Voice Acting Conventions?

[Little_Phoenix]

I'm just curious. Are there any conventions out there just for voice actors? Anime VA's, Non-Anime cartoon VA's, commercial VA's, Radioplay-ers, people who do books on tape, there's so many more i can't think of... VA-ing is a very big world, and when i looked online, i couldn't find any conventions just about voice acting!
I've been to DragonCon, and frankly, i think voice-actors could put on a very similar convention (though maybe not as big!) There could be workshops on different types of VAing, meet & greets with some big names, talks & symposiums on the business, the art, demos, what to look for in classes and stuff like that. I could even make a case for cosplaying: not only do you dress as a character, but you try to sound & act like them too! (I don't know if that is supposed to be part of cosplaying, or just good cosplaying. At DragonCon, i was amazed how many of the X-Men had southern accents :) so they obviously weren't making the effort.)
I know some anime conventions cover these things, but i think we deserve a convention that brings together all the various types of VAs. What do y'all think?
If there are conventions like this, where are they? I'd like to know about them. If there aren't, why not? Maybe one should be arranged... *wanders off pondering*

[Matt Cruea]

There definitely wouldn't be as much of a turnout as you think.

[Little_Phoenix]

I guess. There'd definately be less to draw on. And fat chance getting investors or anything. But there should be. People in this profession should want to get together like that. Or maybe not. Perhaps that's why we prefer to act in little boxes than out on a stage in front of everyone. Oh well... i can dream, can't i? *sigh*

[TamTu]

http://www.natf.org/

Lucien knows more about this. I'll refer him to this thread and ask him to tell you guys more about the NATF.

[Lucien]

http://www.natf.org/

Lucien knows more about this. I'll refer him to this thread and ask him to tell you guys more about the NATF.

NATF (or National Audio Theater Festivals) is about the closest thing I know to what you're talking about. Here's an entire excerpt from the NATF website (you can scroll down to the dotted line if you just want a summary of my experences with NATF);

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AUDIO THEATRE WORKSHOP OFFERS UNIQUE LEARNING EXPERIENCE TO AUDIO ARTISTS

Learn from national leaders in the growing field of audio theater at the annual NATF Audio Theatre Workshop in West Plains, Missouri from Monday June 20th - Sunday, June 26th. Beginners to experts of all ages are welcome.

WORK WITH THE BEST.....

The 2005 Audio Theatre Workshop will include Foundation Classes in all aspects of audio theater production including writing, performance, recording, mixing, sound design, directing and much more. Guest directors will produce new plays from the NATF Script Competition. Participants end the week with a live performance on Saturday, June 25th.

Special guest director Simon Jones will be directing a new audio comedy by emerging artist Witney Seibold called "Extra-Ordinary." When plain old Henry Krause finds a human brain on an L.A. beach, it prompts him and his uppity talking cat Walter to reunite with some of his old superpowered buddies, including a bitter ex-wife, a telepathic greasy-spoon owner, a pair of dumbfounded twentysomethings, and a friend living on Hollywood Blvd., to investigate its origin.

Sound has recently been Simon's principal medium. Aside from some fifty books currently available, he narrates the best-selling "Douglas Adams at the BBC," and plays "Arthur Dent" in "The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy." This ground-breaking series originally started in 1977, when the author, Douglas Adams asked him to play the lead role of the wandering Englishman. Already available are "The Primary Phase," and "The Secondary Phase" (recorded in the late seventies), and also "The Tertiary Phase" recorded in 2003. In January 2005, the set was completed with "The Quandary Phase" and "The Quintessential Phase." "Arthur" was recently described, in a BBC Documentary, as "a key comic icon of his time."

For his work in recorded books, Simon Jones was named "Narrator of the Year" by Publishers Weekly (PW) in January 2005. Simon is also one of AudioFile Magazine's (AF) "Golden Voices." His recording of "Millions" by Frank Cotterill Boyce for Harper Audio received PW's "Listen Up" award, and AF's "Golden Earphones."

