![]() The flexibility is helpful, because the physical rigors of recording an audiobook can be intense. I will often record and answer emails during the day, then prep-read a book in bed at night. But that isn’t all at once, or necessarily in a 9-to-5 schedule. Today, I work about 40 hours a week, divided between recording, office work, and pre-reading and researching upcoming books. Creating an online presence has been among the greatest things I’ve done for my career. Now producers I didn’t even know were emailing me, mentioning that their friends had sent them my videos. I used to have to send quarterly emails to producers looking for work. Book gigs from publishers started pouring in like never before. As my content went viral, my audience grew. I had this vision of showing people how sexy and silly this job can be - and they loved it. In 2020, with the cancellation of all in-person events in the wake of the pandemic, I put my energy into building my Tiktok and Instagram accounts, giving audiobook fans glimpses into my life as a narrator. I started working with independently published authors, then started traveling to industry events to get my name and voice out there. I landed my first few book jobs through ACX, a platform that connects narrators with authors, agents and publishers. So I purchased about $300 of equipment and, in just a few weeks, we set up my first home studio in the hallway closet. When I brought the idea up to my husband, I was nervous about investing money into a brand new business. I was thrilled at the idea that all the things I loved about opera - the stories, the acting, the beautiful words - could still be a part of this new career. So on a whim, I Googled “How to become an audiobook narrator.” I learned that audiobooks were one of the fastest-growing mediums in publishing, and that most were recorded by voice actors in professional-grade home studios. One day, it occurred to me that recording audiobooks could be a real job for me. I loved the comfort of a familiar voice keeping me company, telling me a story. I considered going back to school to study dental hygiene or medical sonography - anything with a decent salary that would better help me support my family.Īs I commuted to my church music jobs, opera rehearsals and private lessons, I’d listen to audiobooks to pass the time, often for three or more hours a day. I’ve always been an avid reader, and particularly enjoyed audiobooks. But between the low wages and unpaid artist programs, I started to feel discouraged. I graduated with a master’s degree in vocal performance in 2014, with hopes of becoming an opera singer. I get to do my dream job from home and spend more time with family in our cozy home, perched on a mountaintop in Northern Virginia. I now bring in six figures a year, and we have only $10,000 left on our student loans, thanks in part to the student loan forgiveness plan. Switching careers to become an audiobook narrator has changed my life immensely. With two children - both under four years old at the time - and $80,000 in combined student debt, we struggled to keep up with our finances.īut I’m in a much different place today. My husband was a middle school music teacher, and made $48,000 a year. In 2017, I was 29 years old and making $30,000 a year as a church music director and private music teacher.
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