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When it’s fruitful, when it’s dormant, and what this means INTRODUCTION I had a suggestion from reader (narrator/VO
Source: publishersweekly.
I had a suggestion from reader (narrator/VO artist) Isabella to talk about the calendar of audiobooks. When is it usually busy? When is it usually dead? When should you send emails, and when should you take a break and go on vacation?
This is something I’ve been trying to figure out for YEARS.
When I’m low on work, is it because no one wants to hire me or is it a slow part of the season? When I send out an email and hear nothing back, is it because I suck, or casting is really, really busy?
We’re all looking for these answers. And…like all things in Audiobookland, we never get a direct reason for when/why/how things are busy or not.
But here is what I’ve noticed:
Audiobook production follows publishing’s lead in terms of calendar, but with a slight delay. That’s because agents/publishers have their production calendar and the audiobook is usually (unfortunately) the last thing they schedule. They are just a step ahead of us. So, as they are getting out of the office to celebrate holidays, we are just getting started with the gigs they just scheduled.
There is, though, a general ebb and flow to the business.
Here’s the seasonal break down for audiobook productions and how it affects narrators:
PUBLISHING/AGENTS:
June, July, August: Sluggish
September, October, November, December (1st week): Flowing
December (2nd week on) January, February: Dead
March, April, May: Busy
NARRATORS/AUDIOBOOK PRODUCTION:
June, July, August: Busy
September, October, November, December: Flowing
December (last week), January, February: Dead
March, April, May: Flowing
Let’s break down the seasons and analyze them a bit.
Publishing shuts down. For real. People go on summer schedules where they might not work Fridays or leave the office early, or they take long vacations. It’s a hard time to get answers to email or to book your next recordings. People ARE in the office, but things move at a more sluggish pace. So, it’s a hard time to get new work.
It is also a VERY busy season for narrators. Why? Because prior to shutting down for the summer–publishers line up audiobook productions so they don’t have to mess with it over the summer months.
This means that in late spring, you should be reaching out to fill your summer calendar. It’s possible you will overbook and overextend yourself, but that’s okay, because there are plenty of dry times to come. Expect winter/holiday titles during this time, which is funny, because while your characters are falling in love during a blizzard, you’ll be sweating like a lunatic and maybe narrating in the nude.
Work your butt off. Narrate all you can. Get hot in the studio and complain and then forget it and do it again the next day. You can send your reach outs, but they likely won’t get much traction UNLESS you have an immediate opening. If you have immediate availability, let casting know, because with limited people on staff, they may still have some books that need to be recorded NOW.
Publishing wakes back up and everyone goes back to the office. This is a great time for coaching, conferences, classes, and sending your availability to casting directors. Wait until after Labor Day, and then maybe wait a bit longer since September is also back to work, back to school, off to college, etc. It’s a busy time for a lot of people.
Revamp your website. Sign up for a class. Reintroduce yourself to casting directors and the rosters you’re on with your availability for the coming months. Your schedule might be sparse at first, but it will start to fill as people get back to the office, and the publishing treadmill starts back up.
November is a weird month. Around Thanksgiving, things shut down for a week or so. If you’re reaching out for work, try to do it the first week in November and let them know if you’re available to record during the holiday season and if you have any travel plans. Skip reaching out during the week of Thanksgiving. During December, you have the first week or so before people take off for holidays. Keep your emails really short with important information only.
Send your holiday wishes and availability. Keep things short. Look ahead and think about if you want to attend SOVAs, Audies, and/or APAC. Avoid lengthy “This is everything I’ve achieved” emails. Post those achievements on your social media.
These are usually the dead months for narration (at least for me). Publishing shuts down from Christmas until New Years. Literally. Don’t expect to get much business done from late December through the first week in January. Things will pick up mid-January, but might still be really slow. (I have had busy winter months, but that’s unusual.)
This is a good time to take a break. Be with your family and loved ones. Take a trip. Do the business type things you never have time for like creating a new reach out email, record new demos, update your info on rosters. Read for fun instead of for work.
Work with indie writers. They don’t really follow a calendar. You can be busy with them any time. Ask for backlist titles. Record public domain or royalty share so that during sparse financial times (the spring months when you’d be paid for winter books) you at least have some royalties coming in.
We’re in the flow now. Some people get really busy during this time; some people struggle for work. Because summer is a busy season for many narrators, this is a great time to let casting know your availability for recording and if you’re traveling over the summer months.
Go to the Audies/APAC. Fill your calendar. Network. Dream big. Reach out. Be present on social media. Line up your summer calendar and purchase an ice vest for the upcoming hot months.
JUNE-AUGUST The cycle repeats. See above.
Please note: This is based on my experience with narration, publishing, and casting, and what I’ve noticed over the years. Your experience may be really different. Remember that it matters where you’re at in your career: If you’re new, you likely are just hustling for work in general. If you’re established, you’ll likely notice patterns to when you’re working and when you’re not. If you’re really popular, maybe you’re booked all the time. It’s different for everyone.
Knowing when work happens, and when it doesn’t, can help alleviate those feelings of “No one wants to work with me” especially when it happens during those slow months. And it helps to plan out when you’re asking for work, when you’re resting, etc.
Have you noticed an ebb and flow to the calendar? Are there things you do during busy times? During slow times? Please leave a comment and share your expereince with others.
Tanya Eby narrates, writes, and coaches. See here for her next class: CRAFTING THE EMAIL REACH OUT.
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