Please join Michele Cobb and AudioFile Magazine's Founder and Editor Robin Whitten for this kick-off session. Ever wonder what an audiobook reviewer is listening for?

Find out and get your questions about how to get reviewed answered.

In this session we will go over how to choose excerpts for your demo - what genres, how long should they be, how to edit them. We will discuss your target audience and how to tailor your demo to match their expectations. We will do some narrating. We will have fun! 

How to prep an audiobook demo that will get you noticed.

What is a post production company? How do I interact with them as a narrator? What do they expect and what should I ask of them? This session will take you through what happens from the time you are assigned your project and are being directed if you are assigned a director to uploading the audio with the specs required. Then you will find out what happens to those audio files and how they become final mastered files ready for retail. What is a correction pack? What is a QC correction pack? All will be revealed and more......

• Deeper understanding of what function post production serves in the life of an audiobook.
• How to interact with a post production company as a narrator more effectively.
• A look behind the scenes at how audiobooks move through the process to final mastered files.

A quick internet search will reveal an overwhelming number of links for "voiceover home studio tips & tricks." While there is a lot of good advice out there, it's also easy to find information that is both confusing and conflicting. It can hard to figure out which advice is the best fit for you.

Join us for this breakout session, where we will cover your most common questions about Home Studios, Microphones & Other Gear, and Software.

To maximize our time in the session, submit your questions early via Twitter by tagging #VOATLANTA and @StevenJayCohen

• What is required out of the space that you use for a home studio?
• How to determine what mic/gear is the best fit for you? (Hint: The most expensive mic/gear is not always the best choice.)
• What software do I need to learn/use?

This session is designed to give participants the tools to analyze the book, short story, or project so participant can communicate the author's intent clearly and effectively. At the end of this session, participants will be able to get a book, break it down and tell the story with the clarity of someone with first-hand knowledge of the material.

• Participants will learn how to analyze the audiobook manuscript to determine the author's intent.
• Participants will learn how to organize their time and recording schedule for their project.
• Participants will learn how to determine WHAT to act in their projects.

Jennifer Aquino will share her experience as a new audiobook narrator - how she got started, and how she jump-started her career by narrating 10 titles with 7 different publishers in her first 4 months. Afterwards, Jennifer will answer any questions you may have!

• Find out how Jennifer got started in audiobooks.

• Learn what you need to start a successful audiobook narration career.

• Discover the 3 things that contributed to Jennifer's accelerated path in narrating audiobooks.

The live version of ASK AN AUDIOBOOK PRO on Clubhouse with hosts Vikas Adam and Hillary Huber willing to answer (almost) anything--with cocktails. So Happy Hour...The session where no question is too dumb--except for one (maybe two). Hill and Vik will bring their sardonic banter live for a Happy Hour chat where you can ask whatever you'd like about the audiobook world.

This session will be broken up into three parts:

Discussion about what producers look for in a great performance and what are some of the frequent traps performers fall into.

Practical advice about how to build a good website with an opportunity for a live review of select attendees' websites for feedback.

Performance feedback session: opportunity for actors to perform short scenes in front of a casting director for feedback on genres and age ranges their voice may be best suited . Scenes should be no more than two pages and ideally contain at least two genders speaking.

• Learning what producers and casting directors look for in a good performance.
• Learning how to be findable to casting directors: practical advice for building an effective website.
• Access performance feedback for those that get the chance to perform a scene, and the opportunity to see the directing process if they don't.

Ever wonder what genre of audiobook is best for you? In this session we'll explore how to determine your best genres based on: 1.) the stories you're drawn to 2.) who you authentically are and 3.) data the industry has already provided you. Need to create an audiobook demo but have no idea where to start? This session will help you craft your journey to strong demo samples. Through a critical listening exercise, you will learn how to become an experienced narrator by becoming an experienced listener.

• Narrators will gain an understanding of where they fit in the industry based on life experience and leaning into their authenticity.
• Narrators will learn how to choose pieces that highlight their talents.
• Narrators will learn how to critically listen in order to improve narration.

How do I actually do this? How do I actually make an audiobook and put in out into the world?

Recording, editing, tech specs and all the rest can be daunting. This breakout session is designed so that you spend less time pulling your hair out and more time focusing on your performance. By demystifying recording software, you can learn to optimize your workflow and enjoy the process.

Come learn real life solutions to real life problems when you’re going to turn a book into audio. This means:

• Techniques while recording
• How to fix as you go
• How you will have to format it in to put it out into the world
• Bring your questions about and complaints with making an audiobook

One of the most often asked-about topics among narrators is websites - should I have one? (hint: YES!) What should be on it? In this session, we'll go beyond the basics and talk all about narrator websites - the reason for them, whether they should be separate from your other VO or acting work, how many and what kind of demos should be on them, and whether you should design your own or hire someone to do it.

Your website is the place to show audiobook casting directors who you are and what you can do. At the very least, you need to give producers a place to find you - you'd be surprised how often producers are forced to move on to another choice because they can't find a narrator's contact info. Beyond that, we'll talk about style, details you can and should include on your site, and how to best reflect how you'd like to be cast.

• Learn what casting directors want to see on a narrator's website.
• Learn answers about demos for your website - how many? How long? What content? If a producer wants to listen, what's the best way to send your demos?
• See examples of effective narrator websites.

This session will show newer narrators the importance of properly breaking down the manuscript so they can act what's on the page instead of what's in their head.

• Attendees will learn the role acting plays in audiobook narration.
• Attendees will learn how to look at a manuscript for clues to the author's intent.
• Attendees will learn what steps to take to make the story "their own" so they can narrate the story with authenticity.

This breakout session will be a panel conversation (in English) with producers and narrators to promote and discuss Spanish Language Audiobooks. The panelists will discuss how the market is growing, insights into the differences between the Spanish and English expectations and their thoughts on its future. This will be an opportunity to hear some studio stories from narrators and producers and raise questions with them.

• Discover the thoughts of producers and narrators in this field and their stories of changes within the market and insights into the industry
• Explore the social and economic differences between Spanish and English audiobook markets
• Learn about the path Spanish language audiobooks is taking and contribute with your thoughts and viewpoints in the Q&A

Have you ever wondered how producers cast a book? Or maybe you've wanted to know more about the production process as a whole? Or what about resources available to new and upcoming narrators? This open Q&A session is your opportunity to get your answers.

• Learn about the casting process
• Learn about audiobook production
• Learn about resources available to narrators

Come together with your fellow conference attendees to connect, relax, discuss what you have learned and get advice for the next step of your journey.

This session will empower the narrator to get in the driver's seat of their VO/Audiobook career. We will explore long-term visioning, practical goal-setting, and mindset work, so that you are crystal clear on what IS and what is NOT in your control. We'll dive deep into how setting a structured plan on the front-end will ultimately give you more freedom and flexibility in your life and career. Elise will share some of her favorite vocal health habits for sustained success in and out of the booth, so that you have a foundation for both lean and busy times in your business.

• Narrators will map out a long-term vision for their career, so they have a clear guide for making business and personal decisions in support of their long-term career trajectory.
• Narrators will create a one-year S.M.A.R.T. goal. in support of long-term vision and based on where they currently stand in their career trajectory.
• Narrators will explore habits and relationships needed in order to achieve one-year goal with as much work/life harmony as possible.