Upcoming Workshops
   (for  Experienced & Emerging narrators)

How to Create a Compelling Demo: (Put your best performance forward)

Self-Directing: (Actable directions for narrating without a director )
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for additional information, email me at: [email protected]

Upcoming Workshops:

TBA

Third-person and 'Feeling' Book prep


Payment options:
Paypal (use email: [email protected]) 
Venmo: @Paul-Ruben-2 
Mail: to Paul Ruben: 380 15th St. #1E, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Please email me if you'd like to know of a cancellation.
TBA 


​Self-Directing: Hiring you to direct you

The Workshop’s Purpose:  Discussing and rehearsing actable self-directions in order to establish and maintain a compelling performance. 
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Who This Workshop Is For: Experienced or emerging narrators seeking actable self-directions that quickly serve to address various performance issues and concerns.
 
Many home-studio narrators, or those just working with an engineer, are challenged by trying to keep a performance-ear on their narration in the midst of recording: the function of a director. In my decades of directing for every major audiobook publisher, I’ve come to rely on multiple, ‘actable’ directions that narrators can employ while recording or after briefly listening back to their narration. These self-directions quickly address and correct a given performance concern.

This workshop’s goal is to identify common performance concerns and apply actable solutions that serve to maintain a compelling performance.
  
 4 Hour, 4 Person Workshop

Limited to 4 participants: Remote. Narrator home-studio required.

Generally, emphasis on fiction and non-fiction self-direction. However, given the small group we can narrow our focus in advance to better meet everyone's needs. 


Creating a Compelling Demo: Putting your best performance forward
 
The Workshop’s Purpose: Creation of a more compelling audiobook demo that maximizes narrators' job opportunities.  
 
Who This Workshop is For: Emerging narrators. Experienced narrators interested in ‘upgrading’ their existing audiobook demos
 
Narrators’ demo selections are their instant impression. Busy industry producers and casting directors regularly receive tens, if not hundreds of invitations, to ‘listen to my demo’. After a selection (or two), anything less than a positive impression may find the listener scrolling through one or two more. Still less than positive? Very likely: ‘On to the next demo.’
 
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General Narrators' Workshop

Purpose: To practice and reinforce performance skills that assist in creating compelling storytelling.

Small Groups—Intensive Practice
 
Group workshops are limited in number. Why? 

  • To maximize participants’ opportunity to review, practice and reinforce what they have learned while those discoveries are still fresh.
  • To maintain focus on observing other participants by insuring time between coaching sessions is brief. 
  • To provide ample opportunity to learn from a diverse group as they work with Paul.
 
What each workshop member can expect:

  • Multiple in-the-booth opportunities to narrate while being coached by Paul
  • Acquire and practice specific storytelling tools that create compelling narration, and assist each participant in becoming a more competitive and compelling narrator. 
 
In the Booth: The audiobook workshop To-Do List.

  • Fiction: First and Third Person: Focus in similarities and differences between each narrative voice
  • Dialogue: Focus on playing opposite gender, including age and accents, character voices, and most importantly, speaking like a real person.
  • Non-fiction: (first and third person) How to turn the author’s voice into the narrator’s.

Testimonials from Workshop Participants:


​Paul is the only mentor I trust to actually give me legitimate feedback in a coaching session, other than "that was great;" in every single read, he helps each participant tweak and finesse their passages, and the results can be felt immediately by everyone in the room, not just the person reading. His mantras remain in my head long after the workshop has ended, and his guidance always improves my performance. I've learned so much from Paul, and can't wait for his next workshop opportunity! 
– Marni Penning
Award-winning audiobook narrator and actor


Your obvious respect and genuine affection for actors is so refreshing and greatly appreciated. My sincere gratitude for sharing your expertise, and love of storytelling. You clearly love what you do and it shows in the amount of joy I took in being your student. It’s been a pleasure learning from you and a privilege to get to know you.
-Chris Delaine
You helped me immensely and I feel that I am now listening to narration with a different ear. You have a gift and I’m so glad you’re interested in teaching. Take it from one who teaches.
-Sherri Berger

Thank you again for an incredible, informative, inspiring six weeks. You imparted such wonderful wisdom about doing audio books that I will take with me forever. I learned so much week to week.
-Jay Russell