Audiobook Coaches
Part Three of Recommended Audiobook Coaches. Today we're highlighting Joel Froomkin and Jennifer Jill Araya
From Tanya:
Welcome to Part Three of my series on recommended audiobook coaches for narration. I’m highlighting talented narrators who have proven themselves in the business and who share what they’ve learned via coaching. In a couple of weeks, I’ll return with writing new blogs about life, love, and career.
Joel Froomkin
1. Do you have a bit of advice for narrators that is inspiring or uplifting you could share?
Everyone – everyone - is a already a skilled actor. We play different roles in every relationship in our life. We script interactions in real life. We give completely convincing performances when we suppress what we really thinking on a daily basis. One of the biggest things that can empower people is realize they are already skilled actors they just need to harness that ability and learn a technique and foundation to support it. Also learn to treat every single character in a book as if they could be the lead in their own story. A) it often actually happens three books later – but also B) it ensures you’re always taking that characters seriously and thinking of them as real person more than a voice. Also – this is the HARDEST acting job there is. We handle more characters, more volume of material, the most intimate form of performance ALL without the bells and whistles of sets, scene partners, costumes and the ability to rehearse. When you accept that, and embrace it – it can be incredibly freeing on your journey to master this art form.
2. What kind of coaching do you offer? One on one, classes, workshops, conferences? Anything coming up?
I offer two different kinds of educational formats. The most popular one is my Acting for Audio course which is (based upon my years as a director of drama at a University and teaching acting) a 15 week, 45 hour, immersive semester that is the equivalent of the first year of a conservatory acting training with an emphasis on the unique needs of a narrator. It’s Stanislavsky and Uta Hagen based and truly works to demystify the acting process and give a narrator the technique and foundation they need to connect to the needs of both the author and the listener. It can be an incredible refresher and reframing for those already experienced (we’ve had many SOVAS, Earphones-winning and Audie nominated actors take the course), but also works to nurture people at the very beginning of their journey. It works with each actor where they begin. There is also a part 2 which dives into specific, tricky narration challenges and how we tackle them using the tools learned in Part One. I also teach a “Demo-lition” class which provides people with a personalized, curated portfolio of demos that showcases their unique skills, talents and genre specialties.
I also offer private coaching which focuses more on individual challenges, audition prep, branding, bio creation and dialects.
3. How many books have you narrated OR how long have you been in the business?
I’ve narrated over 500 books. I’ve been lucky enough to be Audie nominated, Sovas winning and the recipient of 12 Earphones awards. I’ve been at this for about seven years as a narrator, but my entire life has been in the performing arts. I began my training at drama school as an actor, and then rapidly began to train and work as a director. I have a unique perspective and approach in that I not only have a directors brain, but also that of a college acting professor and the knowledge of how an actor thinks.
4. What do you like to focus on with your students?
I work with each student in a different way – but I am very, very specific. I don’t believe in generalities or platitudes. I’m very analytical and text based and people really respond to how I explain concepts in an actionable, tangible way. I want every student to leave every session with new tools and a way to climb the next rung on the ladder. I’m honest – but nurturing, kind and empowering. My biggest tenets that I work with on my students are playing discovery, understanding the vocal geography of a scene, understanding the need for stimulus and response and playing the action moment by moment – taking ownership of the text and making the words your own. I also work with every student to honor their own authentic voice and to be the kind of narrator they should and want to be. I’m not putting out an army of mini-mes!
Contact info or website?
www.actingforaudio.com or joel@joelfroomkin.com ☺
6. Anything else you want to share?
I take my work seriously. But I’m fun, playful, frank and caffeinated little hamster. The relatioships I’ve forged with my students are really special to me and I really believe they feel not only my love of craft, but my investment in their growth.
Also – I host and produce a crazy-fun educational/cruise event called Audiobooks at Sea with amazing coaches and casting folks that is a blast – www.audiobooksatsea.com!
NOTE FROM TANYA: I was one of the coaches on the inaugural cruise of Audiobooks at Sea. It was both fun and really informative. Narrators had chance to interact with casting in a meaningful way and develop real connections. Joel provided sessions and panels on audiobook acting, casting, writing, life balance and more. I highly recommend this experience.
Jennifer Jill Araya
1) Do you have a bit of advice for narrators that is inspiring or uplifting you could share?
A few weeks ago, I was visiting my parents and spending some time helping my dad with a few chores. While we were working, he asked me if I ever missed stage work. (I haven’t been in an on-stage theatre production since we adopted our daughter in 2013.) I told him, with complete honesty, that I don’t. After growing our family in 2013 but before I began narrating in 2018, yes, I missed on-stage work very much. But now that I have the creative outlet of audiobook narration, I’ve found that I don’t miss it at all. I get to act and create every single workday, and I’m able to play a wide range of characters that I never would be cast to perform in an on-stage production. The creativity and art of audiobook narration gives me exactly the artistic outlet I didn’t know I needed.
