MY WEEKEND AT THE VO NORTH CONFERENCE IN TORONTO
This past weekend I attended the VO North Conference in Toronto. VO North is a one-of-a-kind voice-over conference. It brings hundreds of international voice actors to Canada’s largest city for a weekend of learning, prizes, and fellowship.
This was the last VO North conference in Canada, and it was one for the record books. Hosts Tanya Buchanan and Dervla Trainor worked tirelessly over the past year, and all weekend, to make sure everyone felt welcome, learned great information, and spent quality time with other voice-over colleagues.
This year’s conference took place at the historic Pantages Hotel in downtown Toronto. The weekend kicked off with an opening ceremony from the hosts. Attendees could choose from over 35 panel discussions. Industry professionals led these sessions, covering everything from business fundamentals to cutting-edge voice over topics.
PANEL DISCUSSIONS THAT STOOD OUT
I attended a handful of panel discussions and found them genuinely informative. The first was “Show Me the Money! Understanding Rates and the Nuances of Quoting Properly,” led by David Toback, Petra O’Toole, and Tanya Buchanan. It was fascinating and practical. They taught us how to quote appropriately using the GVAA Rate Guide and other industry-leading rate guides.
I then joined a Speed Networking breakout session. It was a great way to meet other voice actors. Voice-over work can feel like such a solo gig, so it felt good to shake hands, fist bump, embrace fellow voice actors, and hear about their journeys into this industry.
HOW MY GOALS CHANGED SINCE MY LAST VISIT
When I attended the VO North conference in 2019, I filled endless pages of notes. I was so new to the industry back then. I came looking for a commercial voice over coach, a demo producer, and marketing advice. I had specific, clear goals, and I narrowed down my prospects by the end of the weekend.
This time, my goal looked different. I wanted to network, meet other voice actors, and connect in person with people I’d coached with or followed on social media. Honestly, I didn’t fill endless pages of notes this time. I credit that to knowing more now than I did then. Still, I had open, honest conversations with fellow voice actors on all kinds of subjects, and that carried its own kind of weight over the weekend.
I attended a panel on The Art of Marketing, CRM, and Branding on Saturday afternoon with Dani States, Marc Scott, and Matt Fogarty. I’m a big fan of Marc Scott, and I purchased his Marketing Playbook earlier this year. His program is excellent, and I was glad to sit in on this session. All three speakers shared strong recommendations and practical tips. I walked away with easy action items that motivated me to keep marketing daily.
I ended Saturday with an improv class led by the incomparable Elle-Ray Hennessey. Elle opened with an inspiring poem, reminding us of our responsibility as actors to stay honest and authentic in auditions. She reminded us how to play, have fun, and make people feel something when they listen to us. She helped us tap into our inner child. Every time I take a class with Elle-Ray, I ride the high for weeks afterward. I came into the weekend looking for inspiration, and I left with a full cup after her session.
Day one ended, but the party continued into the night at the industry mixer at Taco Taco in Kensington Market. I couldn’t make it, but friends told me it was packed with voice actors and industry professionals, and a great time was had by all.
ANOTHER FULL DAY OF VOICE OVER LEARNING
Sunday brought another full day of sessions. I attended “Why Them and Not Me? Demystifying the Casting Process,” featuring Alexa Magneto, Kaliopi Kuzyk, Alex Nursall, and Sam Ufret. Voice actors packed this session, eager to learn casting directors’ secrets and anything that might give them an edge over other actors.
I slipped out near the end and joined “Breaking into Animation: How to Get Started,” with Elle-Ray Hennessey, Susan Hart, Ellen Dubin, and Michael Daingerfield. Animation panels are always my favorite. You can see attendees sitting on the edge of their seats, hungry to learn everything they can about an industry so many people feel passionate about.
The last session I attended was “To Infinity and Beyond! Reaching New Heights in Your Animation VO Career,” with David Kaye, Eric Bauza, Kim Huron, and Joe Motiki. This session inspired me more than any other all weekend. The talent on this panel was staggering. Between them, these actors have voiced countless unforgettable characters, including Optimus Prime, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and Porky Pig.
CLOSING OUT THE VO NORTH WEEKEND
I came into the weekend hoping to feel re-inspired heading into the last quarter of 2022, and this session delivered exactly that. I should also mention: on Saturday, in the elevator on my way back from lunch, I met Eric Bauza, the famous Canadian voice talent currently voicing Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck. It was a brief meeting, but we crossed paths twice more that weekend. He was warm and genuine, and we talked about how he got his start in the business. I added him on LinkedIn and Instagram, and he sent me a kind message offering advice anytime I needed it.
These are exactly the kinds of conversations you hope for at a conference. You meet people further along in their careers. You make real connections. You pick up inspiring nuggets that push you in the right direction and help you stand out from the competition. I had to leave the conference early on Sunday, but it was a great weekend, and I’m glad I attended. I met new people, reconnected with online friends in person, and even met a few celebrities along the way.
Other voice-over conferences exist too, and the next one I’d love to attend is VO Atlanta, the largest international voice-over conference, held every March in Atlanta, Georgia.
For now, I want to thank Tanya and Dervla for all their blood, sweat, and tears running this conference. As a voice actor, I learned so much, and I deeply appreciate the hard work they put into building this wonderful community.