Let me share a little story.
Way back in 2016, I was searching for something to soothe my inner angst. I didn’t know what exactly was going on at the time, but I thought taking my mind off of the angst with something new but close to my roots (theatre, and acting, of course) would help. So I signed up for a 2 hour “Intro to Voiceover” class hosted by Such a Voice at my local community college (shout out to community colleges!).
Fast forward almost 4 years, and I’m a full-time audiobook narrator being featured on the Such A Voice Talent Spotlight blog, offering advice to others who may want to start a similar journey.
I’m so grateful for everyone who has helped me on the way. This industry is one of the best for lifting people up, offering help, being transparent, and let’s not forget: FUN.
Thank you to Roth Bernstein at Such A Voice for asking me to share my story.
A story, indeed.
Hi Amy! My name is Jillian and I discovered you on the SAV blog. Your story is similar to my own aspirations. I want to get into the VO industry and my dream job is to narrate audio books. I did take the SAV intro webinar and due to current situations I am not able to dive right into the full program. I also have some concerns about the home recording and technology aspects. Per your mention, I visited the Narrators Roadmap by Karen Cumins, it was very informative. I am definitely at a crossroads in my life right now and need to make a change! Any advice or direction you can offer would be incredibly appreciated! Thank you so much!
Hi Jillian,
Thank you so much for reading the article. I agree, narrating audiobooks is a dream, and you can make it come true. While I certainly understand that not every path is realistic for you at this time, there are ways of getting there with a little creativity, practice, and persistence. Though I would say that NarratorsRoadmap.com is really the best comprehensive source for vetted information on how to get started, the best advice I have is this (and not a joke, completely serious): sit still in a small room (closet) practice reading aloud (as if you are telling the story to someone) every day for 30 minutes and then build up your endurance each week by adding more time – up to 6 hours a day. When you make a mistake, go back to the first part of the sentence and start over. This will build your stamina, help you understand what the reality of audiobook narration is like on a daily basis, and help you understand your voice and what genres you are suited for (often different than what you read for pleasure). While you do this, figure out what you can give up right now to start saving towards hiring a coach, getting the equipment you need for a home studio, and learning the technological aspects. Most audiobook narrators record at home and the successful ones have coaches. The reality is this: it is like any other field; if you want to be an accountant, an aesthetician, a data programmer, a plumber, an actor (and audiobook narration is acting), you take classes and/or get certified. Audiobook narration is no different; it’s a profession that is 10% voice talent, 40% performance training, and 50% intuitive storytelling ability. Hope that helps!