To summarize my last blog post: in my opinion, the voice over industry has turned to you-know-what, and we as voice overs bear the brunt of the blame. What is happening today is the result of all the things we decided to put up with and give in to.
In spite of all the warnings.
If you happened to stumble upon this blog, I’m Paul, a Dutch voice over who now lives in Vermont. I’ve been in business for over forty years and I’m hanging up my hat…. or rather, my microphone.
As I was just saying… What is happening in voice overs today, is the result of all the things we decided to put up with. Every time you said “yes” to a low rate, you created a new standard. A new normal. You just taught a client how to treat you. And you’re dragging the rest of us down. This, by the way, is by no means unique to the voice over industry.
Hey, it’s a free market! Hallelujah!
Professional photographers have to deal with people shooting footage on their mobile phones and selling it online for cheap. Freelance writers are replaced by ChatGPT. Who needs a graphic designer if you have Canva? Advertising agencies are replaced by ordinary people turned digital marketers who use social media to promote products from their kitchen table.
Mind you, this isn’t all bad. More power to the people! It’s just bad if you depend on voice overs to make a living. If you only have a few voice over eggs in your tiny basket, you are very vulnerable.
SITTING DUCKS
On top of that, we’re an easy target. We’re invisible! Most of us are non-union. We’re not organized. We’re easy prey. We do our work in isolation without any background in business. If you’re like me, you just want to talk into a mic and not be bothered.
Because continuing education is not required (in fact, NOTHING is required in VO), very few people go to voice over conferences, and those who do meet the same people they see every year, listening to the same presenters talking about the same stuff as last year. To many, it’s more of a social gathering, but we have to throw in a couple of powerpoint presentations to make it a business expense.
These gatherings are populated by industry insiders creating an echo chamber, just like all of the voice over social media groups I used to be part of. Mind you, I was a very active participant who couldn’t keep his big mouth shut. And for what? Did my input ever move the needle in any way?
I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW
Now that I have distanced myself from that echo chamber, I feel I can see much more clearly where we’re heading. So much of my time was consumed by stuff that was voice over related… I forgot that there’s a whole world out there that doesn’t care.
In that world, many voice over jobs are becoming obsolete, and yet, people prefer to argue about which microphone they should or should not buy. Let’s talk about the quality of the deck chairs on the Titanic! They complain about loud leaf blowers and weed whackers and how they can’t afford to buy a soundproof vocal booth.
Ever heard of the cost of running a professional business? If you can’t make the investment, don’t start the business and stop complaining!
As I’m saying that, I realize that my rant may sound like one long complaint and I apologize. What I want you to understand is that in this series I want to highlight all the reasons I am done with voice overs, so don’t expect a list of things I love about the business. And believe me, there’s still plenty to love.
But as in any divorce, people don’t break up for all the things they adore about their partner.
PROVE ME WRONG
And, bear in mind… this is just my opinion. Don’t take my word for it. I don’t claim to be right all the time. In fact, I hope you will prove me wrong. I don’t want you to lose your job as a voice over, just because I’m fed up.
I want you to be happy and make tons of money!
Listen: we have a great, supportive community of voice actors who have embraced this legal Dutch alien since he showed up on their doorstep with two suitcases and a plastic bag. Without that community, I would not be where I am today and I’m forever grateful!
But, this community is changing too, and I want to talk about that next.
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