In New York he has has recorded several dramatizations for the Sci-Fi network's Seeing Ear Theatre. He also hosted a weekly radio talk show for the BBC called "Talk of New York," and is featured on the Crosby, Stills and Nash album, "Live It Up." For a while he was the voice of the unfrosted side of a Kellogg's Frosted Miniwheat.

When not in the studio Simon has been serving as the co-artistic director of the New York-based TACT, The Actors Company Theatre for the past seven years. He has directed a number of productions for them including Shaw's "Widowers Houses" and Rattigan's "Flare Path," and produced and starred in the world premier of Noel Coward's "Long Island Sound" For the York Theatre he also directed The American premier of Coward's "Pacific 1860" as well as Wodehouse and Kern's "Oh, Boy!" He also directed "Lettuce and Lovage" at The Cleveland Playhouse, as well as two sold-out Noel Coward entertainments for the Chicago Humanities Festival.

In addition to Simon Jones, the Audio Theatre Workshop, will feature three-time Peabody award winner Marjorie Van Halteren directing the NATF award winning script "Homefront" by Patrick Bradley. A father is visited by an enigmatic stranger who seems eerily familiar and uncannily knowledgeable about his life.

Marjorie was a founding member of AIR and the original producer of "Selected Shorts" for WNYC and Symphony Space-after working on The Bob and Ray Public Radio Show, Kids America, and then WNYC's "The Radio Stage," and "Roadtrip" for WDR, Cologne.

Currently living in the north of France, not far from the Belgian border, Marjorie teaches Media Studies, Sound, and English to University and Engineering students in Lille when she's not in the studio creating new audio productions. Finally bi-lingual and fascinated with languages-Marjorie enjoys experimenting with new audio programs for the PC and making sound installations for various local galleries and events.

Since leaving the States in 1992 Marjorie has produced a number of works including: "Present Progressive" for BBC Radio Four, "A Britain of the Mind" for BBC Radio Three's Between the Ears, "You're the Fool" by Roy Nathanson for "The Next Big Thing," and appearances on "Studio 360" - and in the last year, "Yesterday and Forever" and "Unquiet Graves" with Helen Engelhardt, "Jan On Jack" for Hearing Voices and "Parrot Fever" for BBC Radio 3 (forthcoming - December 2005)."

Her work from 1982 - 1992 garnered her three Peabody Awards, and several Armstrongs, and NFCB Golden Reel Awards. Her work hovers somewhere between drama and documentary ("until recently, a peculiarly American form"), literature and sound composition. Marjorie Van Halteren last appeared at NATF directing "Love Hurts" by Terry Quinn.

The ATW's guest acting staff will include audiobook's "Golden Voice" William Dufris. William began his audio career in London (radio plays, audiobooks, film/animation dubbing, language tapes, etc.), where he resided for 13 years. While there, he had the honor of sharing the microphone in a number of BBC Radio plays with Kathleen Turner, Sharon Gless, Stockard Channing, and Helena Bonham-Carter. These experiences led him to co-found two audio production companies - The Story Circle, Ltd and Mind's Eye Productions. He has also acted on stage and television here, in the U.K., and in Germany. William is the original voice of BOB (and Farmer Pickles/Mr. Beasley/Mr. Sabatini) in the popular children's show, BOB The Builder (Series 1-9). He produces, directs, acts and engineers for his audio theatre company, Rocky Coast Radio Theatre. He has been nominated three times as an audiobook finalist for the APA's Audie Awards, and has garnered 12 Golden Earphones Awards through AudioFile Magazine.

Improv will also be part of this year's workshop and performance thanks to the team of Elaine Bankston-Speer and Jeffrey Hedquist - American's Newest Radio Couple.

Elaine's vocal characterizations, ranging from children to senior citizens, have been heard throughout the country, and she has been the recipient of many radio awards for her work. Ms. Speer also enjoys a career as actress and director. She originated her career at the acclaimed South Coast Repertory, in Southern California, where she also received a degree in Theatre Arts from the University of California at Irvine.

Elaine has spent years teaching acting to adults and children. She is currently involved in the creation of two theatrical productions, a musical produced by American Regional Theatre, and The Jeffrey and Elaine Show, produced by Hedquist Productions, both based in Fairfield, Iowa.

