab fair from the airport and back. (app. 10 miles one way) FYI.

I believe the average attendee coming from out of town can look to spend $3000-$4000.

Vegas cost me under $2000 and was worth every penny. In my opinion nothing will ever top VOICE 2007, but I'm nostalgic Smile

For folks that are new to VO, or who want to meet new people, this will likely be a great experience! I'm not sure if those of us who already make a living in VO will benefit very much. I'm not stating any opinions here, just wondering outloud.

I'm on the fence. $3000 would buy me a couple of really great demos!

Erik Sheppard · **Voice Talent** Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 1317

Really, 3 grand to get the chance to meet Erik Sheppard is a bargain.

And for 20 bucks, you can get your picture taken with me!

Kara Edwards · **Voice Talent** Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 347

Wow- you charge the same for a photo as the Incredible Hulk- just FYI Laughing

Bob Bergen · **Voice Talent** Joined: 18 Jan 2005 Posts: 224

Peter Ganim · **Voice Talent** Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 115

All great perspectives, Bob-

Thanks for taking the time to post-

Everything you wrote is well worth considering-

PG

Scott Pollak · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008, 19:15 (GMT) Post subject:

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

Everything's relative. Over here in NJ, you can easily drop 2 grand for a week at the shore. And for that you may get a wicked sunburn.

I go to L.A. every summer to see family, so I just will be there anyway, with my family. It will be a vacation -- with some extra thrown in for my VO edification.

Kara Edwards · **Voice Talent** Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Posts: 347

Everyone will have there own reasons for going or not going to VOICE, and I don't think you can lose if you do what your gut tells you to do.

Bob is right, a weekend seminar or class with each of these instructors would cost a LOT more than $3000! So for many, this is a wonderful learning and networking opportunity at a reasonable rate.

The greatest thing I took away from Vegas was a long list of new friends. Absolutely nothing beats meeting your peers face to face, which is why a group of us in NC get together as often as we can. Anytime I travel, I always check to see who I can meet along the way (I'm still bummed I missed Scott in Atlanta last time Sad

)

The second thing I took away from Vegas was that I knew more about voice over than I thought I did. The trip was a major confidence booster for me. That's the 'glass half full' perspective...the 'half empty' perspective is that I didn't learn as much as I had hoped.

I believe the folks that were new to VO, or had only a few years experience most likely learned a ton. Those of us that have been doing this 10+ years were reminded of several key points that could help us grow (a refresher course is always good in any business).

Overall there was something magical about VOICE 2007, and I'm sure it will be the same this year. Anytime you fill a room with like-minded folks, inspiration and energy just flows. It renewed my faith that I'm exactly where I want to be.

I had a similar experience early this month when I attended Bob Bergen's Animation Weekend. I walked away from Bob's class with so much knowledge I didn't have walking in. He answered all my questions, and gave pointers I can use throughout the rest of my career. THAT is the type of experience I love paying for!

I always determine each conference, class, seminar, etc not by how much I will pay, but by how much I will learn. If I think I can really learn something new, then I will be there regardless of cost. I find that the money I make back with my new knowledge always pays for the class ten fold.

The decision isn't whether you should spend $3000 on your business, it's HOW you will spend it. Only I know which answer is right for me.

Sorry to be long-winded (or long-fingered in this case?) Hope that helps!

Lee Gordon · **Voice Talent** Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 1549

All this talk of spending two or three thousand dollars for a bit of personal edification and some networking is driving me nuts. There's no way I could dip into my pocket and pull out enough "spare change" to just hop on a plane to LaLaLand for a voiceover conference, no matter how stellar the lineup of speakers and seminars is going to be.
Hell, I know that Bob Bergen is coming right here to my town in less than two months and I would dearly love to be able to absorb his pearls of wisdom but, frankly, there's just a very long list of things that are calling out for my next $500 -- and several grand beyond that.
So I guess there's the Catch-22: if only I were a bit more successful at this voiceover game, I'd have plenty surplus cash to treat myself to workshops and seminars. Then I could improve and maybe get more business. But, after hearing the demos that regularly get posted on "L&R" and "Who Got the Gig," what I think I need more than anything else is not just a way to get better; what I need is the secret of how to make all my fine competition get worse. Shocked

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

Yes, Lee -- that's exactly it -- and isn't that what America's all about? Very Happy

Todd Schick · **Voice Talent** Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 63

Hey guys,

After reading the entire thread, I thought I'd drop in and type a word or two...

