My Audiobook Adventure - Day 2 Continued

Well, it's been almost three weeks since I finished that audiobook and I neglected to come here and finish the story. My apologies to all my loyal reader out there, yes all one of you, who've been waiting to learn about my exploits.

So day 3 began right where we left off on day two. Since I was already an old pro at this audiobook thing, my engineer and I dispensed with the niceties and went right to work. Time is money in the audiobook game and we weren't about to waste any.

From the minute I started reading, I knew that today was different. Yesterday I'd felt nervous, hesitant. Especially during that first chapter and probably into the second. Today, I started reading and just got right into the flow. It felt good and according to my engineer, it sounded good. We worked through the morning and when it got to lunch time, I knew that we'd be finished early.

Originally, I'd been booked for 3 days of work on this book. I knew that today, my second day, would see the end of this particular job.

When we got back from lunch, we once again, jumped right into it. The story moved along to it's inevitable conclusion at about 2:00 pm. A day and a couple of hours ahead of schedule. I'd completed my first audiobook!

Well, almost . . .

My engineer had suggested that If I liked, I could go back and re-read the first chapter just because by the end I'd really gotten into a good flow which probably didn't exist in the beginning, so we did just that. Although he'd told me that he'd listened back to the first chapter and felt it was pretty consistent with the later stuff, after I re-recorded the first chapter, he agreed that it was much better than the first time through.

So according to my contract, they can call me in for up to 2 additional pick up sessions. I have not yet been called about any pick ups so we'll see how that goes.

In my opinion, the story I read was a good one. It had many interesting characters in it including two young urban boys, an Irishman, a Russian gentleman, some Noo Yawkizz (New Yorkers), and various other men, women and children. It was quite an interesting challenge for my acting ability and I can only hope that I did it justice. My only comment is that I wanted there to be more. The book was not a very long one and the stories of the characters involved seemed unresolved to me. I want to learn more about these people. I guess I grew to like them while reading their story and that affection wants me to learn more about them. What happens next.

Also, if there are sequels to this book or if it becomes a serial novel, I'd love to keep doing the audiobooks for it since I've gotten to know these guys and appreciate them.

Also, I can use the moolah!

I recently read an interesting article which I learned about from my friend Karen Commins who I follow on Twitter. It was about the interesting choices that audiobook publishers make during casting and the sometimes less than stellar results.

I hope that the good people at Audible.com don't feel they made a bad call when they cast me for this book and I really hope that the listeners of this piece enjoy it as much as I enjoyed reading it.

I look forward to working with my friends at Audible.com again, very very soon.

My Audiobook Adventure - Day 2

Sorry I didn't get to post last night about my day. It was just so busy yesterday.

I spent pretty much all day at Audible.com reading the book I was cast for. I left at 4:00 or so which left me about two hours to run home, feed my dogs, let them out then dash to a rehearsal for Jekyll & Hyde.

I feel like SUCH an actor!

One cool thing is I saw Roscoe Ormon, the actor who plays Gordon on Sesame street in the lunch room at Audible. Apparently he was there reading a book as well. I would have loved to chat with him for a while but he was having his lunch, talking on the phone, and on his laptop at at once. I didn't want to disturb an obviously busy guy! Perhaps I'll see him today and he's not too busy, we can chat for a bit.

The response to my performance was very positive yesterday. My engineer / director, Charles, kept telling me what a great job I was doing. We got through over 100+ pages yesterday. Charles commended me on my stamina, and believe me reading audiobooks does require stamina. You've got to be "on" for the entire session unlike a commercial where you've only go to be on during the 30 or so seconds it take to do each take. Charles told me that most first timers usually don't get past page 70 or so their first day.

I truly appreciated his feedback and of course, I like positive feedback better than criticism though if I am sucking the big one, I really want to know about that too!

Anyway, I gotta run for day 2.

More later!

My Audiobook Adventure - Day 1

It's 8:30 a.m. and I'm about ready to walk out the door and head to the Audible offices in Newark NJ. I wish they had offices in a cooler town but that's life.

I received a contract from them over the weekend stating the terms and conditions of my relationship with them and the rate we'd negotiated for this first book. It's a non-union gig so the money's not so great, but it's a beginning and I am excited about the opportunity.

This is an area of voiceover that I'd not explored previously. Well, that's not completely true. I did audition at Audible about 3 years ago or so when I first started pursuing the VO dream, but I didn't get much of a response. 3 years of experience later has apparently made a difference.

So I'm off for day 1. I'll let you know how it turns out later this evening.

Wish me luck!

The end of an era . . .

The following report was posted on voiceoveruniverse.com

Rick

It is very hard to write these words. My friend, Don LaFontaine, the husband of a most beautiful wife, Nita and the father of three beautiful girls, passed away today at the age of 68. In a quite sudden reversal of the progress he had been making the last few days, Don took ill again and passed away at around 1:50PM this afternoon (9/1/08). Out of respect for Don’s family, more details will be given at a later time. Nita is a wonderful mother and she is being very strong for her children at this moment. You would be proud of her. We need to give her and her family some time to absorb their loss. As for me, thank you very much. There have been so many spiritual warriors who have given everything they have for my best friend. I will miss him very much.

More details to follow...

Paul Pape

Although I'd never had the honor of meeting him in person, Don LaFontaine has had an undeniable influence on me and just about everyone in the voiceover industry. He was a pioneer in the industry and has left an indelible mark.

His body of work is astounding. Over his career, Don LaFontaine recorded nearly 5,000 movie trailers and literally HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of commercials.

Anyone who currently works or wants to work in the Movie Trailer area of the voiceover industry owes a debt of gratitude to this incredible human being.

The interviews that I've heard and the personal anecdotes that I've read, left me with the impression of a warm and generous man of immense talent. He will be forever remembered.

My prayers go out to Mr. LaFontaine's Wife and family in this time of loss and sadness.

Mr. LaFontaine, thank you for blazing the trail that so many of us have chosen to follow.

Rest in peace.