Today I’m delighted to feature an official guest blog for the very first time. It’s from my friend CC Heim.
Over the past two years, a peer-to-peer voiceover UNconference known as Faffcon has taken on a life of its own. What’s an UNconference, you ask? An UNconference is a gathering of like-minded individuals who meet and discuss topics of interest. Sound sort of like a conference? Well, in some respects it is, in that folks register, attend sessions, network, eat. Stuff like that. But the biggest difference is that while a conference is typically structured with specific lessons that are predetermined and planned for in advance, an UNconference unfolds as it goes along, with participants determining the content they believe would be most useful for them during the weekend of the event. While it sounds rather unstructured, the concept works remarkably well.
Consider the most recent business conference you attended. What were the parts that really stood out to you? Was it a keynote speaker talking about some Big Thing? Was it a technical session that discussed how-tos with remarkable minutiae? Or maybe, just maybe, it was the time you spent in the lobby bar, chatting with a new friend about some really cool way he was drumming up new business/refining his performance approach/targeting new representation.
Let’s be honest – for many of us, the conversations held during the social part of industry conferences are the best takeaways. We make new contacts, chat about the industry often sharing “inside” information, and just generally enjoy having others around who can relate to our own professional journey. That’s what Faffcon is. One big chit-chat session. Granted, chit chat with focus. For instance, there may be a group chatting about mic technique, another chatting about how-tos of getting an agent, another chatting about personal websites… you get it.
So now you’re excited, and you want to go! But funds are tight, and that mortgage payment is really important. Well, we may have a solution for you. After Faffcon 2, many of the participants felt a strong urge to express thanks for all they received, and decided to do that by creating a scholarship fund. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the first two Faffcon events, it’s that participants are generous – with time, knowledge, and money! Lots of people pitched in, and before we knew it, we had 850 bucks in the kitty! So this fund is the direct result of your voiceover peers sharing their finances after enjoying a rich sharing of knowledge at the last event.
The Faffcon 3 scholarship is intended for a well-deserving voiceover professional, who may be a bit cash-strapped, but sees the value in this type of a gathering. The scholarship provides up to $850 to cover registration and travel expenses (see note below). Faffcon 3 is currently SOLD OUT with only one spot remaining – and that is for the recipient of this scholarship.
Don’t be shy! If you are a working voiceover talent who would not be able to financially swing it without the help of this scholarship, and really, REALLY want to attend Faffcon 3, I do hope you’ll apply. And I hope you’ll do it quickly because the deadline is August 15, 2011.
If the promise of one of the most amazing career-building events of your life is not enough, just remember: there will be chocolate. Lots of chocolate. Cheers!
(NOTE: The recipient of this scholarship will receive up to $850 in funds to cover air/rail travel, hotel room and registration fee. Actual amount to be awarded will be determined based on actual cost of these expenses. If these costs exceed $850, recipient will receive a full $850 and will be responsible for any costs over that amount.)
