Volunteering to read books on tape?

Question

I'd really like to do audiobooks (and I would love to get paid for it, but I don't think that someone is going to pay a 14 year old to read for audiobooks), but I have no idea where to go or who to ask. Any ideas?

Answer 1

perhaps you could get some experience by reading to the blind +/or the elderly in your area.  you could always tape those sessions & then send them out like demo tapes to the big companies in the biz.

Answer 2

Those are good suggestions above.  In the UK, we only use actors for reading books, but there are organisations that use volunteers for reading local newspapers aloud.

You could try Librivox, though you wouldn't get paid:

http://librivox.org/volunteer-for-libriv...

You could have a look at Gutenberg also:

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Category:V...

Good luck!

Answer 3

Organization for the blind.  I dont know what they would have for you in your area. thats a good way to start or go to nursing homes and see if they would order some from you.

Answer 4

It's kind of a big deal. I mean, Brad Pitt read a few books, Jim dale is famous for them, the list goes on. But I don't see why you can't call around. What I recommend is looking up the address or phone number of one of the companies that makes audio books and ask them. They would be able to tell you what they're looking for, and how soon you might get a job. Good practice would be reading live, though. it's true. Then, you could get a feel for what people like and what they get bored with. Try out new techniques. It will be swell!