Mike Lenz interviews voice actro and audiobook narrator Tom Jordan.
I started voiceovers in 1994 – before the internet. I did some computer-based-training voiceovers that paid the rent for a few months, but was living and working in Long Beach, CA and these were the days before people had in-home studios, so whenever I had to audition, I had to drive to LA – in LA traffic! It just didn’t seem worth it at the time.
Fast-forward to 2002 and the internet now allows home studios and emailing MP3s – a huge breakthrough. I start soliciting my VO skills to local cable TV providers – ones that had in-house video production. Got several gigs around the nation – mom and pop stores, mostly – TV and radio gigs. This was fun, but three kids and a full time job took priority.
I had done corporate narration in addition to copywriting as my day gig for several years and, in May 2016 finally decided to turn my VO experience into something that could feed me in retirement – still many years off, but I needed to start somewhere. I hire a coach, Terry Daniel, and do a number of workshops, practice, practice, etc… Cut my demos in February. Apply to ACX in April and get hired within three days to do a six book romance series. Baptism by fire! I was approached by AB2 Talent in May and joined their roster. And now here I am. Networking and social media marketing daily and also meeting people in person. I’m the organizer of Orange County Voice Acting, which I started in January. We have 150 members now. It’s a lively group of newbies and VO pros. I’m having a total blast and love to share what I can with people who are actively pursuing a the VO adventure.
