Hear even MORE details on the “blogcast” version
⚠️ Profanity warning ⚠️
I fucked up.
But now I’m making it right.
Here’s my story.
“I was GOOD at somethin’, Margaret!”
⬆️ I made that quote up (I think), but it sounds cinematic and dramatic. It also relates to the path of regret I will go down with my audiobook career (a very successful career) if I don’t implement extreme measures NOW.
In the beginning
It was 2018. I was fed up with Hollywood (and divisive USA culture), the acting rat race (just as bad as the corporate rat race), and serving burgers to stoned kids wearing Supreme.
So, I did something crazy after my Groundlings improv instructor told me I had a great voice during a feedback session.
Despite one of the hottest summers Los Angeles had ever seen, I went into my sweltering bedroom closet in my 100-year-old Miracle Mile apartment with no AC or insulation and just started.
I began recording audiobooks on a shitty $15 clip-on microphone that had no business producing professional audio (my phone probably would’ve done better).
Quick backtrack
In my final year of acting conservatory, the topic of “how to not starve while trying to make it” was, naturally, topical and often discussed.
We actors were about to be set free on the big bad world primed to chew us up and loogie us out. (I’m sorry for the graphic nature of that metaphor. Being an actor can be brutal).
Part and parcel of our showcases – where we presented scenes to casting directors in New York City, Los Angeles, and our hometown, Chicago – were alumni panels after each event. This was an opportunity for recent alumni of our program to impart wise words to the soon-to-be graduates.
During the New York alumni panel, I forget which alumnus said it, but I need to thank him:
“Audiobooks are a great way to survive and keep your acting chops up between bigger bookings.” To paraphrase.
Back on track
I was on my 7th or 8th restaurant job, having a fit of ‘Am I going to serve at restaurants forever?’ despair, and the memory of that panel returned to me. An epiphany.
So I bore the pain of recording in my sweltering Los Angeles apartment – a makeshift studio turned sauna. But then my break came.
Some Boston-based entrepreneur, who had nothing to do with the arts, was starting an audiobook agency and found my freshly uploaded samples by happenspace.
He liked my voice (enough) to hire me at the top rate. (Still a horrible rate. But it was the best I could do when just getting started.)
With my makeshift sauna / studio / closet and a clip-on microphone from Amazon Prime(d), I recorded my first audiobook. And that’s when I realized I had a knack for this and could apply my rigorous acting training and talent to it.
I won’t lie…. my first audiobook was shit. And it’s funny who I was replacing (due to other commitments he likely had).
But that mediocrity didn’t last long.
Because I soon upgraded my studio, and equipment, and began to record professionally.
Skipping over a lot for shorter blog purposes
In 2021, during the troughs of the pandemic, I recorded audiobooks while living (or being stuck?) in Korea (a story in its own right.)
But let’s get to the point of this blog.
During this time, I severely let a couple of authors and a fellow narrator down that year with late submissions – not a good reflection on my professionalism. I was even testy at times (tisk, tisk, Dan).
I could blame it on the anxiety and depression caused by global and environmental factors (I’m all good now), but I don’t want make excuses – I want to make it right.
In my 2025 comeback to audiobooks, I don’t just want to be better, I will strive to be one of the BEST – in narration quality AND customer service.
Goals:
Despite not doing my professional best that year, I continued building an impressive repertoire of audiobooks with thousands of high reviews, helping authors generate over $150k cumulatively in revenue.
But to me, those are ‘meh’ numbers.
I’m ready to level up.
This year, in 2025, I have my sights set on big voiceover goals:
- Regrow my fanbase
- Partner with bigger authors
- Help authors, at a minimum, 3x their audiobook sales (I’m now also equipped with marketing and copywriting expertise)
tl;dr: I will no longer squander my talent and training – I aim to build my audiobook narration business into a 6-figure enterprise starting this year.
Out of time, get to the point, Dan…
Feel free to periodically check in on this post as I will update my progress from time to time, and the methods I used to achieve it.
For now, I just launched my fresh audiobook page (the third one… such an idiot for deleting the other ones during my dark period in 2021).
If you’re an author or anyone else looking to hire me for commercial voiceover, I will give you a voiceover service par excellence.
(Yes, that’s an old phrase, but I think it sounds kind of badass.)
I’m not fucking around anymore. And I’m ready to absolutely kick ass this year expanding my voice acting business (and eventual publishing company).
Updates
Jan. 7th – wrote this blog, first booking of the year in progress (Romance title for high-selling author)
Jan 16th – booked $600 job from author partnership
February – Booked job and put on Dark Star Audio roster
March 1st – Booked role as video narrator for YouTube channel regarding anti-big pharma health solutions (cool)
