So, you’re a narrator or audiobook professional who attended APAC, the Audies, and/or VO Atlanta. Now you’re home, exhausted, inspired, overwhelmed, slightly nauseous and faced with having to send out those dreaded reach out emails where you professionally enumerate your wonderfulness without sounding conceited and/or deranged.
You want to remind people of the connections you made, but you don’t want to say “I was the one who drank four Trader Joe’s Bees Knees at PJ’s party and didn’t realize they were 26% alcohol. I’m sorry I hugged everyone so much.” (#TrueStory)
How the fuck do you do it?
Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t know why some people get hired from reach outs, and some are never responded to or acknowledged. From casting, I know a fair bit of it has to do with timing. Do I need to cast someone with your skills, and you happen to reach out to me? Do you use a key word I can search for and use later? Or am I totally in the weeds and your detailed email goes straight to my Casting Folder for later/never seeing again?
I can tell you what I’ve done.
I’ve had years of reach outs. YEARS. And there are a number of people who’ve never responded. I haven’t worked with some of the biggest publishers in the country because I can’t seem to get them to like me. (It’s probably those Bees Knees.)
So I wrote up a new reach out, and then read it. And you know what? I was bored. I instantly glazed over and forgot about myself and my own accomplishments. Why? Because the email I was sending just stated facts, but it had no personality. The email wasn’t ME. The email was just doing the right dance steps with no music, rhythm, or whatever happens in dance.
Then I thought long and hard about it. What makes me different? What makes me stand out in the chorus line, because it obviously isn’t my dancing. And I realized that I can be funny, so I should try that.
(I’ll include a copy of my reach out at the end of this.)
Here’s what I learned through the process:
1) I wrote the reach out and included everything I thought was important. Number of titles, links, things I’m good at, accomplishments.
2) I went back and I rewrote the whole thing trying to make it sound like ME.
3) Then I cut it in half.
4) I realized I should’ve cut it again, but I didn’t. Instead, I sent it to a coach (Jesse Bickford) for feedback and to make sure I didn’t sound creepy, and she gave me some tweaks and made me feel less horrible.
5) I sent that muther out. It was too long, so I bolded the un-important parts. (Me, being funny.)
6) I heard from two producers right away and got an audition from a major publisher. I didn’t get the book, but maybe, MAYBE after 25 years in the industry, I’m on their radar now.
My first email was long. Granted. But my plan moving forward is to reach out ON THE SAME THREAD, and in future emails, keep it super short:
“Hey! It’s Tanya Eby just letting you know I’m available for narration in April and beyond. You can see my previous email for the gritty details, but basically, I’d love to audition for something for you. Also, I’m sorry for all the hugging.”
Or something like that.
I try to reach out to a publisher every couple of weeks, but it’s a different publisher every two weeks, so by the time I circle back, it’s been a few months since reaching out for work from that publisher. The idea here is you’re controlling your workflow, not being stressed out, and you’re keeping those contacts fresh.
I also BCC myself so that I know that whatever wicked magic makes the internet work, worked with my desperate email.
Pointers then for you:
1) Be WHO YOU ARE. Don’t be funny if you’re not. If you’re dramatic, be dramatic. If you’re quirky, be that.
2) Keep it as short as you can, but if the first reach out is long, make sure your next ones are short.
3) Send it whenever you want to. There’s no perfect window.
4) BCC yourself so you don’t drive yourself cray with “Did I send it? Did they get it?”
5) Include links not attachments.
6) If you made a real-life connection with the producer/casting director, remind them of that. Quote something inspirational they said. If that connection was them puking into a fake plant at the Kimpton, maybe don’t mention that. Things that happen in LA should stay in LA.
7) Let go of the self-doubt bullshit and the shame of feeling like you shouldn’t have to reach out. We all have to reach out. How else do they know you’re available? Make it easy. Tell them the dates you have open. Be respectful. Be open. Be grammatically correct-ish. Don’t ask questions. Don’t expect to be responded to…this time.
8) Have a friend or coach read it first to make sure it’s not embarrassing or weirdly aggressive.
9) Send that mofo whenever you want. Now, next week, in two weeks, whenever. This is your business. You get to make the rules.
10) I don’t actually have a number 10, but if I ended on 9, I would drive people nuts. So, don’t drive people nuts.
Here’s my admittedly too-long reach out. My next emails will be short.
Did I get any work from this? No. But I’m hopeful.
Should you listen to these unproven suggestions? I don’t know. I’m tired.
TANYA’S TOO LONG REACH OUT
SUBJECT: an unboring (hopefully) narrator reach out.
Dear XXXXX,
I thought I’d reach out once more and see if I can entice an audition from you. Gutsy, I know, but hopefully not annoying. I know it can be a slog to read through all these emails from hungry narrators, and I appreciate your time and effort trudging through this one.
TLDR: I’d love to audition for you. For real.
Here’s a little bit about me. (I’ve highlighted the non-important stuff, just for kicks):
*I’ve narrated a lot of books. Over 1,100! These were paid gigs and not just reading to random people on the street. I’ve learned that no one really appreciates that, so now I just read out loud in my basement. I promise that’s not as creepy as it sounds.
*I narrate across genres including nonfiction and fiction. My personal favorites are dark and twisty stories, but my bright voice and quirky sense of humor plays well with romance, erotica, mysteries, thrillers, sci-fi and paranormal texts. My nonfiction work includes self-help, memoir/biography, historical texts, business, religious text (pagan and Christian) and more.
*I’m an expert forager and a good cook. This means if I cook mushrooms for you, there’s a 77% chance you’ll survive. (I may have exaggerated that I’m an expert. It is a hobby though, and I’m learning a lot of stuff in the woods.)
*I’m a writer. My new memoir is out and my thriller is on submission with my agent at Talcott Notch. My romcom series hit the USA Today bestseller list and I am fairly certain I have at least 4 fans, two of which I am not related to.
*I’m a good narrator. I’ve got awards and such, but so does everyone. What sets me apart? I’m easy to work with, keep to my deadlines, ask questions only when I absolutely have to, and don’t require a lot a lot of attention, although if you give me chocolate, I will love you forever. I cast part time for Deyan Audio, so I understand the need for respect and a narrator you can trust. I’m also keenly aware this email is too long.
*For authentic casting, I’m Scandinavian by birth, a Michigander by location, and a Midwesterner at heart, thanks to being raised primarily on casseroles and TV dinners. I’ve lived in New York City and worked at Carnegie Hall, so I can clean up well. I have a non-binary kiddo, and me and my kids are neurodivergent thinkers: Deeply creative, anxious, and lovable, but we’re not huggers.
I’d love the chance to audition for you. Please keep me in mind. To hear my work, listen to some of my stuff on Audible under Tanya Eby, Tatiana Sokolov and Amber Reed.
Thanks so much!
Wishing you a lovely day and a gold sticker for getting through this email,
Tanya
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Tanya casts, narrates, writes, cooks, complains, and is never drinking Bees Knees again,
except maybe on Saturday.
All the Saturdays.
Your posts are always so warm & humorous & HELPFUL. Thank you for your you-ness. <3
Ahhh, the dreaded email reach-outs! I've only started my reach out journey and it's taking some getting used to (buuuut I just wanna talk to myself in a padded room all day! What is this talking to actual people nonsense?!).
I loved your reach out email! It made me LOL multiple times!