Have you ever wondered how audiobook narrators get started in the industry? Would you like to get paid to read books aloud? If you’re looking for ways to get your foot in the door, we compiled these tips for beginners who want to enter the audiobook narration profession and establish themselves in their careers.
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The key abilities needed to do audiobook voiceover work include a clear and pleasant voice, endurance, performance, and adaptability.
- A good voice: If you’re interested in audiobook narration (or voiceover work), your voice is your instrument, but your vocal talents must go beyond just reading a story aloud. To make your voice sound better, you must speak words clearly and have excellent pronunciation. Be sure to keep a mostly consistent pace throughout each story, while still allowing energy levels to shift somewhat depending on the plot and emotions.
- Stamina: Voice-acting recording sessions can take a lot of time and energy, especially for those recording lengthy audiobooks. If you’re producing your audio in addition to narrating, you can expect to spend four to six hours of work per every hour of usable audio. Try breath support exercises to improve your vocal stamina. Experienced performers suggest that you practice reading and recording yourself to further build your endurance. This exercise also allows you to listen to your recording and make notes on ways to improve.
- Acting ability: A professional acting background is helpful but isn’t always necessary to become an audiobook narrator. However, you will need to be a good actor to properly capture a book’s characters, themes, and shifts in tone.
- Flexibility: Like any part of the industry, audiobook narration isn’t always easy. You may find yourself performing characters and genres you’re not naturally drawn to, plodding through a particularly dense science textbook, or spending hours trying to perfect a certain tone. Strive to be flexible, especially when you’re just starting out without a robust portfolio or impressive reputation to speak of.
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Follow these steps to land your first gig reading books aloud.
1. Train
If you’re short on experience, there are a few ways to learn about the ins and outs of the field, including our comprehensive guide to becoming an audiobook narrator. You can also take classes in person or online at the Deyan Institute, visit YouTube to watch tutorials from AudibleACX, or check out “Storyteller: How to Be an Audio Book Narrator” by Lorelei King and Ali Muirden for advice from both sides of the microphone.
2. Be willing to produce
When trying to break into the business, the ability to produce your own work is a plus. Tutorials from AudibleACX can help you learn how. You’ll need a few basics: a quiet and ideally soundproofed room, a quality microphone, noise-canceling headphones, and a pop filter to help quiet harsh constants and background noise. Editing software such as GarageBand and Audacity are great user-friendly options for those just starting out.
3. Recognize your strengths
Since fiction and nonfiction have different voice requirements, your personality and voice quality can influence the best route to success. Do you have an exceptional ability to differentiate between various voices when reading aloud? That skill is invaluable in multi-character-voiced fiction. Is your tone engaging enough to keep an academic text lively? You may want to look into nonfiction. For example, narrator Lorelei King gives voice to many characters, but she is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum and Darynda Jones’ Sunshine Vicram. Both characters allow King to lean into her ability to perform sardonic, spunky character voices.
4. Build your portfolio and reel
Look for quick narration gigs on sites such as Upwork and Fiverr—or simply record your own work—until you have enough to make a killer demo reel.
5. Know where to search for jobs
Look to voice-acting job boards as well as audiobook production houses and major publishers. Before developing your portfolio with one potential employer in mind, check all requirements, as each website will have specific needs. Some have very short turnaround times, and some may require a home studio. Be sure to check out experience requirements before submitting. Sites that list job opportunities for voice acting and audiobook narration include:
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Once you’ve trained in audiobook narrating and producing, developed a demo reel and portfolio, and secured a few jobs, it’s time to establish yourself as a professional audiobook narrator so you can continue to get paid to read books. To do so:
- Promote yourself. Create a professional website and promote yourself on social media to connect with the community and get more ears on your work.
- Aim for professionalism. Mastering abilities such as organization, time management, handling paperwork (contracts, invoices, taxes), and the ability to meet deadlines will keep you high on the list of any author or publisher looking for dependable, professional narrators.
- Network. Build relationships with audiobook creators and network with other professionals to boost your profile through word-of-mouth. Some audiobook narration jobs can make performers eligible for SAG-AFTRA membership. Join the Audio Publishers Association to find other opportunities for networking and developing relationships.
Ultimately, finding your unique voice and honing in on what makes you shine could lead you to a career recording audiobooks for money.
