Faxes flew, overnight delivery services were put to optimum use
and emails expedited information across the county as Los Angeles Voice
Actors submitted their applications and audiobook CDs for the pre-approval
process to attend the Audio Publishers 2001 Job Market held February
6, in New York City. This was the second Job Market sponsored by the
Audio Publishers Association (APA)
specifically for the purpose of finding qualified voice talent to read
the multitude of material the industry needs to have recorded.
The APA Job Market affords those actors selected the invaluable opportunity
of not only auditioning for Audio Publishers, but also meeting one-on-one
with each Publisher in attendance at individually scheduled interviews.
Last year’s Job Market was the “test flight” for the
APA Job Market “space craft.” It launched the program and
more than proved its viability with one third of the acting talent in
attendance booking jobs. This year’s was ever better. Adjustments
and refinements were made to the “flight schedule” and the
momentum and energy generated by the performances given by the 35 actors
selected (22 came from L.A.) kept the APA “ship” soaring
effortlessly throughout the afternoon’s interviews. Actors were
also given the opportunity to “schmooze” with the Audio
Publishers at a cocktail party following the day’s activities.
And the number of
bookings??? The list to date is as follows: An L.A. voice actor booked
a job within 20 minutes of his audition. It recorded the
following Monday. An L.A. voice actress had three jobs offered to her
by late afternoon. Another L.A. voice actress is recording two books
later this month. Last year’s big winner (a female) and yet another
L.A. voice actress each impressed one Audio Publisher to the degree
that they were given carte blanche as to which of that publisher’s
upcoming Spring or Fall titles they wanted to record.
It’s just the beginning, folks. As one who booked commented, not
only is this the best way to get this kind of work, “it’s
the only way.” In the past five years, the growth of the audiobook
industry has increased exponentially, now generating over two billion
dollars in gross annual revenue. As I wrote last quarter, if you possess
the acumen for this type of work, the audiobook world is a viable medium
for the voice actor to consider as an adjunct to his or her voiceover
career. Women, in particular, have a good shot with this industry operating
at close to a 50/50 ratio, men to women.
The next APA Job Market will be held in 2002. Gee, Orwell didn’t
predict beyond 1984; Kubrick, 2001. It’s up to you to predict
your future in audiobooks for the eagle has definitely landed.
- Laurel van der Linde, UNDERGROUND AUDIO
