Are Conferences Worthwhile?
Are you going to any conferences this year?
We're right smack dab in the middle of conference season (NAB just wrapped up in Las Vegas) and there are more conferences coming up this year to attend.
How do you decide whether or not they are worth every penny?
Measuring Value
The price of conference tickets should be equal to the perceived value of what you are going to receive.
From a business point of view, investing several hundred dollars, even for a day, to be in the same room as industry leaders and people you wouldn't be able to meet with otherwise, network, and learn first-hand from experts renowned in their specialty fields is worth the price of admission.
Attending a conference should also recharge your batteries and inspire you for a long period of time once you've gone home. That alone could be priceless for someone who needs a little pick me up.
These aren't guidelines for just conferences centered around voice acting but any conference in general.
Justifying Costs
As an aside, it costs money to put a conference on, and part of the fee you pay to attend goes toward costs associated with the venue, food, speakers and any materials that are being provided to you.
It isn't uncommon for a conference to cost $500 or more to attend. Generally conferences that cost several hundred dollars also provide food and drink throughout the day.
Some people have absolutely no problem dropping thousands of dollars to attend a conference while others squirm at the idea of spending a couple hundred.
What have your experiences been like attending conferences?
Are they worth the investment?
Add a comment to join the conversation!
Stephanie