I share that story to illustrate that creativity and artistry can come in many different forms. The audiobook narrator path isn’t right for everyone, but if it is right for you, it can bring creative fulfillment in some truly beautiful and surprising ways. Back when I stepped away from the stage in 2013, I could not have imagined that I would be able to find another creative pursuit that completely filled that particular spot in my soul, but I did find it in audiobooks, and I’m so grateful for it.
The creative joy that comes from being able to do work you love, work that brings you excitement and that energizes you, is a precious and delightful experience. Audiobooks have filled that role for me, and if they fill that role for you, too, you can find a way to make this career work. It is absolutely possible to do.
2) What kind of coaching do you offer? One on one, classes, workshops, conferences? Anything coming up?
A bit of all of the above! In terms of events coming up, I have a weekend workshop/retreat for narrators coming up very soon, the Thriving Narrators Retreat in Cincinnati, August 22-25, 2024. (Registration will be open through July 31, at which point no more attendees will be accepted.) The retreat is led by 11 faculty members, 5 of whom are casting directors or producers, and will offer sessions, panels, workshops, and small group coachings on both the business and the art of audiobook narration. I’m so excited about the first year of this retreat and hope to make it an annual event.
Outside of the retreat, my primary coaching focus is actually on the business side of things. I have a strong background in small business management, and I feel I have a lot to share with the community in that regard. I lead the Thriving Artists Academy, an online community for artists and creatives of all types. We have classes, book clubs, live coaching sessions, an online forum, and more. The purpose of the community is to provide a space where creatives can share together our struggles and triumphs, troubleshoot our strategies, and encourage each other as we take action on those strategies. Leading this community is a true joy!
I also offer one-on-one coaching that is very much tailored to what the individual needs. I do incorporate performance coaching into this when the individual needs it, but I always make sure my coaching clients have the business tools they need to create the kind of artistic business that they want. In addition, I have a 3-month group workshop program that I’ve offered several times in the past and will offer again in 2025. I’ve participated in various conferences when the opportunity arises.
I know that not everyone will be in a place financially to participate in one of my coaching programs, so I also produce two podcasts that are freely available wherever you get your podcasts. My hope is that these podcasts will provide value to the community and serve those who can’t pay for coaching right now. The Starving Artist No More podcast is focused on the business side of things, and the Crafting Audiobooks podcast, which I co-host with the amazing Sarah Beth Goer, is focused on the art of audiobook performance.
My two core values related to my creative work are sharing and serving. Any opportunity that I have to live out either of those values in the work that I do is something I will be very excited about.
3) How many books have you narrated OR how long have you been in the business?
I began narrating in 2018, and I’ve narrated around 430 books at this point. When I found audiobooks, I knew immediately that it was the right spot for me, and I jumped in feet-first, never looking back. I love this art form so much!
4) What do you like to focus on with your students?
The name of the coaching arm of my business is “Starving Artist No More.” I believe strongly that it is possible for every artist / creative to build a business that fulfills them holistically – personally, creatively, and financially – and that the myth of the “starving artist” is a harmful cultural stereotype that can keep creatives from being their best selves and doing their best work.
With every coaching client who comes to me, my goal is to help them craft a creative business that truly works, one that is as unique as they are, and to give them the resources and tools they need to make that functional creative business a reality. Sometimes that means we work on managing their business finances. Sometimes that means we work on their marketing and networking processes. Sometimes that means we work on their project management systems. When I’m working with an audiobook narrator, sometimes that means we focus on the craft of audiobooks and have lots of conversations about the performance side of things.
My goal is that every coaching client who comes to me knows that they are fully capable of crafting a creative career that fits them and their unique artistry, one that provides them the opportunity to do work they love, be paid fairly for that work, and to have the space and time in their personal lives to be the best versions of themselves that they can be.
5) Contact info or website?
jennifer@arayastudio.com, www.StarvingArtistNoMore.com, www.JenniferJillAraya.com.
The podcasts are available wherever you get your podcasts, or available here:
Crafting Audiobooks - https://sites.libsyn.com/460974
Starving Artist No More - https://www.starvingartistnomore.com/podcasts/starving-artist-no-more The SANM podcast is also available on my blog in transcript form (https://www.starvingartistnomore.com/blog) so that, regardless of whether you’d prefer to listen with your ears or read with your eyes, you can still have access to the information.
6) Anything else you want to share?
Thank you, Tanya, for providing me the opportunity to share with your readers, and thank you also for your frank honesty about the audiobook industry. I truly appreciate it!
Stay tuned for next week’s highlight. We’ll conclude the series by featuring Karen Commins, Andi Arndt, Elise Arsenault, and Ronnie Butler.
If you’re a coach and want to be highlighted in a new series in the fall, please let Tanya know.
TANYA EBY is a narrator, audiobook casting director, and writer. She’s taking a few weeks off from writing new content to focus on polishing her new novel, getting married to her beloved lumberjack, and getting her youngest kiddo off to college. Tanya will return with new content next month. To read over older posts, please subscribe.
This series just makes me want to coach with everyone! I love learning more about everyone's approach.
Wonderful as always! 🥰