Can You Go from Radio to Voice Acting? Here’s My Answer

By Jim Fronk, Voice Actor and Former Radio Guy with a Collection of Coffee Mugs and Questionable Promo Tees

Let me start by saying this: if you’ve ever juggled a caller giveaway, a malfunctioning soundboard, and a sales rep breathing down your neck all before 9 AM… congratulations, you have what it takes to be a voice actor. Or a stunt driver. Possibly both.

I spent two and a half decades in radio. That’s right. More than 25 years of “hitting the post,” battling snowstorms to get to the studio at 4 AM, and pretending I was thrilled to give away backyard furniture during “Summer Sizzle Week.” Somewhere between producing ads, scheduling music logs, and being asked to “sound younger but also more trustworthy,” I realized… there was more to the voice world than weather updates and last-minute car wash promos.

So I leapt from radio into voice acting. Turns out, years of writing, voicing, and producing commercials gave me a weirdly perfect head start. But I still had a lot to learn.

Radio Was Wild. In the Best Way.

Radio introduced me to some amazing people. I’m talking about true legends in entertainment, music, and media. Over the years, I got to meet more celebrities than I can count. And yes, I even got to moderate a live Q and A on stage with William Shatner. Nothing prepares you for that moment quite like years of live remotes outside mattress stores.

Microphones Are a Rabbit Hole

In radio, you get one mic. Maybe two if your station has a promotions budget bigger than a peanut. In VO? You start comparing microphones like people compare fantasy football teams. The first time someone asked if I preferred a 416 or a U87, I just nodded confidently and hoped they didn’t notice I was Googling under the desk.

Eventually, I got trained. I built a booth. I learned how to self-direct. And yeah, I now own microphones that sound so good they almost make me forget how much I paid for them.

Give Me the Energy

While I have a special love for retail commercials — the fast-paced, high-energy kind that make your heart race like a clearance sale countdown — I also found a passion for animation and audio dramas. If a character has a weird accent or an emotional arc or bursts into flames in Act Two, I am all in.

Voice acting gave me the space to explore characters, emotion, comedy, even the occasional villainous laugh. And I get to do it all without changing out of pajama pants. Win-win.

The Rejections Are Real. But So Is the Radar.

Not every audition lands. I’ve been one of the last few actors considered for some major jobs, and I watched them go elsewhere. But I know I was heard. And being heard puts you on the radar of the people who will call you back later. Sometimes much later. Sometimes right before dinner. With a line like, “We need this in 30 minutes. No pressure.”

It’s a ride. And I love it.

Radio Skills That Made Me VO-Ready

• Timing. If you can talk up a song intro without crashing the lyrics, you can time a 15 second spot like a champ.

• Stamina. Morning drive shifts trained me to stay sharp, even when my coffee forgot to kick in.

• Thick Skin. If you survived being critiqued live on air, you can survive a casting note or seven.

• Fast Turnaround. I used to record, edit, tag, and schedule multiple spots before lunch. Now? I deliver clean audio before you even open the project brief.

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Brand, Business, and a Booth

One thing radio did not teach me? How to be my own brand. In radio, the station is the identity. As a voice actor, you are the brand. Your sound. Your site. Your demos. Your vibe. Even your email signature font says something about you.

Now I run my VO business full-time, coach others on how to create their own websites through www.websitesforvo.com, and host The Microphone Insider (www.themicrophoneinsider.com) podcast where we nerd out on gear, giveaways, and stories from behind the mic.

Would I go back to radio? Only for a morning show that starts at noon and comes with a nap break.

Thinking About the Jump?

If you’re a radio broadcaster thinking about taking the leap into voiceover, here’s the truth — you’re probably more prepared than you think. Your instincts are solid. Your experience matters. And your voice still has stories to tell.

And if you ever need someone to talk you through your first booth setup, your first demo, or your first post-audition panic spiral, I’ve got your back. And probably an extra XLR cable.

Let’s Stay Connected🎤 www.jimfronk.com🎙 The Microphone Insider Podcast – Streaming now📘 Build your own VO website at www.websitesforvo.com

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