The 2013 Audiobook Gold Rush Webinar
Tues. May 21 6PM-7:30PM PDT

Join Robert Deyan, the audiobook producer
who hired over 500 narrators in a
two month period last year,
with Scott Brick and Patrick Fraley
for a meaningful, inside view of how
to work the audiobook market.
$47. Recording of all comes with the price.
Details: http://www.voice-overwebinars.com/Audiobook_GoldRush.html

100% of the money goes to performer
Nicole Nielson who has been stricken
with an incurable disease.

This is a great bargain for anyone who wants to know more about voicing audiobooks. It’s also a great cause.

The final day of Faff Camp started with an opening circle, which was as it should be.

Then the first main presentation of the day was given, by me. The topic was Invite the Avalanche, and was based on (but not identical to) talks that I’ve given a couple of times at various Faffcons. The best way to get the substance of what I spoke about would be to put the word avalanche into the search box of this blog and read the articles that you find.

Here though is something you won’t find in any of those previous blog posts:

Beware of the cheap. It’s so very easy to self-justify either looking for something cheap because we think it will represent a bargain (but in reality what we’re buying is just cheap trash) or to self-justify selling ourselves for cheap.

Bottom line: it’s not about what you would like to do, nor about what you can do. It’s all about what you will do, and then actually doing the thing.

When I first saw the line-up of speakers for Faff Camp, I was so relieved and grateful that I was up first on Sunday; because the final main presentation was given by Doug Turkel. I did not want to have to follow Doug, who provided us with a virtual MBA of ideas and insights about how to improve our marketing, how to think more like a business person and less like just another starving artist.

Bottom line: the options and opportunities are nearly endless, but all of those options are worthless if you don’t actually take action.

After the main presentations, we again spent an hour taking part in the table top mentoring. This time I didn’t have to lead a discussion, so was able to enjoy discussions about transition from radio to voiceover (led by Don Brookshire, and for whom I don’t seem to be able to find a web site!) and about corporate narrations (led by Peter Bishop).

We then broke for lunch and in the afternoon did some breakout sessions; among which the stand-outs for me were Tom Dheere‘s on personal and business organization and time management and Sean Caldwell‘s on rates.

Faff Camp proper wrapped up with a closing circle and the day ended with a memorable Faff-ter party that was great fun, tinged with sadness as various people had to depart for the airport.

Truly a memorable weekend, chock full of both good times and excellent ideas. Now the challenge is to translate those ideas into actions!

A week ago I posted some thoughts following the first day of Faff Camp and I had intended to post follow-up reports each of the next couple of days. However, the experience proved to be so powerful and so exhausting at the same time that I simply couldn’t push myself to do those reports.

Now, a week has passed and I have both recovered from the exhaustion and have gained a bit of distance on the event. I hope my thoughts here will help you understand some of what it was like if you weren’t there and help you process what you expereinced if you were.

I begin with some thoughts not directly related to the Faff Camp experience itself. I have to admit I am truly puzzled about why attendance wasn’t higher than it was. Yes, there were other things happening in that part of the USA in the weeks before Faff Camp. Yes, there was another voiceover event going on in Canada that same weekend. But, the number of people who expressed frustration at not being able to attend Faffcon would have seemed to indicate the level of interest was high enough for a larger attendance at Faff Camp.

Maybe it was because it wasn’t Faffcon, but something else? I truly don’t know; but I can say that having now attended all 6 Faff events that while Faff Camp is different from Faffcon, the similarities are greater than the differences. At least in terms of the opportunities to learn and connect and grow.

However, I don’t intend this post to be some sort of scolding of those who didn’t come to Faff Camp. If you were not there, I respect your decision and your reasons. So, on with my thoughts and observations.

The first full day of Faff Camp began with an opening circle meeting to provide some background and set the state for what would happen over the next two days. Aside from the fact that the topics and topic discussion leaders were picked in advance, it was very similar to the start of a Faffcon. Next came a truly excellent presentation and discussion led by the wonderful Dan Friedman on Audio Quality and Auditions. Dan presented a bunch of helpful and insightful observations from casting directors, talent agents and production houses on what sort of difference it makes when an audition arrives with excellent audio quality versus one that arrives with marginal or poor quality. No surprise, the better audio quality books pretty much every time even if the peformance of the poorer quality audio is somewhat better.

Bottom line: even if your performance is top notch marginal or poor audio quality will mask your terrific performance.

The second main presentation on Saturday was a brilliant presentation on the creation and use of character voices by Rowell Gormon. I have been friends with Rowell for a number of years, so my views about his presentation are no doubt colored to some extent by that friendship; but it really was an eye-opening riff on ways to create characters to use in audiobooks, commercials and any where else we need to present a sound other than our “normal” voice.

Bottom line: even “bad” character voices can be useful … if we will simply use them when appropriate.

Then we had a hour of table top mentoring in which a number of us facilitated conversations about numerous topics. I led discussions about doing audiobooks at my table. There were loads of other conversations going on all around the room. I enjoyed this idea a great deal and thought the discussions provided a good exchange of insights from those doing the various kinds of work being discussed (in my case, narrating audiobooks) with those interested in pursuing that kind of work.

This was followed by an hour for lunch and then an afternoon of break-out sessions on again a wide variety of topics; the most memorable of which was a discussion on union, non-union and financial core that was led by Melissa Exelberth. All in all, a wonderful day. 

