I’ve spoken quite a bit about the 4 stages of learning online, much of it as it would pertain to someone embarking on a v.o. career. I like your concept of a 5th stage, although given the pace of life today,I think it’s perhaps unrealistic or impractical, or perhaps not very serving. I actually think that the steps are not particularly linear, nor would they preclude somebody being in “step 3” as it might regard to aspects of their career and “step 1” in others. I have seen,(in the estimation of many who might be considered experts) advice being given online that is horrific, and it comes from someone that many might look at as being a member of the “step 5 club” or clearly step 4. On the other hand, every now and again, I catch a bit of a gem coming from somebody who appears to not know which end of the microphone to speak into (although generally it’s just them repeating something they heard from a coach or a forum).

Many individuals I know who clearly have occupied the step 4 or 5 perches and have made mid 6 figure incomes from voice over for years, now find themselves scampering to make 1/10th or even 1/20th of that. It’s not for lack of paying attention, but perhaps a lack of realizing that for many reasons, they were back at step 1.

Los Angeles still works much on the concepts and practices that existed in voice over 20 years ago, however, more and more we see the changes creeping into LA and NY. Those who have difficulty delivering quality sound from a home studio having difficulties (and they may not even know it). Crowd Sourcing of union auditions, websites, online casting sites and so many more “changes” are affecting everything. It’s all so likely that tomorrow, some new app or technological advancement will mean that more and more people may find themselves looking down the barrel of “unconsciously incompetent”.

And lest we forget that the war between SAG and AFTRA that raged for years was only settled when the two realized that merging was the only possible solution to their mutual dilemmas. Did this inevitably solve anything or merely slow down their mutual doomsday clocks. Perhaps a few of the folks there who think they are on step 4 could benefit from a little bit more of step 1 thinking.

Before anyone should throw a party because they think they finally “got it”, they might want to pick up a copy of “Wired” or have a talk with a 17 year old and see just how much they still need to “get”.

My silent mantra has changed from a sentiment of “Look how much I have learned.” to “What the heck is that and do I have to learn it too?”

Or is it that this is what step 5 is all about?