Author Topic: Audition to read for Escape Pod?  (Read 7967 times)

Jim

  • HP Lovecraft's 275,892nd biggest fan.
  • Matross
  • ****
  • Posts: 191
on: March 06, 2007, 04:47:05 PM
Is there a way to audition to read for Escape Pod, maybe get on a backup list for when the regular readers are unavailable?

My imaginary omnipotent friend is more real that your imaginary omnipotent friend.


SFEley

  • Hipparch
  • ******
  • Posts: 1408
    • Escape Artists, Inc.
Reply #1 on: March 06, 2007, 08:01:12 PM
Is there a way to audition to read for Escape Pod, maybe get on a backup list for when the regular readers are unavailable?

There is no "audition" process per se.  What you need is to have an established body of audio online -- somewhere I can hear your voice and determine if you have good delivery and sound quality, and judge which stories you'd be good at reading based on the character of your voice.  If you have that, you can send me an e-mail and point me to somewhere I can listen.

In practice, we're now dealing with podcasters and voice actors almost exclusively.  I haven't made that an official policy at this time, because I've been known to make exceptions, but it does make it easier to trust that they have some experience with recording themselves and editing sound.

I hope that's helpful, though I'm sorry if it isn't the answer you wanted to hear.

ESCAPE POD - The Science Fiction Podcast Magazine


Jim

  • HP Lovecraft's 275,892nd biggest fan.
  • Matross
  • ****
  • Posts: 191
Reply #2 on: March 06, 2007, 09:12:32 PM
Steve, don't you ever get tired of going around bursting people's bubbles?   :'( (  :P )

My imaginary omnipotent friend is more real that your imaginary omnipotent friend.


SFEley

  • Hipparch
  • ******
  • Posts: 1408
    • Escape Artists, Inc.
Reply #3 on: March 06, 2007, 09:25:07 PM
Steve, don't you ever get tired of going around bursting people's bubbles?   :'( (  :P )

There is a definite way around it, you know.  Start a podcast, then let me know when it's been going for a while.  As I've proven, any goofball can do it.  >8->


ESCAPE POD - The Science Fiction Podcast Magazine


sayeth

  • Palmer
  • **
  • Posts: 53
    • Free Listens
Reply #4 on: March 09, 2007, 09:02:54 PM
Another possible option to get examples of your voice reading Sci-Fi would be to read a book or story for Librivox.  In case you haven't heard of it yet, they accept volunteers to read books in the public domain:

1. Go to Project Gutenberg's Sci-Fi bookshelf and pick a public domain book or story: http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Science_Fiction_%28Bookshelf%29
2. Post on the forum at www.librivox.org, introducing yourself and stating what you're intending to read.
3. Record yourself and post the file to your contact at Librivox. If you don't know how to record and edit audio, there are some tutorials around the web. Audacity is a decent free program for recording and editing.
4. I suppose then you'll have to contact Escape Pod with your audio samples.

If you're into listening, they've got some H.G. Wells, H. Beam Piper, and H.P. Lovecraft, as well as one Philip Jose Farmer novel and one Lester Del Ray novel.

Free Listens Audio Reviews: www.freelistens.blogspot.com


DarkMagess

  • Extern
  • *
  • Posts: 1
Reply #5 on: March 15, 2007, 08:23:36 PM
What if there's a podcaster that I'd like to hear read stories but may not even know you exist? :)




SFEley

  • Hipparch
  • ******
  • Posts: 1408
    • Escape Artists, Inc.
Reply #6 on: March 15, 2007, 08:25:47 PM
What if there's a podcaster that I'd like to hear read stories but may not even know you exist? :)

Tell them about Escape Pod!  >8->

ESCAPE POD - The Science Fiction Podcast Magazine


Nobilis

  • Peltast
  • ***
  • Posts: 156
    • Nobilis Erotica Podcast
Reply #7 on: March 18, 2007, 02:31:25 AM
Here's my podcast, Steve, I'd like to read for Escape Pod now and again...

http://nobilis.libsyn.com

And no, I don't have to be reading stuff that's like what I have on my podcast.



Thaurismunths

  • High Priest of TCoRN
  • Hipparch
  • ******
  • Posts: 1421
  • Praise N-sh, for it is right and good!
Reply #8 on: March 19, 2007, 04:46:58 PM
Here's my podcast, Steve, I'd like to read for Escape Pod now and again...

http://nobilis.libsyn.com

And no, I don't have to be reading stuff that's like what I have on my podcast.
I'm going to guess this stuff is NWS huh?

How do you fight a bully that can un-make history?


VBurn

  • Peltast
  • ***
  • Posts: 91
  • I am just an egg
Reply #9 on: March 21, 2007, 02:43:58 AM
Help out my i-ignorance here "NWS" means...?

a guess is "not worth sittingdownfor"



SFEley

  • Hipparch
  • ******
  • Posts: 1408
    • Escape Artists, Inc.
Reply #10 on: March 21, 2007, 03:17:24 AM
Help out my i-ignorance here "NWS" means...?

