Behind the Mic: Todd Leitz

My name is Todd Leitz, and I’m a voice actor who happens to be the Public Address Announcer for the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. I’ve been the voice of Dodger Stadium for 11 seasons now, and it’s kinduva dream job for a guy who loves baseball, and loves hearing himself speak. When I’m not at the stadium, I’m doing voice work for various clients. I’m proud to be on the talent roster at Benztown because I really enjoy doing radio imaging work. It’s a really good fit for my big, deep voice, and it feels very natural to bring the attitude and personality to the type of station I’m voicing for. I recently lost one of my big radio stations due to big, corporate radio group contract restructurings, so I’m ready to take on more stations, and look forward to working with YOU!

What radio VO work have you done in the past (stations/markets)?

My first radio job was at KFWB News 98 Los Angeles, for the Westinghouse Broadcasting Company in 1989. I had just gotten back from my honeymoon traveling around the world with my wife, and had decided that broadcast journalism would be my career. After a year as an Editorial Assistant in a big city newsroom, I was smitten with the immediacy and reality of radio news. I wanted to be on the air, so I accepted a job in the high desert area of LA County doing news and talk on a small local radio station. After three years, I became the news director and bureau chief at Metro Networks News and Traffic in Los Angeles. From there, I got a job at KNX 1070 Newsradio (now KNX News 97.1) and worked there for the next ten years as an anchor/reporter. I also did some on-air work for KLOS 95.5, KEarth 101, 790 KABC, among other stations in the LA market. (1989-2011)

What are you up to presently (freelance/on-staff at a station)?

I am the Public Address Announcer at Dodger Stadium, now in my 11th season as “The Voice of Dodger Stadium”. I’m the imaging voice of KBHI, “Rock 107”, Southeast Missouri’s Rock Station. I was recently the voice of WLAV Grand Rapids Michigan, a heritage rock station that’s been broadcasting the classic rock format for more than 50 years. Otherwise, I’m heard on radio if I’m being interviewed, or am a guest.

Check out Todd’s demos!

play

Commercial

play

Radio Imaging: Rock, News, Sports

play

Todd Leitz WLAV Demo

What do you love about your job?

I love the flexibility of being a voice actor, and working out of my home, and my voice booth. At Dodger Stadium, I love the excitement of the game of baseball and the roar of the crowd, and getting to announce the batters to rousing cheers from the fans.

How did you get started as a VO actor?

Probably from my work as a radio news anchor and reporter. We often voiced spots for the station, and it seemed natural to me to branch into VO on my own.

What was your first gig? Any memorable ones since then?

I honestly can’t remember my first VO gig, but my first Benztown station was WLAV in Grand Rapids Michigan, a heritage classic rock station that’s been doing the format for 50 years and counting. Great station, great people to work with, great copy to read for them. I look forward to another one like that.

Who are your VO idols/mentors?

Legendary Dodger Broadcaster Vin Scully is my idol. I got the chance to work with him for the final two years at Dodger Stadium, and he was such a pro, such a gentleman.

If you weren’t doing voiceover, what else do you think you’d be doing for a career?

If I hadn’t gotten into voice and broadcasting, I probably would have pursued a career in the fire service.

What did it feel like the first time you heard your voice on the radio/television?

Well, I know the first time I did a live report on KNX, I puked right before I went on the air, I was so nervous. But I had been on TV and movies back to the mid-80’s, so I’d seen and heard myself in that medium. But it’s always a thrill to hear one of your spots on the radio or tv or streaming.

How has new technology changed the way you work?

Big time … I have everything I need right here in my own studio. I don’t have to run around town doing auditions or going to studios to do a session. SourceConnect has been a tremendous boon to this changing industry.

What gear do you use on the road? In your studio?

I was one of the first to get my hands on a PASport VO interface by Centrance and Pro Audio Podcast guys. It’s a fantastic little unit that allows me to switch between two different mics and has a separate comms channel for the client, or engineer, or whoever else is listening in. My favorite mic is my Sennheiser MKH 416, and I also use an AKG C-414 XLII large diaphragm condenser. Occasionally I’ll break out the Shure SM7b. I can just take all that on the road with me, if necessary.

Todd’s Studio Setup!

Which production system do you use and why? Any favorite plugins?

My DAW is Presonus. It’s more suited for music production – and I do a little of that – but I’ve just become very familiar with it, and the digital editing has become second-nature, so I stick with it. I don’t use too many plug ins because most of what I do I send to my clients and they do all the soundscape elements.

Have you ever had a voice coach? Would you recommend it?

I have, and I would recommend it. Getting experienced, objective ears on your reads is crucial to getting better at what you do.

How do you schedule/prioritize your work? How much time do you spend auditioning for new work?

I try not to spend too much time on any one audition. I just do them how I think I could do the read for them, and hope that the client likes it. I just follow the specs, give them a taste of that … and if I have another idea for an approach, I’ll give them that too.

How do you market your services to potential clients?

Mostly through my agents, managers, and other representatives (such as the folks at Benztown). People also seek me out through my website or social media to do jobs for them.

Do you have a different approach to reading radio imaging copy as opposed to TV/Radio commercial ads?

Well, I try to be the same guy for each radio station I’m doing the imaging for. That’s the voice and approach they hired. For me, radio imaging is a perfect fit for my big, bassy, booming voice, and it’s fun to put an edge of sarcasm and attitude on it.

Can you offer 3 helpful tips for newbies trying to make it in the voice-over industry?

Don’t get bogged down in the equipment. Start with a decent mic and a good audio interface, and a good place to record. Then, build on that as you get work. You don’t need a Neumann U87 when you’re just starting out. A simple USB mic might do the job for a newbie. And record record record yourself, so you get very comfortable with the sound of your own voice.

If you could go back in time and hang out in any decade, which one would you go back to and why?

I might go back to the 1930’s because I love the style and design of those times, despite the depression. I would also like to revisit my childhood days, growing up in the 70’s. Those were good, simple days.