How can I break into audio book narration?
May 3, 2013 6:51 PM Subscribe
I've been listening to audiobooks for many years and would like to become an audio book narrator. I am not a professional actor and have never done any work like this.
However my current job is creating elearning and whenever I record the narration, I get compliments from my customers for my reading voice.
Any suggestions about how I might pursue this career?
Publishing professional here - whyareyouatriangle has it. Audiobook narrators are professional voice actors and they are hired through agents.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 6:56 PM on May 3, 2013
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 6:56 PM on May 3, 2013
Response by poster: So how would i go about finding an agent? How would I convince an agent to take me on?
And how much would it cost me?
posted by SallyHitMeOntheHead at 6:59 PM on May 3, 2013
And how much would it cost me?
posted by SallyHitMeOntheHead at 6:59 PM on May 3, 2013
The Audio Publishers Association website would be a good place to start. It shouldn't cost you more than the price of a demo, if you don't have the equipment to create one yourself. No one should charge you to act as your agent.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 7:04 PM on May 3, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 7:04 PM on May 3, 2013 [2 favorites]
Get some coaching in voice over first. There are exceptional coaches out there - and I can recommend mine. As I learned quickly, having a great voice does not mean VO success. There are rules to the overall business and the niches. It was humbling, but greatly helpful.
posted by heigh-hothederryo at 7:15 PM on May 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by heigh-hothederryo at 7:15 PM on May 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The phrase "I am not a professional X and have never done any work like this" doesn't bode well in any career path, and you--
...my current job is creating elearning and whenever I record the narration, I get compliments from my customers for my reading voice.
Back the truck up: if your current job requires you to record vocal tracks, and they're paying you for the work, then you are a professional voice actor and you have done work like this. Don't downplay what you've already done; you're not someone who has never spoken into a microphone or was told by their drunk friends that their voice would be awesome for movie trailers and wants to try it out. You may still just be a beginner in the business, but that's how everyone gets started in anything.
If you've got some particularly good narration, get permission from your employer to use samples and put together a demo tape of your work. That's what gets your foot in the door. There are a million "how to become a voice actor" websites and books and other resources that'll tell you how to put together a demo and perfect your art. As with any artsy deal, be suspicious of anyone who asks for money to make you a star, but there are various degrees of casual-performer to all-in-professional, depending on ability, time, and effort you want to put into it. Good luck.
posted by AzraelBrown at 7:16 PM on May 3, 2013 [8 favorites]
...my current job is creating elearning and whenever I record the narration, I get compliments from my customers for my reading voice.
Back the truck up: if your current job requires you to record vocal tracks, and they're paying you for the work, then you are a professional voice actor and you have done work like this. Don't downplay what you've already done; you're not someone who has never spoken into a microphone or was told by their drunk friends that their voice would be awesome for movie trailers and wants to try it out. You may still just be a beginner in the business, but that's how everyone gets started in anything.
If you've got some particularly good narration, get permission from your employer to use samples and put together a demo tape of your work. That's what gets your foot in the door. There are a million "how to become a voice actor" websites and books and other resources that'll tell you how to put together a demo and perfect your art. As with any artsy deal, be suspicious of anyone who asks for money to make you a star, but there are various degrees of casual-performer to all-in-professional, depending on ability, time, and effort you want to put into it. Good luck.
posted by AzraelBrown at 7:16 PM on May 3, 2013 [8 favorites]
And check out:
http://www.voices.com/
http://voice123.com/
Listen to other audiobook demos. A lot.
posted by heigh-hothederryo at 7:18 PM on May 3, 2013
http://www.voices.com/
http://voice123.com/
Listen to other audiobook demos. A lot.
posted by heigh-hothederryo at 7:18 PM on May 3, 2013
I think David Houston wrote some of the best advice about getting started. Check the link on his name for a great example of presentation.
posted by batmonkey at 7:42 PM on May 3, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by batmonkey at 7:42 PM on May 3, 2013 [3 favorites]
Also to consider: audiobook narration, except for big names, has a small profit margin. To maximize that margin, you should learn how to record and edit your own readings with ProTools or similar.
posted by heigh-hothederryo at 7:45 PM on May 3, 2013
posted by heigh-hothederryo at 7:45 PM on May 3, 2013
Recording for the blind may be a good way to work with other people to gain some experiance and build up your client list.
posted by Sophont at 8:09 PM on May 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Sophont at 8:09 PM on May 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
I also agree that doing some work with Librivox would be a way to get some practice as well as feed back. I listen to a lot of audio books and at the end of the day I would rather listen to a bad book with a good reader than the other way around.
posted by InkaLomax at 4:50 AM on May 4, 2013
posted by InkaLomax at 4:50 AM on May 4, 2013
Everyone I know who's done something like this (and probably everyone I know who's an actor of mid-grade or higher seriousness) have taken VO classes from some sort of professional acting school. Part of the study is about working your voice and characterization, the other part is about understanding the recording process, taking direction, protecting your voice, etc - the sort of things you'd be expected to know when you show up for paying work. Also, an established VO teacher is a huge vector for job opportunities.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:14 AM on May 4, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Lyn Never at 7:14 AM on May 4, 2013 [2 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by whyareyouatriangle at 6:53 PM on May 3, 2013