Audiobook Publishers Education and Training

Going after the education and training needed for a successful business publishing audiobooks

Audiobook publishers continue to enjoy a growing business thanks to their convenience, excellent voice actors/narrators, availability and vast selection. Sales for audiobooks have grown to more than $1 billion. Small, independent audiobook publishers and children’s audio book publishers can improve their competitiveness by taking advantage of existing training and education opportunities that keep them knowledgeable of the latest trends, news, technologies and techniques in the industry.

Audio books attract a broad spectrum of customers. Students can benefit from learning with audiobooks; busy people turn to audio books when they can't find time to sit down and read; blind people and many others can experience great literature through the talent of professional voice actors on audio books. Even with their popularity, publishers of audiobooks still face stiff competition from other audio book publishers. When considering a career publishing audiobooks, keep the following in mind:

1. Audiobook publishers education and training.

2. Training and education for voice actors entering the audiobook business.

3. Training and education opportunities for audiobook producers and graphic artists working for audiobook publishers.

 

Find education and training for audiobook publishers

Fortunately, you can find several professional trade organizations that offer training/education programs and events for publishers in the audio book business.
Try: The Audio Publishers Association, an organization created in 1987, publishes an industry events calendar you can use to find important events like the annual APA Conference. Consider the American Booksellers Association for keeping up with the industry through regional conferences/meetings, trade shows and other educational resources. Bookmark the Association of American Publishers as another source for important conferences and meetings, like those hosted by Professional Scholarly Publishing, a division of the AAP.

Get the right education and training to work as a voice actor for audio book companies

Simply owning a great voice won't get you a job as a voice actor for small publishers' audio books. Many have degrees related to performing arts. These actors work hard to develop their talent and put it to use, and audio book publishers prefer voice actors with experience.
Try: Edge Studio's Voice Design Group provides training through workshops, seminars and private coaching to help voice actors launch their careers. Learn more about the training provided by Such A Voice, a voice-over training and production company. Join Actor's Equity and take advantage of training programs and seminars offered by other professionals. Get an idea about the education, training and experience you need by visiting the Recorded Books Library website to learn about the backgrounds of some of its featured narrators.

Seek out educational opportunities for audiobook producers and others working in the industry

Training and education play important roles in your business's success and the ultimate success of those in your company who help in publishing audio books.
Try: As a producer for an audiobook publisher, you'll find plenty of educational opportunities in different venues offered by the American Book Producers Association. The ABPA sponsors luncheons, evening events and seminars designed to increase your knowledge of current trends in publishing and other topics of interest to book producers. Use Trew Audio's Book Nook to find educational books dealing with different aspects of audio book producing. An audiobook publisher also relies on knowledgeable graphic artists that can create eye-catching jackets for the finished audio book and writers that can craft audio book summaries that attract people to their books. Learn more about the educational events hosted by AIGA, formerly known as the American Institute of Graphic Arts, throughout the year.

 

• Read more about the courses, seminars, conventions and conferences sponsored by any of the industry trade associations mentioned above, regardless of your specific position with an audiobook publisher, since most of the organizations offer educational information for everyone involved with the audiobook business.
• Get some practice and work experience while enhancing your resume by volunteering with Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic or other audiobook publishers that serve the visually impaired.

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