How To Make Your Audiobook Auditions Stand Out

Audiobook auditions are your chance to show an author, producer, or casting director what you can bring to a story. But a strong audition is about more than a great voice or decent mic.

Preparation matters.

Following directions matters.

Acting choices matter.

Even something as simple as naming your audition file can make a difference.

You can’t control who else is auditioning or exactly what the casting team is looking for., but you can control the quality of the audition you submit.

So, how do you give yourself the best possible chance? Here are some practical steps you can take to create stronger, more professional audiobook auditions.

Read Everything Before You Audition

Before you record anything, read all the information you were given.

That sounds obvious, but audition listings often include important details beyond the audition script. You might receive character descriptions, performance direction, pronunciation notes, technical requirements, file-naming instructions, or details about what the producer wants to hear.

Pay particular attention to instructions about accents, character choices, audio processing, file format, and deadlines.

Following directions is part of the audition.

Before you begin recording, make sure you understand both the material and what you're being asked to submit.

Research the Book and Author

Take a few minutes to learn what you can about the book and author. If the book has already been published in print or ebook, read the description or look at the author’s website. Learn about the genre, setting, intended audience, and major characters.

You can look at other books from that author to get an idea of their writing style or check out reviews to see what readers like about the book/author. This can help inform your audition choices.

You aren't trying to spend hours researching every audition, just looking for enough context to make informed choices in your audition.

Don't Cold Read Your Audition

Your audiobook audition isn't the time to show how well you can cold read.

Prep the script.

Read through the entire audition before you record. Identify the characters, understand what is happening in the scene, look up unfamiliar pronunciations, and mark anything that might trip you up.

Ask yourself what happened immediately before the scene and what each character wants. Sometimes the audition excerpt will include more text than what they want to hear; take this opportunity to read everything to yourself before recording the indicated section. Look for emotional shifts rather than simply deciding how each line should sound.

A little preparation allows you to spend your recording time performing rather than figuring out the text as you go. You can connect better with the text if you are prepared for what’s coming.

Make the Beginning Strong

Casting professionals or authors may be listening to dozens or even hundreds of auditions for a project. Give them a reason to keep listening.

This means your first few seconds matter!

Don't save your strongest acting choice for two minutes into the sample. Be connected to the story from the first sentence.

This doesn't mean you should make the opening bigger, louder, or overly dramatic to grab attention. Your performance still needs to serve the text. Instead, make sure you're fully engaged from the moment you begin.

Your first 20 seconds or so should sound like you're already inside the story, not like you're warming up to it.

*Tip: Sometimes you might click into the piece halfway through recording; if you feel that shift, finish the read and then immediately go back to the beginning and record with that same energy.

Share a Genuine Connection to the Project When Appropriate

Sometimes something about a book makes you particularly well-suited to narrate it. Maybe the story takes place in your hometown. Perhaps you have professional experience with the subject matter. You might have familiarity with a sport, hobby, culture, historical period, or setting that is central to the book. Or you may already be a genuine fan of the author's work.

If the audition process gives you an appropriate place to include that information, mention it briefly.

The key is that the connection should be genuine and relevant. You don't need to manufacture a personal story for every audition.

Your performance should still be the primary reason you're considered for the project, but relevant experience or a meaningful connection to the material can provide helpful context about what you bring to the project.

Deliver Professional Audio

Your audition is also a sample of what it will be like to receive your audio.

Generally speaking, you should record your audition in the space you plan to record the book in. If, for example, you are on vacation but would still like to submit, record it on your phone, but be sure to tell the casting director the circumstances. If you haven’t auditioned for them before, you can include a sample of something recorded in your normal recording space so they can hear your professional setup.

No matter where you record the audition, listen back before submitting. Listen for distracting background noise, clipping, plosives, mouth noise, or anything else that makes it difficult to focus on your performance.

If provided, follow the technical specifications included with the audition. Each client is different, but make sure it’s a clean, quality recording whether it’s mastered or not.

Your goal is for the listener to focus on your storytelling, not your recording environment.

Label Your Audition Correctly

File naming isn't glamorous, but small details show professionalism.

If the casting instructions give you a naming convention, use it exactly.

If they don't, use a clear, professional filename that makes it immediately obvious who you are and what project the audition is for.

Step Away Before You Submit

You finish your audition, it sounds great, and you can’t wait to send… but don't send it just yet!

If your deadline allows, step away for a little while and come back with fresh ears. When you come back, listen to the entire audition from beginning to end.

Don't edit, just listen.

Ask yourself: Am I engaged? Does the opening work? Are the characters grounded? Is there anything distracting me from the story?

You may discover that your first take was better than your third or vice versa. You may hear a sentence that needs another pass. Or you may realize it's completely ready to go.

Fresh ears can be one of your most valuable audition tools.

Do a Final Submission Check

Before you hit send, take one final minute to check the basics.

Make sure you've included the correct file, used the requested filename, followed the technical specifications, and included any additional information requested in the audition instructions.

Then send it.

There will always be something you could change if you listen another fifteen times. At some point, you have to trust your preparation and performance skills and just send it.

Audition and Move On

Once you've submitted your audition, move on to the next thing.

You may book the project. You may receive feedback. You may hear nothing at all.

Countless reasons might lead someone else to be selected, and none have to do with whether your audition was "good." The author may have imagined a different vocal quality. The publisher may already know another narrator. Another performer may fit that particular character or project more closely.

Your job is to submit the strongest audition you can, not to control the casting decision.

Treat each audition as a chance to practice, make strong acting choices, and show what it's like to work with you professionally.

What Makes a Strong Audiobook Audition?

A strong audiobook audition is a mix of preparation, connected storytelling, clean audio, and professionalism.

Be sure to read all instructions, prep instead of cold reading, make intentional acting choices, and be connected from the first line.

Then follow the technical requirements and label your files correctly. Submit when you're confident in the work.

You can't guarantee that any individual audition will turn into a booking.

But you can make sure every audition represents the narrator you want authors, producers, and casting directors to remember.

Booked the book? Let Pozotron Help You Prepare!

Congratulations! Now it's time to bring the full story to life. From pronunciation research and character voice tracking to script preparation and audio proofing, Pozotron helps you spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time doing what you do best: storytelling.

Get Started with Pozotron →