Peter brings up a good point; one that I purposely avoided in my review this year in favor of more sarcasm and humor....LOL! The raw numbers from Las Vegas last year was $98,500 after the room (where the conference was held) was paid. After expenses, there must have been some money left over.....James insists that there was little left considering the work involved.

It's good to ask the question, but little to learn from the answer...which is - you'll never know. Organizers, regardless of their profit (or lack thereof) will NEVER tell you how much they made....it will always be something like:

"Considering the work we put in, we didn't make much....."

Which says nothing really......consider this:

If James made $50,000 from Vegas (I'm only speculating here...) but he put in 5 months of work.....that's pretty good money for most people at 10K a month. But maybe James is used to making the same as that but spending less time working over all...and therefore, he says that he didn't make enough to warrant the work.

Regardless....the only indicator would be.....if they keep doing it year after year and the numbers grow....that is, attendees and admission rates. If that happens, then you've got a bonafide Cash Cow.

Bob Bergen made some good points, but also consider this: if the numbers of this conference are the same or higher than Vegas (200) how much of an opportunity do you think an individual is going to have speaking to these people one on one.....with everyone else out to suck these people dry of all their information and advice...?

Not much. Less probably, than a 4 hour class of 8 people sitting in a studio, waiting for their turn behind the mic....which will end up being around 10 minutes if they're lucky. Hell, I'd love to meet a few of the folks speaking there, but I'll probably get run over by a newbie just trying to shake Bob's hand....LOL!

Any conference, regardless of the content, is the same. You can only take so much from it....and you've got to work pretty hard to get the 20% Bob is talking about. I don't know about you guys, but conferences tend to suck the life out of me. You've spent all this money, so you feel obligated to take everything in....and in doing so, you ultimately over-extend yourself and come away with less than you expected......except maybe a good friend or two.....and....

"How the hell did I get this hangover....?"

As for LA, I stayed overnight in that town on my way to Singapore a few years back and the sight and smell of the brown haze over that city was enough to make me decide a short visit is the best visit.....I'd go for the conferece, but certainly wouldn't score it high up there for a vacation.

James has offered to comp my pass this year (he'd like to see me speak at one in the future) and I'm still sitting on the fence - it's about $3,000 for travel and accomodations.....a fair chunk of change, indeed.

Finally.....consider this. LA has a "built in" infrastructure for VO and talent in general. All these people there in LA.....make their living in LA. A buddy of mine from Canada recently moved down there and was very surprised to find that the idea of the "home studio" amongst VO talent in LA was a relatively new concept. The reason? Well, they make their living from the local market - no need to set up a home studio, when the city is full of them.....! Casting is done in-studio, as is everything else.

That being said.....while it's probably wonderful to meet these people and get some advice and information, keep in mind they're not very likely to partake of your services unless you move down there. Further still......don't fall for the old.....

"If you get your demo done here I can pass it along to a few people I know...." salespitch.

It will only help you if you're going to actually move there.

TS

Diane Havens · **Voice Talent** Joined: 09 Jun 2006 Posts: 1281

Hey there, Todd.

Just a word in defense of LA. I have family and friends who love living there. I prefer San Diego myself, so whenever we visit LA we hop the train that runs along the coast (a scenic, peaceful 2.5 hr ride) and spend a few days down there as well. LA is sprawling and diverse -- Santa Monica Pier is a favorite of my son's. Maybe it's not for everyone, but I wouldn't want people judging NJ by the Turnpike stench (which, of course, they do) because they drove it once on their way to somewhere else.

That being said, I think next time they should hold the thing in Bermuda!

Todd Schick · **Voice Talent** Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 63

Point taken....

I certainley don't want to give others the impression that it's a crappy place to go....and if I did, my sincere apologies.

Personally, I had trouble actually breathing there - and I don't suffer from asthma or anything like that.....I'm sure there is a ton of things to see and do....indeed, great beauty I'm sure......I personally just can't cope with the pollution there - it affects me in an adverse manner.....

I hope this clarifies things a little better....

TS

Lee Gordon · **Voice Talent** Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 1549

Frankly, I don't care how much money the promoters make or don't make, how much time they had to spend to put the event together, or whether or not the guest speakers get paid for their work (after all, if they have their reasons for participating gratis, what's it to me?).
All I care about is, what is the benefit for me to attend? If I'm going to get something out of it that will justify the expense, I might decide to go. If not, getting my house painted will stay at the top of my list of things calling out for my money.