Tasmania is full of stories. History, wilderness, food and wine, art and community life all lend themselves to narration, whether it is an exhibition audio guide, a self-drive tour, a short documentary or a heritage interpretation project. For Hobart organisations telling those stories, the narrator is the guide visitors spend the most time with.

Narration is different from advertising

A commercial read is designed to grab attention in thirty seconds. Narration asks people to settle in and listen for minutes at a time. That calls for a different kind of voice: unhurried, warm, curious and easy to listen to. The best narrators sound as if they are sharing something they find genuinely interesting, rather than presenting or selling.

Respect the subject

Many Tasmanian stories involve sensitive history, including the experiences of Aboriginal Tasmanians and the convict era. Narration for this kind of material needs care in both the script and the delivery. Work with the appropriate community representatives and historians on the content, and brief your narrator on the tone. Where Aboriginal voices and perspectives are central to the story, consider whether those voices should be heard directly, and follow the guidance of the community involved.

Writing for audio guides

Audio guides and self-guided tours have a few special requirements:

• Keep each stop short. Visitors are standing, walking or driving. Shorter segments are easier to absorb.
• Refer to what is in front of them. "Look to your left" is more engaging than a general description.
• Give clear directions where needed, and keep safety in mind for driving or walking tours.
• Make every segment stand alone, because people will not always listen in order.

Pronunciation of local names

Tasmanian place names can be unfamiliar to people from elsewhere, and locals will notice immediately if they are said wrong. Provide a pronunciation guide covering place names, people's names and any Aboriginal words used, ideally confirmed by the relevant community or local experts. A recorded example is even better than a written guide.

Documentary narration

For documentaries, the narration usually ties together interviews, archival material and footage. It should support the story without dominating it. Recording a scratch track early, even with someone from your team, helps the editor shape the cut. The professional narration can then be recorded to the final picture for precise timing.

Planning for multiple languages and accessibility

Museums and tourism sites often welcome international visitors. If you plan to offer translations, write the English script with that in mind by keeping sentences clear and avoiding idioms. Transcripts and captions also make your content accessible to visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Working with a narrator remotely

Hobart projects do not need to fly talent in. Professional narrators can record in a studio while your team directs the session remotely, listening live and giving feedback on emphasis and pronunciation. This keeps costs down and lets your experts take part.

Let us help tell your story

We provide narrators and voice artists for museums, galleries, tour operators, documentary producers and community organisations in Hobart and across Tasmania. Request a free quote and let us know about your project.