A reader of The Magazine of Santa Clarita asked about the skills necessary for audiobook narration. In the past few months I’ve explained seven of ten different skills needed. Here’s her question again, with the last three explained.
Q: I’m a professional commercial voice actor, but I’d love to get into narrating audiobooks, and don’t know what specialized skills it takes to do it professionally. Are there any guidelines I should know about before attempting to jump into this arena? Thanks in advance for your info. –Selina H., Westlake Village, CA
A: Narrating an audiobook takes myriad skills. Master ten crucial skills for audiobook narration and you’ll successfully accomplish a performance that most audiobook listeners take for granted. Here are three more of the fundamental skills you must have:
8. Separation: This skill requires no “spillover” between narrator and character. Making sure that the narrator says phrases like “he said” or “she said” before or after a character speaks—in the narrator’s voice, not the character’s—is essential in audiobook narration.
9. Stamina: An audiobook narrator spends approximately four to six hours behind a microphone—per day. This requires unflagging energy, and the ability to sound as strong at the end of the day as the beginning. Narrators who are physically fit and emotionally stable will be able to muster the stamina necessary to sustain a professional narration.
10. Investment: All successful narrations demand that the reader be invested in what he or she is describing. Painting a picture vocally, as opposed to just reading the words, is what makes for a great narration. Being truly interested in the subject matter—even if it’s boring—draws the listener in, garners great reviews, and motivates an audiobook publisher to hire a talent repeatedly.
Marc Cashman © 2011
Marc Cashman creates and produces copy and music advertising for radio and television, was named one of the “Best Voices of the Year” by AudioFile Magazine, and was the Keynote Speaker and Master Class instructor at the international voiceover conventions VOICE 2008 and 2010 in Los Angeles. Winner of over 150 advertising awards, and a working voice actor as well, he teaches voiceover technique at California Institute of the Arts and instructs voice acting of all levels through his classes, The Cashman Cache of Voice-Acting Techniques in Los Angeles, California.
Marc can be contacted at cashcomm@earthlink.net or his website, www.cashmancommercials.com.