Kei Gambit, a musician, comedian, and voice over artist based in Beijing, discusses his journey to China, his busy schedule, and his work in voice acting for major motion pictures and TV shows. The podcast covers topics such as auditioning for voice over work, teaching qualifications, fitness goals, work schedule and salary differences, voicing multiple characters in video games, recording audio at home versus in a studio, voice acting opportunities during the pandemic, creating a TV show, exploring NFTs and blockchain technology, comedy and voice acting, balancing comedy and cancel culture, and finding creativity in repetition.
Kay Gambit found his passion for voice acting in China and has been working in the field for nine years.
Voice acting auditions in China are frequent and competitive, but Kay enjoys the diversity of roles and the thrill of landing them.
Kay has worked on major productions like 'Wandering Earth' and 'Chang Jin Hu' and aspires to transition into live-action acting in TV shows and movies.
Despite facing language learning struggles and the challenges of cancel culture, Kay remains determined to pursue his passion for comedy and voice acting.
Deep dives
Early Beginnings and Teaching Background
Kay Gambit, a Beijing-based comedian, musician, writer, and voice actor, shares his journey into the entertainment industry. Originally planning to become a British police officer, he decided to take a year off and teach in China. However, he discovered his passion for voice acting, and with the support of his friends, began his career in the field.
Voice Acting and Auditions
Kay discusses the world of voice acting and auditions in China. He explains that auditions are frequent and can be challenging, with a high competition rate. He mentions the diversity of roles he takes on, doing different voices in his own studio. He also shares the thrill of landing roles and highlights the importance of having a good-quality microphone at home.
Summarizing the Various Roles
Kay talks about his experience in different projects, such as video games and TV shows. He mentions working on shows like 'Wandering Earth' and 'Chang Jin Hu,' doing ADR work, and playing various characters. He expresses his passion for voice acting and the excitement of being involved in major productions.
Transitioning to Live-Action Acting
Kay shares his aspirations to transition into live-action acting in TV shows and movies. He discusses his desire to move to America and the challenges of finding opportunities in the competitive industry. Despite facing some limitations and juggling a full-time teaching job, he remains determined to pursue his passion and make a name for himself in the entertainment industry.
Career flexibility and following the money
The guest emphasizes that he prioritizes career opportunities that offer a better lifestyle and financial prospects. He mentions that he would consider moving to a different country if it promised a more promising career. However, he acknowledges the challenges of finding success in a highly competitive English-speaking market and believes it may be more feasible to duplicate his success in China in a country like Japan. Ultimately, he plans to stay in China as long as his career is thriving and there are no legal barriers.
Challenges with learning languages
The guest discusses his struggles with learning other languages, especially Chinese. Despite his efforts and dyslexia, he has found it challenging to retain new words or communicate beyond basic conversational skills. He jokingly attributes this difficulty to his mathematical limitations and believes that the same part of the brain required for math is needed for language learning. He acknowledges the importance of continuous effort and adjusts his career path accordingly, focusing on his strengths as a comedian and voice actor in the English-speaking market.
Navigating cancel culture in comedy
The guest expresses concerns about the potential impact of cancel culture on comedians. He believes that jokes should be judged on their intent and comedic value rather than solely on their potential to offend. He cites examples of comedic figures such as Ricky Gervais and Joe Rogan who have faced backlash for certain remarks or jokes, emphasizing the importance of context and intent. He acknowledges the ongoing debate surrounding offensive humor but remains committed to making people laugh while being aware of boundaries.
Ever thought you could be a voice over artist in a foreign country? Kei Gambit didn’t either. But that’s what he does now in Beijing.
This episode is one of the funniest as I have musician, comedian and voice over artist Kei Gambit with me today. Like most expats we talk about what brought him to China in the first place and what has kept him here for nine years so far. How is his Chinese? Non existent because he’s plenty busy with work, ranging from teaching to doing voice work for major motion pictures and TV shows here in China.
Download this episode and listen on the go as this one is funny and informative to those thinking about some alternative careers in this day and age and what it takes to make it.
You can follow Kei on Instagram and Douyin (in China).