I’ll write more tomorrow, with observations about the final day of Faff Camp.

It is different, but quite wonderful in it’s own way.

But, one thing that’s the same is the generous spirit and warmth of all the voiceover people. I’m sure there might be other groups or categories of people where kindness and generosity and sweetness and humor and friendliness predominate; but I’ve never found them. Voiceover people are something else.

The friendships we make at Faffcon and now Faff Camp are so precious. There’s something solid and real about them, whereas at typical conventions there’s a fleeting quality about relationships, here it’s different.

There was a panel discussion that wrapped up the day yesterday on the current realities of the voiceover business that was truly excellent. One voiceover talent and 4 studio owners each contributed really solid insights. Here is just one of thoughts that i wrote down:

No one is going to hire you for your “improved” weakensses. Concentrate your energies on your improving your strengths, not your weaknesses.

I’m looking forward to what today hold.

This weekend in Charlotte, Faff Camp is taking place. If you’re serious about your voiceover business and you can get yourself to Charlotte, now is the perfect time to make one of those snap decisions. 

I truly believe, if you do, and if you put into practice what you learn this weekend, you will make a tremendous leap forward in your voiceover business in the next year. Do it. Come to Faff Camp.

We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”
– Abraham Lincoln

Hello Peeps!

I wanted to update you all on our April 27 Meetup with Chuck and Stacey and ask you for your help! In case you have not seen the news, Joseph Micalizzi, Director of Photography with TheMotionPictureCo.com, will be streaming a live switched multi-camera production of the VO Peeps April Meetup with Chuck and Stacey! OMG. FUN.

The first production of it’s kind to be integrated into a live Meetup – this will be a historic event you won’t want to miss! We’ll have no fewer than 3 robotically controlled live switched cameras to give our Global Audience some of the BEST seats in the house! We’ll also be recording everything for later viewing on our Meetup Archives. Now, I KNOW you’ve already seen Chuck and Stacey interview the top talents in the business – Well this time we get to interview THEM! And let me tell you this dynamic duo is amazing!

So make sure to join us LIVE – and get ready for some exciting new surprises! In addition to the regularly scheduled show, we will be hosting a super cool Pre-Show! Starting at 5:30 pm PST, we’ll broadcast live interviews with our members as well as take a “Behind the Scenes” look at the technology – as we prepare for one of the coolest meetups EVER!. PSSSST – There may even be some footage of Jerry prepping in the kitchen!

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED! CALL FOR PARTICIPATION:

At any given time during our shows, we will be taking a short breaks in order to showcase our Peeps (that’s YOU!) Our intent is to show the global integration of the group and how beneficial it can be for your career! As of this email we have Peeps participating from Spain, Turkey, England, Ireland, South Africa, Florida, NYC, LA and Boston! If you are interested in participating, please just give me a quick heads up by emailing me ASAP at anne@vopeeps.com and let me know in what capacity. This way I will hopefully be able to allocate time for every submission. Please note that ALL entries will be uploaded to our webserver at vopeeps.com.

You can be involved in a number of ways:

1. Submit an Audio “Shout-Out” to be run during pre-show and/or during commercial breaks – ALL AUDIO MUST BE RECEIVED BY EOD MONDAY APRIL 22

Guidelines:

• No more than 1 minute in length – mp3 format – email to anne@vopeeps.com or Share with me via Google Drive at anngan@gmail.com or Dropbox to anngan@gmail.com
• Greetings (in your native language if appropriate!)
• Who you are
• Where you are from
• about you (your chance to promo here!)
• Say all sorts of wonderful things about Anne and benefits of being involved with the Peeps!
• and how excited you are to watch the show
• Shout out to Chuck and Stacey
• Your contact info

OR

2. Submit a Pre-recorded Video Shout Out – to be run during pre-show and/or during commercial breaks – ALL AUDIO MUST BE RECEIVED BY EOD MONDAY APRIL 22

Guidelines:

• Video Format Preferred: .avi or mpg4, Resolution at least 720 p – 1080 p is preferred: Share with me via Google Drive at anngan@gmail.com or Dropbox to anngan@gmail.com
• OR
• You Tube: Resolution at least 720 p – 1080 p is preferred We will need a Link to your video
• No longer than 1 minute
• Greetings (in your native language if appropriate!)
• Who you are
• Where you are from
• about you – (your chance to promo here!)
• Say all sorts of wonderful things about Anne and benefits of being involved with the Peeps!
• Shout out to Chuck and Stacey
• Your website/contact info

ALSO:

3. Please join our LIVE Google Hangout for a “Shout-Out” to the Peeps during the Pre-show or be a part of our Live Q&A at the end of the show! (specific details on how to join coming soon)

Approximate Estimated Time: 5:30 – 8:30 pm PST

Guidelines:

• Please be brief: No more than 1 minute in length
• Greetings
• Who you are
• Where you are from
• What time it is currently (esp if you are in a different country and/or time zone)
• about you – (here’s your chance to promo – please be prudent about time here)
• Shout out or Question to Chuck and Stacey
• Say all sorts of wonderful things about Anne and the Peeps (vopeeps.com)

Please join us for this exciting event! I am so excited for this show and to have you all be such an important part of this production! Please feel free to email me atanne@vopeeps.com with any questions.

Warm Regards and Much Success,

By the way, that’s my friend Chris Mezzolesta doing the voiceover.