Jeffrey Hedquist is the President of Hedquist Productions, Inc. located in Fairfield, Iowa. He is a radio creator / director / talent / producer and songwriter. Jeffrey is also a national voice talent for clients like Goodyear, Ford, American Heart Association, Sunbeam, Konica, Time-Life, Dutch Boy Paint, York International, and NAPA.

In addition to guest directors the Audio Theatre Workshop will also be mentoring audio artist Janine Preston, of KNH Radio Theater, to direct two short works by audio playwright Diane Cook. "Life's Slices" depicts the oddities of life that can happen (when you least expect it).

Additional guest staff will include Tom Lopez, president of the ZBS Foundation and the award-winning writer/producer of the Ruby series teaching location recording and sound effects collecting.

Charles Potter, 3-time Grammy winner for Spoken Word will also spend the week teaching classes on audio theater and working on production elements for the performance.

A complete staff list can be found at www.natf.org starting April 1st.

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I might also mention that I will be the moderator of a special event discusion between Simon Jones and William Dufris. This will be my 5th time attending, and I consecuitively call my time at this work shop "The best week of my life." Last year I brought Corey Burton as a teleconference guest, and the year before that, co-starred with Simon Jones in an audio drama produced by Roger Gregg of Crazy Dog Audio Theater. David Ossman and Barbara Rosenblat have also been guest voice talents in previous years.

As stated, NATF provides classes in all fields of audio; field recording, script writting, performing, editing, marketing, and so on. Professionals from all over, in all fields and expertise of audio come to attend this workshop. So if nothing else interests you, this is a great way to make lots of valuable contacts in the industry.

Auditions are always held very early in the workshop week for the chosen scripts that are to be performed at the end of the week. If you are lucky (or talented) enough to get a role, you go on to schedule rehearsals with your group, and eventually perform as part of the showcase.

If you want more details, you can either visit the site at natf.org, or contact me.

[Little_Phoenix]

V.Cool! I'll definately be reading through the website. (its a bit wordy for 10pm) Thanks a lot for the tip! Ugh. Missouri, what a shlep :)
I might mention that i just became an intern for a VA conservatory that's just getting started in my area. I'm wondering if the woman in charge will let me go to conventions and conferences for research. That's kinda why i'm asking.

[Danae]

That's it, I'm starting a VAA convention.

[Lucien]

That's it, I'm starting a VAA convention.

Whoohoo! :D

[topleka]

I could even make a case for cosplaying: not only do you dress as a character, but you try to sound & act like them too! (I don't know if that is supposed to be part of cosplaying, or just good cosplaying. At DragonCon, i was amazed how many of the X-Men had southern accents :) so they obviously weren't making the effort.)
XD topleka also does the voices. XD 'Tis always been a big part of cosplay for me.

And although a voice acting convention would seem fun, it would definitely be more of a conference than a convention. I'd envision something like that to require a lot more work instead of running around and playing like at a convention.

[Danae]

If I made a VAA convention, I doubt it'd have anything to do with voice acting.

More like the getting drunk and dancing convention.

*DANCE*

[topleka]

Dancing, I can do. XD

Although, according to the alchohol calculator, two drinks will kill me. Yes, topleka has that little bodyweight...

[Katie]

More like the getting drunk and dancing convention.

W00T!

[TamTu]

Two things about possible VA cons I think should be included.

-Invite pro VAs to hold panels, and maybe even hold workshops. Or producers, sound engineers or the likes.
-Schedule VA activities for attendees to do, such as scriptwriting, dubbing, recording in general...maybe on the spot contests.

Having people do live skits ilke the ones are done at the NATF would be cool too. Aside from the scheduled activities, any time off can be spent on doing whatever you want, obviously. Going for the conference idea is a good one, I'd think.

Start small.

[Lucien]

Sounds like a good idea to me. Seems like you should plan *some* sort of VA related activities if it's gonna by a VA convention.

[Haushinka]

If someone wants to start one, go ahead, it can happen. I started & ran the first anime convention to exist here in my state and it turned out very well for a first year.

[Justin Parr]

VAA conventions eh? I'd come if nothing was preventing me. I'd love to meet you all in person!