MVO: The Voice-Over Guys’ likes to check-in with our male voice talents and today we talk with TOM TEST about a recent voiceover project he voiced.
1. Can you tell us about a recent voiceover project you’ve recently enjoyed working on? Who was it for?
I recently voiced a political TV spot for a candidate for Congress in NY, Ms. Zephyr Teachout. She had recently been dubbed by a major website as “the new face of the Bernie Sanders revolution,” and I was very impressed with her talk about specific ways to help out small businesses and make for a more fair marketplace. She is considered to be a rising star in the Democratic Party, so it’s a kick to be associated with her.
2. What was the project all about?
It was a totally positive message about Teachout’s legislative priorities, as well as her accomplishments in pushing back against the corrupting influence of big money.
3. How did the project come to you? Agent? Website? Past client?
I auditioned for this through my Milwaukee agent, though it turns out that one of the producers had worked with me many years ago – I suppose that helped my chances.
4. What was the most interesting or enjoyable part of this project for you?
The directions for the audition were a bit of a challenge for me. The script was pretty much bullet-point type writing, but I had to say these things not as an announcer/spokesperson – rather they wanted me to sound like a real person who knew the candidate personally (like a husband or friend), and was proud of her.
This gave me an opportunity to try out some new approaches to copy I learned at FaffCon 8 from LA Casting Director MaryLynn Wissner, about sounding more natural (even when the copy isn’t written in a natural way). I have to say, I felt really good about what I heard come out of my mouth in my audition! And obviously it worked, since I got the gig. I am so often booked for “warm and authoritative announcer,” so I’m always happy to get a job that is more “real.”
ABOUT MALE VOICE TALENT TOM TEST
Tom Test has been one of the top voice-over talents in the Midwest since 1989. He started my studio “Voices On” in 2003, and has since voiced hundreds of projects from web-based Flash animation to national TV spots to college-level textbook narrations to Corporate Video narrations. He has voiced quite a few Telly (and other) award-winning spots in my career, and has also been a much-in-demand voice-over coach and demo producer.
Tom can provide 24 hour or less turnaround and voice over file delivery service via MP3, WAV, AIFF, or whatever you require. His partial list of clients include: USAA, Shell, Accenture, 1-800-CONTACTS, Mercury Marine, United Airlines, Kraft, Samsung, Snapper/Simplicity Mowers, Eli Lilly, ITT, World Book Encyclopedia, Discover Card, International Trucks, Brightstar, Walgreen’s, Morgan Stanley, Allstate, Cox Cable, Kawasaki, and MANY more!
As a voice-over talent, Tom’s specialties include his warm yet authoritative read, which has been especially popular with health-care clients, with whom he has voiced several award-winning campaigns. Tom is NOT a radio announcer – he sounds like a REAL person, talking to you, telling you a true story.
He has a broadcast-quality recording studio, equipped with Source Connect and ipDTL for remote recording. He also has access to several low-cost ISDN studios in Chicago.
As an on-camera talent, Tom’s ear-prompter ability is what separates him from his competition. His first read is spot-on from the get-go, and he works extremely quickly.