Let’s face it change is something we cannot stop and in the end you have only two choices, adapt or die. Some may find that view a bit abrasive, but it’s spot on just look at the music industry. A once powerful giant tha that was so steeped in the traditions and methods of business that it was “blindsided” by technology and the MP3.
How about the radio and television broadcast industry? Think back to they heyday of radio, the 70’s, 80′, and 90’s. There were thousands of radio station owners a large chunk of those were owned by small to medium radio groups and if you wanted to work in radio you basically had two choices. Show up to your favorite station and act like a bad fungus and hang around until someone caved and gave you a job. Then, there was the other alternate route where you attended college received a journalism degree and found your way into a radio station.
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 changed a lot of that. Radio underwent and massive change and continues to change to this day. Radio has fallen inline with many other industries that individuals seek gainful employment. Just look at any job opening posted on for radio and within the first three lines of the requirements and qualifications and you will find the words bachelors degree.
What does all that have to with the world of voice over and being a voice actor? One doomsday point of view is that the competition is going to get steeper and steeper from vocal coaches to seasoned veterans. It will also inundate the market with a bunch of newbs that have no idea what they are doing and making it harder for the pros to find jobs. Oh wait, that already happened with the propagation of the internet and reduced cost of portable technology.
There are some professionals out there in the “biz” that cringe with pain and disgust when mentioning the sites that shall remain nameless. As for me? Who cares! It put money in my pocket and paid my bills at the end of the day that was my goal. Toyota doesn’t care where I got the money, neither does Visa or MasterCard.
Of course, there is even a debate on whether or not that is an acceptable attitude to have when doing this line of work and whether or not you are considered a legitimate voice actor.
Merriam-Webster defines legitimate as accordant with law or with established legal forms and requirements <a legitimate government>, conforming to recognized principles or accepted rules and standards <a legitimate advertising expenditure>, relating to plays acted by professional actors but not including revues, burlesque, or some forms of musical comedy.
Let’s put a new light on this ongoing dialogue. What if a voice actor was certified? I mean really certified from an accredited secondary school/college.