A Voice Actor's Choices

Voice acting is often glamorized as a dream job, but behind the scenes lie challenges that every voice actor must confront. From facing intense competition and endless auditions to the looming threat of AI encroaching on our profession, the journey is far from easy. With the rise of artificial intelligence, there’s a real concern about the potential loss of bargaining power, as machines threaten to replace human talent. However, there has never before been the emphasis and appreciation of the human contribution as it is today and that might be a good sign for us.?

But amidst these challenges lies a universal truth: the choices we make shape not only our careers but also our inner world as voice actors.

When we first step into the world of voice acting, we’re bombarded with cliches about the struggles we’ll face. We hear about the countless auditions, the constant rejection, and the fierce competition. And while these cliches may hold some truth, they don’t tell the whole story. Whether or not we understand or accept them, what is it that we have to work with?

One of the greatest challenges we face is the pressure to conform to generally accepted standards. We may find ourselves chasing after roles that don’t align with us for various reasons true to us. or simply because we feel limited as creatives when we are?"supposed" to do them. It is not in the doing of it but in the intention and meaning it holds for us that the crux is. So,?when we lose sight of our “why,” we risk veering off our authentic path and losing our sense of direction.

A very strong argument to this is based on the premise which can be summed as " when you dont have a choice choose what you have", but again with mindfulness, one can realize that this doesn't have to be the way to work all their life, there is a reason Maslow's theory has survival at the bottom and actualization at the top, it does flow in that order provided one allows it to but an absence of self connection and the "why" activates a default mode.

In a world where the future of voice acting is uncertain, it’s more important than ever to be intentional about the choices we make. Our choices not only shape the work we do but also the people we surround ourselves with.

When we make choices that align with our values and passions, we attract people who resonate with our vibe. These colleagues, mentors, clients, and freelancers become our tribe – the ones who understand our journey, support our growth and inspire us to reach new heights.

But finding our tribe isn’t always easy. It requires us to break free from the shackles of self-doubt, limitation and most importantly our "Pride" to seek out opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals.

Today, we have more opportunities than ever to find and connect with our tribe. Social media, online communities, networking events – these platforms allow us to forge meaningful relationships with those who share our vision and values.

So, as voice actors, let’s ask ourselves: Is what we’re doing truly meaningful to us? Are the choices we’re making leading us closer to our authentic path?

The answer isn't a direct one and most likely cannot be found in one person's view or someone's strong opinion, the answer affirms slowly within with every mindful choice.

By staying true to ourselves, connecting with our tribe, and seizing every opportunity that comes our way, we can navigate the challenges of voice acting with confidence and authenticity.

The future of voice acting may be uncertain, but one thing is clear: our choices can shape our journey and define who we are as voice actors. So let’s choose wisely, for our choices can lead us to our better version or maybe not so.