The popularity and accessibility of audio books have grown exponentially in recent years, and this is easy to see why. More people are listening to audio books rather than taking the time to read them page after page, and, as a result, audio book production companies are constantly in need of audio recording talents and storytellers.
Planning to work as a voice actor for audio books? Here are some ways to get started and succeed in this niche:
Start the Right Way
In the same way that good writing often starts with extensive reading, the best way to start in audio book narration is to listen to actual audio books. This will acquaint you with the vocal quality and pacing requirements of actual narration work. In addition, you will need to record yourself reading an actual book to see if you are able to deliver consistent tone and quality throughout the entire reading. For practice recordings, you may want to check if there are any free tools available online. However, if you will be working on your demo, it’s important that you perform your storytelling in a professional studio.
Work on your Voice-Over Demo
Although you can always record your demo on your own, working with someone who’s skilled in audio book production will increase your chances of producing a great demo. In addition, you will need to show other skills besides good narration when recording audio books. As a voice artist, you also have to demonstrate that you can record for an extended amount of time and have the ability to record various styles and genres.
Quality and Consistency from Cover to Cover
Of course, it will be impossible for you to record an entire book during a single session. Usually, a 2-hour audio book takes an hour to record, or a 200-page book may take as long as 6 hours. Despite this, you have to be able to ensure style consistency throughout the entire recording. Again, whether you’re narrating or storytelling, you have to accomplish believable, interesting recording consistently.
Is Audiobook Narration for You?
In terms of choosing a voice-over career niche, doing recordings for audio books may be the right path for you. However, you have to recognize that your voice may not be the best match for all types of reads, from children’s books and medical self-help books to romance novels. If you’re still trying to obtain as much experience as you can, a good tip is to hone you audio narration skills in one area and to expand from there. Since an audio book has to be narrated with the necessary nuance, inflection, and style consistently, it may be more helpful for you to train within a specific niche, one at a time.
However, if you’re looking for a Spanish voice-over talent for your audio book narration project, this is the place for you. My demos will demonstrate the kind of vocal quality and creativity I have acquired from my experience as a Spanish-language narrator, announcer, and storyteller. Send me a message today so we can get started!