Today we’d like to introduce you to Trevor Johns.
Hi Trevor, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started out as a funny kid. I would do imitations of celebrities, family members, teachers, etc. When I got to high school I would do the Friday morning announcements over the school intercom… usually in the voice of one of our beloved teachers. I did my first stand-up comedy act in high school. Years later after college (Go Dawgs!) I took The Jeff Justice Comedy Workshop…twice! You learned to write a 5-minute act and got to graduate at the Punchline Comedy Club in front of an audience. I loved it! Started doing open mic nights around Atlanta. This was all early ’90. In ’92/’93, an opening came about as a sidekick on WSB AM 750’s afternoon drive-time show…The Hometown Radio Show. I auditioned and got the gig. It was a nonpolitical, fun-loving, local, topical radio show. I was myself and also did character voices on the show.
Since it was AM radio, I didn’t think anyone would hear me unless the power went out and they had to get out their battery-operated radio. I was wrong. Apparently, this little AM station had a broad reach. With the exposure I got on the radio a local agent reached out to me to audition for The Georgia Lottery…brand new to town. The lottery was very good to me and I was a part of many lottery ads from the very 1st commercial, “Cash Three”, to on-camera as “Instant Woman”. (https://youtu.be/hvla_2mXPy8)
In the middle of all this, I got promoted to AM 750’s sister station B98.5 FM. I was doing Morning Drive time now as the sidekick. Never got used to that schedule!
My husband listened to me on the radio and came out to a live remote to see what I looked like. So I married a stalker. I stuck with radio for a little while longer all the while doing voiceover on the side. I transitioned full-time from radio to voiceover ’97/’98. It has been the best job ever! I started teaching Beginner Voiceover Intensive at Atlanta Voiceover Studio shortly after they opened. Teaching was not a skill I realized I had. Unlike my family, the students actually listen to me and take my direction! I don’t know that I’ll ever stop working.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has mainly been a smooth road. Yes, there have been slow times and jobs I wished I had gotten but didn’t. A good community helps weather that. I have had to be flexible and able and willing to learn new things. When I started, you were ‘just’ talent. Today you need engineering skills, marketing skills, negotiation skills and the realization that you are a small business. You are the Mom and the Pop. The competition is heavy in today’s market.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My favorite part of voiceover is the creative decisions you get to make to bring the copy to life. My strengths are the natural/real friendly read. So I can be the best girlfriend who keeps it real to the warm and caring mom-type read. This natural/real read is also something I use with a corporate copy to make dull, boring copy more interesting to the listener.
My absolute favorite lane to ride in is developing a character. The ability to change my voice is something that sets me apart. I can change my voice and sound different than my normal speaking voice. I watch a lot of TV and I’m very observant of people around me. I do great southern accents, an amazing New Yorker and a few more.
Here is one of my current character spots https://youtu.be/hvla_2mXPy8 I’m the mom bear for Scana Energy.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future include working, teaching, and coaching. I love to direct. I am writing more so I hope to continue with that. Big changes for me include getting used to being an empty nester. I think I’ll probably get a puppy to help with that.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.trevorjohnsvoiceovers.com
Image Credits
Head shot by Shayr Guthrie Photography
