Are you a fan of your voice? Do you often wonder, ‘What if?’ …?’ Kat Lambrix helps you master the necessary skills to transform your dreams of narration into reality by providing professional tips and advice
You’re looking to know how to become an audiobook narrationist, but aren’t sure how to begin? Don’t worry, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to all you should learn about this particular voice art. For a deeper and real-world knowledge we’ve sought the assistance of Audible Studios’ personal Kat Lambrix, who dives into all you need to be aware of as an audiobook Narrator. Beginning with the basics of the process of narration for audiobooks as well as strategies and techniques to improve upon, along with practical tips for breaking into the industry and securing audiobook narration jobs. Also, you’ll find helpful tips for planning your career in the long term and resources suggestions and advice from one of the most renowned experts in the field.
So You Want to Be an Audiobook Narrator?
Many people are interested in becoming audiobook narrators due to their love of audiobooks and books, as well as they love reading in front of others. Many people are motivated to follow this path due to the fact that they’re told they possess an unmatched talent and a amazing sound for narration. While both are excellent starting points, it requires much more than an appealing voice and a passion for audiobooks to be an audiobook narration expert.
The act of listening to an audiobook isn’t only about reading pages: Narrators for audiobooks must possess the ability and understanding to bring a book’s story to life for listeners.
From a business perspective Most audiobook narrators operate as freelancers. Therefore, you need to be professional, organized and able to be flexible with your schedule as well as meet deadlines. You must also keep an eye on contracts and invoices. Although it may not be the most secure career option initially, if enthusiastic about narration for audiobooks this could be your career of your dreams.
What Skills Do You Need to Become an Audiobook Narrator?
It’s no surprise that narration for audiobooks isn’t just an activity, it’s an actual profession. Like any other profession it requires certain abilities that are required to begin. Before you plunge into the realm of narration ensure that you are able to be confident in saying that you have these skills:
Background in Acting
It might seem obvious, but having a basic knowledge of acting makes an enormous difference in making the switch to narration. “Narration is an acting gig. You’re embodying different characters, you’re telling stories. So, it’s really important to be able to do that,” Lambrix emphasizes. “Lots of people have gone to theater school. Some people have come to us from other parts of the acting world. But no matter what, being able to act is a foundational skill…you’re telling a story, and it’s not your story.”
Ability to Differentiate Voices, Accents, and Dialects
It may sound like another obvious thing, but being able to effectively portray characters from different backgrounds is a vital talent that can set you apart from other Narrators. “Inevitably you’ll run into a scene with seven sisters or four women who are in their 30s, and you have to find a way to make their voices all sound distinct for your listener,” says Lambrix.
Stamina
The process of narration may appear easy when you’re seated for a couple of hours reading a book that you love (hopefully) in front of your friends. However, in reality it’s not that simple. These hours could whirl ahead and wear you out and it’s essential to to keep up the best possible pace. “We typically record around six hours per day. That means you need to physically be able to perform it.
Research Skills
Finally, do some do some research! How does this all fit into the picture? You’re just writing a book isn’t it? But what happens if you’re in the studio and come across an unfamiliar word, a country name or any other thing you don’t know how to pronounce? Researching beforehand can go a long ways in making your narration skills even better. “So rather than pretending to know it all, the ability to know what you don’t know, and to go out there and do that research is important,” Lambrix says. Lambrix.
Furthermore, this knowledge could help you avoid awkward situations while inside the recording booth. “We were filming an unpublished book and the narrator viewed an interview with the person in question and then used their pronunciation as a name to refer to the book. The interviewer had said the name of the person incorrectly. Thus, the narrator uttered that name incorrectly throughout the book.” It’s obvious that research can go quite a ways!
Refining Your Skills as an Audiobook Narrator
Practice
You’ve figured out that you possess the skills needed to start, but how can you improve these abilities? “Practice!” Lambrix emphasizes. “It’s an excellent idea to visit your bookcase close your eyes and select a book to read. Perhaps it’s a book that you’re not fond of, that’s better. Take a look and see if it’s possible to accomplish it. The truth is that you can’t always read the books you want to be reading.”
Learn from the best
Like everything in life, there is a chance to become better and learn from the experts in your field, so be sure to listen to your favorite voice actor-a plenty! “Listen to those who are top of the line in their field. Then, consider how you can use the things they do and incorporate them into your life,” says Lambrix. “The more you practice it, the more easy it becomes. The more you are prepared and prepare, the easier it is to get into the booth and relax.”
Getting Started as an Audiobook Narrator
Everyone in the field suggests that you begin by doing some practice by yourself. Do your reading in a quiet closed space, in a place where you’re not distracted. You should also get an understanding of taking your time, reading clearly, and clearly. If you do make mistakes then start as a learning experience. Don’t be afraid of marking the page of you “script” and practice reading aloud, while also looking ahead to be aware of what’s to come. Develop your endurance. After that, record your own reading, play the recording, and then critique your performance. Find areas that you can improve upon. It is helpful to recognize and practice different voice patterns, dialects, and accents. There are also voice-over training classes you can enroll in to master different styles of narration.
If you are confident in your ability, you should consider making a video demo. This is the ideal moment to purchase an excellent microphone, noise cancelling headphones, as well as pop filters (a screen that sits directly in front of the microphone to cut out the breath sounds and the sounds that your mouth makes while you speak). Set up a quiet studio area. There’s no need to alter an area in your home to soundproof it however you’d like the most conducive environment to record.
It’s also necessary to have an electronic device with recording software like GarageBand or Audacity It wouldn’t be a bad idea to learn the basics of editing your sound in order to create the most professional recordings. A majority of audiobook narrationists read on tablets, so it’s a good idea to purchase a tablet which allows users to be able to read as well as move ahead without squeezing pages. After you’ve finished your demonstration then you can put it on your site or on your profile for one of the websites listed below.
