We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hallie Ricardo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hallie below.
Alright, Hallie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?
It depends on the day! There are some days when I have a great recording session or I get a love note from an author and it reminds me why I do this. And there are other days where I throw my hands up in the air and say, “That’s it! I’m done!” When those days turn into weeks or sometimes months, you contemplate switching to a career with more stability and financial security. For a long time, I’ve sacrificed financial affluence and job security for freedom. This was great for me in my twenties and early thirties, but once I started sailing towards forty, I realized that there are things I want out of life – kids, vacations, a home – that require consistent income. And the fact of the matter is that creative jobs rarely offer that. So how do I square that need for freedom with the desire for financial security? I don’t have the answer – this is why I have a therapist!
Hallie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I got my degree in Acting from The University of Southern California and spent my twenties and thirties auditioning for film and TV roles and teaching acting to kids and teens. While looking for more potential sources of income related to the acting field, I stumbled across a colleague’s Facebook page and saw that he was a narrator with a small audiobook producer here in Atlanta. So on a whim, I recorded a narration sample on my computer and sent it to the producers. They invited me to audition in the studio and a few months later I was recording my first audiobook!
Eight years later, I’ve recorded over 100 titles for some of the biggest publishers in the world, including Penguin Random House, Macmillan, Harper, and Hachette. I’ve recorded books for children and young readers, YA, Fantasy, Thrillers, Literary Fiction and yes, even some steamy Romance (I have a pseudonym for those books!) Now in addition to my narrating, I’m also directing audiobooks. I help guide authors through the process of narrating their audiobook and direct them on performance, technical requirements, and vocal care, all while steering the ship to make sure the finished product is an audiobook people will love. My latest project was with the incomparable Molly Fletcher for her book Dynamic Drive, a must listen for everyone who wants to positively change their mindset!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
There is a sense of guilt whenever you feel frustrated in a creative field. A part of your brain says, “You get to read books for a living! Quit complaining! Be grateful!” And I am grateful for what I do and proud that I’ve been able to carve out and grow this career for myself through my own determination and persistence! But, I’ve also learned not to shame the voice that complains when you have to go into the studio for a session when you’re tired or anxious or just don’t feel like it. That voice is valid too. Narration requires hours of staring at an iPad in tiny studio, reading as efficiently as possible. Our compensation structure pays us only for the final number of hours recorded, not for how many hours it actually takes you to read. A ten hour book could take twenty hours in studio, but we only receive ten hours worth of payment (it’s called a Per Finished Hour rate). So, it doesn’t pay to take long breaks and leisurely lunches. And we’re not just reading, we’re performing. It’s different than a stage or film performance, but it’s a performance nonetheless. It requires consistent energy, stamina, and brainpower. After a four or five hour session, I’m usually exhausted. My voice is tired, my eyes are strained, and my brain feels mushy. It’s a great job, but it is by no means an easy one. So I’ve learned to give myself credit for that endurance and give myself grace on the days when I’m not feeling particularly excited to narrate.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
People feel a deep connection to audiobooks. They love talking about them and learning about how they are made. Whenever I tell anyone about what I do, they immediately light up and ask me so many questions about the process. It’s the best icebreaker I’ve ever had at a party! I know what I do is small in the grand scheme of things, but I’m proud of my ability to bring stories to life and transport listeners to the world the author’s words and my performance create. I like to imagine that maybe somewhere out there, someone is listening to my voice and escaping their hectic day, calming their anxious nerves, engaging their imagination, or connecting to their humanity. And because of that, their life is a little bit better. That makes me feel good. That’s really one of the most important things we can hope for in this life, right? That we make the world a little bit better in whatever small way we can.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.halliericardo.com
- Instagram: @misshallie
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hallie-ricardo