Behind The Mic with Chad Erickson

Right now as you’re reading this, most likely Chad Erickson’s voice is somewhere on the airwaves. His fun and fresh approach to the radio imaging world is infectious. He’s been bit by the radio bug and we’ve been bit by the Chad bug!

1) What radio VO work have you done in the past? From WJBQ/Portland, ME to KBFF/Portland, OR and all points in-between. CKBE/Montreal, KQKE/San Francisco, MTV TRL Weekend Countdown, The Toronto Maple Leafs, WQAL/Cleveland and many more.

2) What are you up to presently? From Vancouver(CKZZ) to Virginia (WGH-FM). Dublin (Spin 103.8) to Des Moines (KPUL) 100+ super happy stations and counting.

3) What do you love about your job? To have the opportunity to work with some of the BEST PD’s and imaging people on the planet every day! I’ve been a radio guy my whole life and to serve as (in my opinion) the most coveted job on a single radio station; The STATION VOICE…Is just so awesome!

4) How did you get started as a VO actor? What was your first gig? Let’s flash back to my days in elementary school when I actually got bit by the “radio bug” and got to intern at the world famous KISS 108/Boston. That internship made my eyes “POP-OUT” at this amazing industry and instantly got me the opportunity to be on-air at WJYY/Concord, NH. After being on-air I really took to production and imaging and knew then that was what I wanted to do. I was working at WGIR in Manchester, NH as the night DJ and imaging guy and the hands down best Operations Director I have ever worked for, Todd Thomas, brought me to Hartford, CT as Creative Services Director. It was there I signed with the William Morris Agency and was one of the coveted featured voices on the famous (at the time) VOICES CD (pic attached..I KNOW you remember those CDS). Currently I am represented by the best Agency in the world, Atlas Talent and damn proud of it (Lisa and Ricky are standing by for your call, anytime)!

5) Have you ever had a voice coach? Would you recommend it? Absolutely had and have coach(es)(ed). You must continue to hone your craft and work at it constantly as it evolves. The business is changing every day and it’s important to always be one step ahead.

6) Who are your VO idols/mentors? Who influenced your work as a VO artist? Casey Kasem, Will Arnett, Brian James, Jeff Berlin, Keith Eubanks, Chris Corley, John Plessie, and of course the guy who voiced my favorite radio station “Kiss 1 oh HO HO HO 8”; Ernie “The Looove Boat”Anderson. Sorry, got a little excited.

7) What is your dream gig? Still, to host a live Television Event or Awards show. Come on important people…Are you reading this?? HIRE ME!!

8) Can you offer 3 helpful tips for newbies trying to make it in the voice-over industry? 1: Don’t quit your day job 2: Don’t take anything personally. Accept rejection and use it as fuel to do better 3: Audition your balls/tata’s off!

9) If you weren’t doing voiceover, what else do you think you’d be doing for a career? It would totally be to run a Blockbuster Video…But, we all know what happened to them. So, next; Financial Advisor or Finance Anything!

10) How do you schedule/prioritize your work? Sessions are booked daily to my studio schedule and radio is 1st come 1st served.

11) How much time do you spend auditioning for new work? Tons. Daily. You are only as good as the last promo you booked. I hammer new radio stations every day to audition me and part of my weekly work plan.

12) How do you market your services to potential clients? Sure I do fun tchotchkes and banners on-line because I love it. But, I find the most success the old fashion way…New business by recommendation. It starts with that “white-glove” service that each and every one of my affiliates gets. Fast, Instant and On Demand! Every client is treated as my number 1 client regardless of market size. If you make a commitment to me, I make it right back to you.

13) Which production system do you use and why? I’m only doing VO and no production so I am Adobe exclusively. Quick, Clean and easy!

14) What gear do you use? I have 2 studios that are 100% identical and a mobile rig: Sennheiser 416 shotgun mic, KRK Rokit 5 monitors, Avalon 737sp, Focusrite Liquid Chennel, Mackie 1402-VLZ3, Telos Zephyr Xstream all to my Cyber Power PC (from Costco…love that place) with (in my opinion) The best PC sound card ever, LYNX E22. When I travel I use the USB Yamaha MG10XU.

15) How has new technology changed the way you work? It allows me to travel and leave the house and work remotely which before was never an option.

16) What is the best voice processing trick or voice-over technique everyone should know? Honestly, the cleanest and less processed the better.

17) When it comes to VO work, studio & gear, what are your most ingenious methods/discoveries for saving time and cash? Learn to read waves. I record several stations in chunks and it’s amazing how your wave reading senses take over.

18) Do you have a different approach to reading radio imaging copy as opposed to TV/Radio commercial ads? Sure do! But, as my read has evolved over the years they do end up connecting and sharing some similarities.

19) What did it feel like the first time you heard your voice on the radio/television? Weird/Amazed/Excited while looking around at other peoples reactions… but at the same time very cool and grateful.

20) If you could go back to any decade and hang out which one would you go back to and why? 1990’s for sure. If I knew then what I know now…WOW. WATCH OUT WORLD.

21) If you could invite one person to dinner, living or dead, who would it be? John Candy.

22) What’s your guilty pleasure? MOVIES! I love the whole theater experience and am a total nut for 80’s Horror!

23) If you could travel anywhere in the world right now where would you go and why? I would love to visit Ireland with my family to take in all the beautiful sites and not to mention raise a few pints to my radio client friends at Spin 103.8 in Dublin. It’s been on my bucket list and who doesn’t love a business expense?