“We’ll keep you in mind.” When Casting says this, do they mean it?
A narrator reached out to me with this question, and I’ve been turning it over in my mind. I’ve said these words as a Casting Director, and I’ve heard these words countless times as a narrator. Will they keep me in mind? Is there anything I can do?
This answer is yes, or no, or sometimes, or maybe.
Here’s what I know from casting:
· There are countless more narrators than available titles.
· Most titles now require authentic casting, so if you’re not in the group that we’re looking to cast, we can’t reach out to you.
· There are more female narrators than male narrators.
· Most books for female narrators are for women in their 20s.
· Authors are very savvy and now reach out directly to their favorite narrators.
· Many authors are narrating their own books.
· With recent changes to royalties, it’s harder to make a profit, so less audiobooks are being cast.
· AI is a real thing.
While the industry has boomed in growth, there’s also been a boom in competition. Covid and working from home encouraged people to invest in home studios. Ads encouraged people to try narration as a side hustle (Just sit back and watch the money flow in!). AI is now replacing narrators (they offer free audiobook creation to authors using AI narrators). And finally, as a narrating community, we have reached out to our friends and trained others in narration. That’s great to be so open-hearted with our knowledge. We’ve shared our expertise, but now we’re sharing the work.
Everything is shifting.
I do believe casting honestly means they’ll keep you in mind, but the truth is, keeping you in mind is the best they can do. They’re also keeping in mind a hundred other narrators, and the title they’re casting requires just three narrators to submit for approval for the one gig. They can’t submit everyone. And if there are stronger narrators than you, or more popular, or narrators who work for the right budget, casting will reach out to them first.
It sucks. But it’s business.
Are there things you can do? Yes. Of course. But of all the things you can do, there’s no direct line into getting hired again. You can’t know for sure if what you’re doing is working, unless someone tells you it’s working.
Do it anyway.
You have to be consistent, focused, determined. You have to be competitive, good with research, stick to deadlines, easy to work with, and above all, a good performer.
If you’re all those things, great. Stick with it. Also maybe consider side income. I’d love to say that this is just a phase, a lull for all of us in narration, but I’m not sure that’s true. I think the reality is, it’s going to continue to be hard to get jobs. We have to keep trying.
Casting will keep trying too. I promise you they’re doing their best. There are more and more narrators every day looking for steady work and there are limited titles and limited budgets.
Do your best. Remind your active clients that you’re available and remind them of your rate. Be present in person if there are events you can attend. Do good work. Cultivate relationships with authors, fans, and other narrators.
You may decide that a full-time career narrating isn’t for you. If it is for you, then you have to acclimate to the new normal of more competition. Be proactive. Be hopeful. Keep trying. And if Casting says they’ll “Keep you in mind,” be grateful. They don’t respond to everyone, and even that little line is hope that you’re up next for a gig.
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TANYA EBY is a narrator and writer and a part-time casting director for audiobooks. Consider becoming a subscriber if you like her blogs, and share them with others. Tanya’s new memoir is available in ebook, paperback, and audio. It’s called THE TUESDAY GIRL. Consider showing your support for Tanya’s work by reading the book or giving it to a friend.
It's not easy to read, but you confirm suspicions, fears and knowledge about the industry. Getting this info from the casting perspective is terrific regardless of the positive/negative news. Thanks for sharing it with us.