Understanding The WoVOCon Unconference – It Could Be A Career Changer
As a WoVO member, you may have read/heard by now that the annual WoVOCon, scheduled for October 18-20 in Chicago, will be different from past conferences.
The previous events were terrific, but to truly differentiate WoVOCon from the overly-saturated voiceover conference market and to offer the most educational and interactive experience possible for members, WoVOCon will take on a new but well-tested and beloved format: an UNconference.
You may have heard that term used in reference to a series of exclusive voiceover conferences called “FaffCons” (produced by voice actor Amy Snively). Unfortunately, Amy had to shutter FaffCon some years ago for a myriad of reasons, but she has generously shared “all things unconference” with WoVOCon producer George Washington III, so that we will have our own unique and valuable experience.
Welcome to the birth of the WoVOcon Unconference, October 18-20, 2024, in Chicago, IL.
As a multiple-time attendee, presenter, and co-host of FaffCon, I am pleased to share the unique qualities and educational benefits of a voiceover Unconference with you here … and share why I hope you will join us this October in Chicago.
YOU ARE THE CONFERENCE AND THE CONTENT
Here’s the most important concept to grasp: there is no set conference agenda at this Unconference until we arrive at the first session. That’s where the unconference agenda gets developed, voted on by all us attendees, and finalized for the rest of the weekend.
That’s a big part of the “UN” in Unconference: you, as an attendee, have a huge stake in the outcome of the event, because you (together with everyone else) are helping to shape WoVOCon’s CONTENT. You are one of the decision makers in what we are all going to learn.
That does not mean you’ll be forced to be a presenter. Nope. You can simply attend sessions, learn, and maybe offer your thoughts/experiences in a session. But it does mean you can vote on submitted content ideas, so you have the best opportunity to learn what you want to learn.
The final schedule likely won’t include absolutely every topic you want to learn about, but it will be a schedule created collaboratively by like-minded professionals, so there’s a good chance you’ll gain a valuable perspective at each session – that you might not have enjoyed had you not attended the WoVOCon Unconference.
So let’s look at the nuts and bolts of how this all works, and what you can expect.
HOW THIS UNCONFERENCE THING GETS DONE
During the opening General Session of the Unconference, the participants (i.e. YOU) may create and submit a voiceover session topic for consideration that would fall under one of three VO categories:
- Performance (everything from working scripts, breathing techniques, and improv classes to, well … everything regarding performing voiceover)
- Technology (mics, studio set-up, software, etc.)
- Business and Marketing (from accounting, taxes, and insurance to branding, databases, and email blasts – and beyond)
The conference attendees (and specifically those who submit an idea) will be the hosts, presenters, or panelists for the sessions submitted … and voted on for the weekend’s schedule.
Organizationally and visually, a meeting schedule grid is created on a wall of the main conference room (in colored painter’s tape, no less) for each day of the WoVOCon Unconference. Initially, the blank grid shows available 50-minute session times, room locations, and fixed events like general sessions and meal breaks. The grid doesn’t stay blank for long.
Index cards will be given to attendees who have an idea for a topic they would like to share (or create a discussion group about). Cards are color-coded to indicate the topic category: “Performance,” “Technology,” or “Business/Marketing.” The submitter will write their topic and detail information on the card, and submit the card for review by the WoVOCon team.
The WoVOCon team will review the submitted topics (sometimes discussing the ideas with the submitter – maybe to flesh out an idea or to combine submitted topics) and organize them by category. If someone else has a similar idea, your topics may be combined and you can do the session together (hey, less stress and you make a new VO friend!).
Attendees are then given the opportunity to vote on the topics they would like to see. The chosen topics are assigned a space on the grid … and the agenda is set. Your WoVOCon can commence to learnin’!
CREATING YOUR SESSION IDEA AND DECIDING ON THE SESSION FORMAT
The format of any approved session is up to the presenter (or presenters, if you want to team up with someone). But even if it’s just one presenter, respectful full-room interaction and discussion in each session is HIGHLY encouraged, no matter the topic.
There are a myriad of WoVOCon session formats. Here are just a few examples to give you some ideas:
- A 50-minute group discussion/roundtable on a voiceover business topic that you (and others) may not know the answer to, but someone else may have found a solution or resource that would be helpful.
- An improv game that you feel will help other voiceovers create characters on the fly (as we are often asked to do).
- A 2-4 person panel discussion/presentation on their knowledge and experience with a new audio software. This is an opportunity for lots of Q&A as well!
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW?
Some important understandings to note about unconferences:
- There can be small sessions. A successful session is NOT determined by the number of attendees. It is most important that the session has all the folks that NEED to hear the information … that could be 25 people or only 2 (seriously).
- It’s important to BE WHERE YOU NEED TO BE. That means if you go to a session and it doesn’t seem to have the information you need or want, feel free to leave that session and go into another session. There’s no pressure or judgment from the presenters or your fellow attendees – you’ve attended the WoVOCon Unconference for YOUR EDUCATION, and only YOU know what you need to know … which can lead to …
- Hallway conversations! Often, these impromptu, laid-back business conversations with fellow attendees in-between (or during) sessions offer some of the best education. Be open to these conversations – not only for yourself, but also if someone approaches you. YOU may have the knowledge they seek!
- Finally, what happens at the WoVOCon Unconference STAYS at the WoVOCon Unconference. That means there is NO videotaping/recording of sessions and NO sharing/blogging/vlogging of event/conversation details gleaned from a presenter or fellow attendee. Much of what is shared at the Unconference is private or business-specific to the attendee (these folks are willing to share with a select few – please respect that). All information (unless otherwise stated) should stay within the confines of the event walls and your own two ears.
FOR ME, THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT
The most important aspects of a voiceover Unconference for me (and what the WoVOCon Unconference will offer its attendees) are these two things:
- A judgment-free zone
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- Everybody is on their own voiceover journey, some of 40 years and some of only 2 years. All ideas are valid, and to be respected as that – even if they don’t match with YOUR business ideas, beliefs, performance choices, experiences, etc. It’s a “Judge not, that ye be not judged” kinda thing (dost thou get what I meaneth?). Addendum (that’s Latin for “oh, and another thing”): check your ego at the door; no exceptions.
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- A safe place to fall down
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- As voiceover performers, we all know about vulnerability (how to call upon it as an actor, and how we feel it as individuals), especially when it comes to how well we perform as actors or operate as business people.
- You will find most attendees will share a lot during the WoVOCon Unconference in both word and performance; some of it will be good and some of it will be professionally and/or personally risky. The WoVOCon Unconference is the SAFE place for ALL that. You are encouraged to take advantage of that for yourself while there, and to respect and support when it is put before you by others.
I know that’s a lot, but if you understand this event conceptually now, when you live it at the WoVOCon Unconference, you will immediately enjoy the conference more than you could have imagined. In truth, Unconference events have been a career changer for me – and I hope the WoVOCon Unconference will be for you too.
Hope this helps. See you there.
I HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT….in my voiceover career 😉 – I’ve learned from many great voice acting teachers but I also feel some of my best professional learnings have come from my fellow voice actors during workshops and discussions.
