I’ve been using my voice professionally since I was 17 years old. After a career in Dutch radio I became a voice actor in the United States, and recently I’ve decided to call it quits. In this series I’m telling you why.
So far I have cited my health as one of the main reasons I am leaving voice overs. My vocal endurance has gone down since my stroke, and without medication my heart would still be racing like crazy. Afib is still a concern, though. Only a few months ago I landed in the ER and I really have to be careful not to get into stressful situations which can make my problems worse. Getting out of the freelance rat race definitely means less stress and better health.
I’ve talked about a lack of ambition on my part (the “been there, done that” feeling), as well as the rise of AI voices that are rapidly taking over from us real people. The entire industry is changing, and not necessarily for the better.
DOING MORE FOR LESS
Since the moment I started recording voice overs in the United States, I have witnessed a cheapening of our craft and a steady erosion of rates. It’s the law of supply and demand. When something is scarce, people are willing to pay a pretty penny, but when the market is getting saturated, the buyers are calling the shots.
With the advent of home studios, the bar to entry for VO’s became a lot lower. No longer did we have to visit a professional studio to record a voice over. All we needed was a computer, an internet connection, and a quiet, reverb-free spot in our home.
Audio equipment became a lot more affordable as well. Add to that the Pay-to-Plays, the member-supported websites that connect clients to talent. Thousands and thousands of hopefuls created a profile, no questions asked. All you needed was a credit card and any amateur could pose as a pro.
No longer did you have to be vetted by a reputable agent. No one asked about your background, experience, or training. Veterans of the industry found themselves on a level playing field with absolute beginners.
RISING CREAM
Now, some will say that the cream will always rise to the top, but so do turds. Who says clients want expensive cream? I’m in contact with colleagues who are considered to be the bees knees in the industry, and they’re having trouble booking! So they turn to coaching, which pays even less!
And it’s not even the fault of these predatory online casting sites. They are free to run their business any way they want. No one is forcing people to sign up. These sites make their money through membership fees. What do they care about how much we make? Nowadays, they’re all investing in AI, probably using the voice samples on their site to train the applications. Voice actors are making themselves obsolete.
We’ve all heard stories from colleagues who spent hours recording a specific project for some Chinese company years ago, and once that company was sold, the audio files were used to create text-to-speech software which can be purchased online without getting permission from, or paying the talent.
And when that talent shows the original contract to a lawyer, there’s always an overlooked clause in very small print making it impossible to go after the company they recorded for, because it no longer exists, and they’ve signed their rights away for a stupid amount.
THEY ARE STEALING MY VOICE
But, I hear you say…. “That’s stealing!” “My voice belongs to me.” “I should be able to control if and how it is used.”
The lawyers disagree on that. I guess it depends in which jurisdiction you live. As always, the Europeans are way ahead of the Americans, but even in Europe the situation is far from perfect.
But about the whole theft-thing… have you ever taken a screenshot of a photograph and used it without permission from the photographer? Have you ever copied a piece of sheet music for a concert, and not paid royalties to the composer? Have you ever watched a movie that is in theaters now, on a torrent site?
Come on… Even if you haven’t….. tons of people of a different generation are doing it without thinking twice.
People will do anything not to have to pay for something. People are programmed to want more for less, and preferably for free. I only speak for myself, but I’m as frugal as can be. A penny saved is a penny earned. To be clear: I would never steal anything from anyone.
If I take out my crystal ball, I don’t see rates rising any day soon. A site like FIVERR took that illusion away a long time ago. But again, it’s not the sites, but it’s the people using and supporting these sites and agreeing to the terms and conditions, that have to take responsibility. They are the enablers.
Does any of this resonate with you? Does it make you angry, or depressed? Or do you still hold out hope that things will change for the better? Let me know in the comments!
There’s more to come!
Leave a Reply