"Not work safe."


ESCAPE POD - The Science Fiction Podcast Magazine


Nobilis

  • Peltast
  • ***
  • Posts: 156
    • Nobilis Erotica Podcast
Reply #11 on: May 30, 2007, 08:52:01 PM
Isn't the usual acronym "NSFW"?



BrandtPileggi

  • Matross
  • ****
  • Posts: 192
    • My website: awesomeology.org
Reply #12 on: May 30, 2007, 11:19:11 PM
Mark my words. One day, I will read a story for EP and Steve will point to this post right here and say, "I hadn't heard him yet. But I knew I was in the presence of a voice STUD!"




Then everyone will complain about 'that story' that was read by not Steve.



And I'll cry a little on the inside



plantedbypiggies

  • Extern
  • *
  • Posts: 13
  • Oink!
Reply #13 on: May 31, 2007, 02:21:12 AM
Hey Steve,

I'm interested in helping out, if you don't mind. I am not a podcaster, but I am a radio announcer. I've once did professional narration for the U.S. military, for some training materials.

If you want me to read a passage and then send it to you, I'd be more than glad to do so.

Also, I'm not exactly sure when I'll be doing this, but I'll be doing some fill in voice work at a college radio station this summer. I could let you know when I'll be on air and you can listen online.
« Last Edit: May 31, 2007, 02:24:50 AM by plantedbypiggies »



Listener

  • Hipparch
  • ******
  • Posts: 3187
  • I place things in locations which later elude me.
    • Various and Sundry Items of Interest
Reply #14 on: June 01, 2007, 02:44:28 PM
Is there a way to audition to read for Escape Pod, maybe get on a backup list for when the regular readers are unavailable?

There is no "audition" process per se.  What you need is to have an established body of audio online -- somewhere I can hear your voice and determine if you have good delivery and sound quality, and judge which stories you'd be good at reading based on the character of your voice.  If you have that, you can send me an e-mail and point me to somewhere I can listen.

In practice, we're now dealing with podcasters and voice actors almost exclusively.  I haven't made that an official policy at this time, because I've been known to make exceptions, but it does make it easier to trust that they have some experience with recording themselves and editing sound.

I hope that's helpful, though I'm sorry if it isn't the answer you wanted to hear.

Do fill-in podcasters who used to be radio news and traffic broadcasters count?  I e-mailed you a couple of weeks ago with a link to the podcast I'd been filling in on.  I'll probably be a permanent part of it in the fall, once the cohost finishes moving to Las Vegas and they get back to a more regular schedule.

And if anyone wants to listen to the podcast -- because, you know, it's kind of funny -- http://golfwidow.podomatic.com.

"Farts are a hug you can smell." -Wil Wheaton

Blog || Quote Blog ||  Written and Audio Work || Twitter: @listener42


Planish

  • Hipparch
  • ******
  • Posts: 772
  • Fun will now commence.
    • northernelectric.ca
Reply #15 on: July 12, 2007, 03:14:00 AM
Another possible option to get examples of your voice reading Sci-Fi would be to read a book or story for Librivox.  In case you haven't heard of it yet, they accept volunteers to read books in the public domain:

1. Go to Project Gutenberg's Sci-Fi bookshelf and pick a public domain book or story: http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Science_Fiction_%28Bookshelf%29
2. Post on the forum at www.librivox.org, introducing yourself and stating what you're intending to read.
*shameless OT plug*
Absolutely. We can always use more readers.

However...

The better way is probably to ease into it by starting with a few smaller projects, like a couple of chapters in a collaborative reading of a novel (pick one from http://librivox.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=2 ), or some poetry for a collection or other shorter work (http://librivox.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=19 ).

If you're into listening, they've got some H.G. Wells, H. Beam Piper, and H.P. Lovecraft, as well as one Philip Jose Farmer novel and one Lester Del Ray novel.
Also three (two novels, one short story) by Andre Norton, two of Burrough's Barsoom novels, two by Lord Dunsany, Henry James' Turn of the Screw, Alan E. Nourse's Star Surgeon, Mary Shelly's Frankenstein, Bram Stoker's Dracula, seven by Jules Verne, and The Romance of Rubber by the United States Rubber Company.
Well, okay, maybe the last one is not the most popular one, and not much to do with SF/Fantasy/Horror.

Some time this Fall, I'll probably have finished my first solo project, Harry Harrison's "Planet of the Damned" - http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9218

We're not all that fussy. See "What if I Suck?" http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=37
We're not all that professional either. See "Bloopers" http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3020

I feed The Pod.
("planish" rhymes with "vanish")