Oct. 11, 2026
Tom's voiceover days
- Tom recalls how his distinctive voice caught people's attention at Brown Institute, leading him to pursue voiceover work in his early twenties.
- His first agent, Victoria, helped launch a career that took off almost immediately, with Tom quickly booking a full schedule of commercial work.
- Tom describes balancing his KQRS morning show with frequent trips to Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York to record commercials, often flying home in time for the next morning's broadcast.
- Bob remembers watching Tom record a Western Auto commercial perfectly in one take, something Tom says was common throughout his career.
- Tom explains how his natural reading ability, distinctive voice, and conversational delivery helped him stand apart from traditional booming radio announcers.
- The two discuss major advertising clients, including Target and Northwest Airlines, and the substantial money Tom earned through national commercials and residual payments.
- Tom shares memories of working alongside famous actors, encountering celebrities in New York, and building relationships throughout the entertainment industry.
- He reflects on the competitive Minneapolis voiceover market, the importance of unions, and how the industry has changed with the arrival of artificial intelligence.