Tom Test - Engaging, warm, real, energetic, wry, smooth

Engaging, warm, real, energetic, wry, smooth

• Tom Test is registered with Voice123 since Dec 29, 2006.
• Tom Test started his/her voice over career in 1989.
• Currently Tom Test is a Premium subscriber.
• Auditions and proposals submitted through Voice123 during the past six months: 80
• Tom Test has been active on Voice123 during the past 48 hours

Voice Description

My voice is mid-ranged, energetic, warm, authoritative, smooth OR textured, real (yes, I really can act!), cool, whimsical, ironic, friendly, engaging, fresh and versatile. I've performed everything from warm & authoritative to animated character voices to hip, ironic attitude copy to hard-sell retail. I'm in the 30-50 age range.

Among other industries/markets, I've had great success with health-care clients (e.g., my work for Mayo Clinic-owned Franciscan Skemp Hospital won a Telly, as have several of my other health-care clients); and retail (e.g., my work for Nebraska Furniture Mart broke all previous sales records).

Voice Genders and "Ages" I Can Perform

• Young Adult Male
• Middle Age Male

Language(s) of Which I Am a Native Speaker:

• English - North American

I Offer my Services for these Recording Purposes

• Commercials
• Promos
• IVR, voicemail, phone systems, and on-hold messages
• Training, business presentations, sales, and web sites
• Audiobooks
• Videogames
• Documentaries
• TV shows and movies
• Movie and game trailers
• Podcasts
• Others (on-camera, informercials, live announcers, spokespersons)

Jobs I Am Willing to Take (Union-wise)

• Non-Union Jobs

• Jobs for AFTRA (US) signatories

• Jobs for SAG (US) signatories

My Union Affiliations and Memberships

• AFTRA (US)

• SAG (US)

My Recording and Delivery Capabilities

• I will go to any designated studio in my area
• I have Phone Patch in my studio
• I can record and then deliver the audio files via Email
• I can record and then deliver the files by regular mail

Pre-, Post- and Production Services I Offer

• I offer copywriting services
• I can deliver edited and finished voice tracks
• I offer voice direction services
• I have a music library and can add music to any project

My Home Base

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Accents, Impersonations, Characters and Dialects

I can do a "sout' side Chicago" accent (think "Da Bears" skit from SNL). I can also do a generic "working class, Joe lunch-pail" type of read.

My Voice Experience

I've been one of the top male voice-over talents in the Midwest since 1989. I started my private studio Voices On in 2001 and have since voiced hundreds of projects, from web-based Flash animation to regional TV spots to college-level textbook PowerPoint narrations to Corporate Video narrations.

I've voiced quite a few Telly (and other) award-winning spots in my career, and have had dozens of Fortune 500 clients. I've also been a much-in-demand voice-over coach and demo producer.

Here are just a few other highlights from my 19-year VO career:

Scott Foresman - narrated "Reading Skills" and "Science" textbooks for grades 1-6

Dunkin' Donuts Race - played live at Chicago Bears games at Soldier Field, I also wrote the copy

Narrated 26 episodes of HGTV's "A Place to Call Home"

Voiced national TV spots for (among others): Coor's, Midas, Betty Crocker, Mott's Fruitsations, Novalis, Allegra, Oatmeal Raisin Crisp, AARP, and Time Warner Cable Business Class (currently running)

My Training

I've been coached by Marice Tobias from LA (THE top VO coach in the country, I was even her rep for the Midwest in the 90s). I owe my success primarily though, to the 4 years of bi-weekly practice groups I led in the mid-90's, where I really honed my craft. I was also a voice-over coach and demo producer for a decade (until I just got too busy as a talent). I'm also a graduate of the Player's Workshop Improv program, and have taken improv classes at Second City, and acting classes at the Audition Studio, Act One, and Victory Gardens.

Having a BBA in Marketing from the University of Michigan allows me to understand the business aspect of being a VO talent much better than the average actor or radio guy. And finally, my years of experience as a coach and demo producer taught me to approach copy with the eyes of a writer/producer, so my first read usually is exactly what the client is looking for.

My Studio Equipment

Mics: M-Audio Sputnik (compared to a U-87), Rode NTK, Heil PR-40 (better than an RE-20), an AKG 200 and a Kel M1.

I use a Mackie 1220 mixer with the renowned Onyx mic preamps, and Mogami cabling. This goes into an Echo Mia sound card, which resides in my custom-built audio editing PC. I use Sound Forge 9.0.

I have a sound booth, so there is never an issue with extraneous noise or echo. I get clean, smooth VO tracks.

I also have a few toys: e.g., Aphex 204 Aural Exciter, and am always playing with new equipment in a constant quest to improve my sound. I also have a JK Audio THAT-2 phone patch.

Additional Skills

My studio features excellent audio quality and a quick turnaround, at reasonable rates. Auditions are free of charge. Ask me about low rates for business pitches!