The least glamorous part of audiobook narration.

(Featuring a very dedicated audience)

As a professional audiobook narrator, I take vocal health and hydration very seriously. It’s one of those unglamorous but necessary parts of the voice-over (VO) world—right up there with XLR mic placement, keeping character voices consistent, and confidently pronouncing words I’ve only ever seen on the page.

Between managing room tone, wearing quiet clothing, and leaving those intentional pauses for the audio editing process, hydration plays a big role in getting a clean, click-free recording.

But—as every home studio voice actor knows—all that room-temperature water comes with a very predictable side effect:

Frequent trips to the bathroom.

What I didn’t anticipate when I started my voice-over career… was the audience.

Meet the “Production Crew”

Without fail—and I do mean without fail—the moment I step out of my soundproof vocal booth, the parade begins.

• Jack (The Studio Manager): My orange tabby, always first on the scene. Prompt. Reliable. As if this were a scheduled recording session he personally arranged.
• Sean (The Technical Director): My tuxedo cat, who appears quietly and takes up position nearby—like he’s monitoring levels I can’t see.
• Belle (The Hype Girl): My Black Lab, who doesn’t just show up—she commits. Fully. With the kind of enthusiasm that suggests she believes this is a team-building exercise.

In a professional home studio, you might expect a certain level of privacy.

In my house… it’s more of a group experience.

The Workflow of an Audiobook Narrator

At this point, I can only assume my pets believe this is a standard part of audiobook production—a necessary (if rarely discussed) step in the creative workflow.

The Daily Routine: Hydrate → Record → Edit → Reconvene in the bathroom.

In a profession that involves long stretches of solo recording, navigating pacing, character shifts, and the occasional tongue-twister, I have to admit—it’s kind of nice to have such a loyal little audience.

Even if their timing is… very specific.

I have a feeling I’m not the only indie narrator—or pet-loving creative professional—with this kind of “support system.”

Does your “studio audience” follow you everywhere too? I’d love to hear your stories—feel free to share or reach out. Let’s talk shop… and pets.