10 Questions with ... Randy Thomas

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I began my radio personality career in Detroit at WWW and then WRIF. Then WPLJ/New York, Zeta 4 WAXY 106, and WSHE/Miami; then KMET, KMPC, The Edge, K-LITE, KTWV The Wave in Los Angeles. I left radio and began doing a full-time voice-over career after my first Academy Awards in 1993.

1) What Got You Interested In Radio?

I was a geeky kid who loved music, followed Top 40 radio, and loved the Boss Jocks. I listened to my transistor radio at night in Miami and I remember hearing WABC at night.

Years later, I was studying acting in New York when I heard the first woman on the radio playing Rock N' Roll. That was Allison Steele on WNEW in 1972. I went home to Detroit and I was on the radio within a year doing my own radio show.

2) Who do you consider your radio mentors?

There are so many people! Larry Berger, Don Schuster, Ken Rundell, Corrine Baldassano, Rick Shaw, Sam Bellamy, Chris Brodie and Jim Ryan, Kevin Gershan, Rich Meyer and Steve Lehman.

3) What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?

I would probably be a teacher. But I'm not sure I would have survived the 70's if it wasn't for radio. I began as a teenager during a time when many of my friends were lost to drugs. Thank G-d for radio!

4) What is it about your voice work that makes it stand out?

I understand the needs of radio having spent my formative years on the air. As a branding and imaging expert, I know that what their local challenges are and I can help them because I have been there.

If a station is using my imaging, I hope that my voice will help them stand apart from the competition.

5) How are you using new music technologies to work with the music you program on your station, in production, and in your personal life?

In my world I am living on the Gulf Coast of Florida working in my recording studio that I built when we designed and built our home here. I utilize many of the latest technologies to work with Hollywood including ISDN every day on "Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider." Plus, I do lots of radio stations and various narration projects and live broadcasts. I have an editor that I send my raw audio files to for editing. Chad Thomas then places them on the server for my clients to grab at their convenience. I also use Source Connect when needed as well as Skype for directing during a session.

6) Where do you see the industry and yourself five years from now?

I see radio making a resurgence and going back to the basics. We need to remember that radio is one-on-one, and it must be real. It must also feel local and relatable.

7) What advice would you give people new to the business?

Do what you love, never give up and you will find your way. Whenever I do a book signing, I always write, "Live your Dream-Use your voice"!

8) Of all the skills you have gained through the years, is there an area you'd like to improve?

My people skills. I was never in management, and I still have a hard time telling people what to do. I want to be liked and don't want to be called a bitch. But I guess that just comes with the territory when you know what you want, and what needs to be done. My husband always says "The people who know WHY will always tell the people who know HOW what to do."

9) As you look back over your career ... any regrets? Missed opportunities?

I have NO regrets. I have lived and learned and I try to never make the same mistake twice. I believe that everything happens for a reason. I feel very blessed that I know the secret to creating the life of your dreams and that begins by never letting anyone else tell you what you can or can't do. If I listened to those folks who said I would never make it as a voice over artist I would still be pulling an air shift always worrying about the ax falling.

Today I have the freedom to do what I love with the people I enjoy working with. That is my biggest blessing. But my proudest of my accomplishments is being married to (Arnie Wohl) the best husband ever for 26 years and our beautiful daughter Rachel.

10) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?

Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.

1) What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I enjoy doing fun things with my daughter, and I also like writing. I wrote my first book "Voice For Hire" about how to get into this business. I am currently working an autobiography and have a couple of TV show treatments that I have developed.

2) What is your favorite TV show?

"Entertainment Tonight" and "The Insider" (of course), "CSI," "The Daily Show," "The Good Wife." and "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

3) Who is your best friend in the business?

I have a few. Joe Cipriano, my agent Lisa Marber, Rich from Atlas Talent, Self-Help Author/Filmmaker-Debbie Ford, Peter Rofe (my co-writer on "Voice For Hire,") Joel and Ria Denver (Joel helped me make my first imaging demo back in the early 90's when he had a show on Westwood One), and of course Kevin Gershan.

4) Most of us have known or even worked for a "colorful" owner/GM/air talent. Care to share a story?

One of my favorite stories is from working at WSHE in a trailer out in Davie. The air studio was located in the back where the coffee/kitchen area was. For whatever reason one day the owner, John Tenaglia, was in a really bad mood. He did not like that some people had left unwashed coffee cups in the sink. He went ballistic and opened the back door smashing all of the coffee cups into the giant trash bin out back. That was classic. And if you know John you can totally picture that.

5) What was the biggest gaffe you've made on air? (dead air ... forget a mic was still on ... etc.)

When I was one WSHE I had a noon time feature called Electric Lunch. It was the only hour that we went off format because I took requests. One day, I was looking to play a long version of a Janis Joplin request. So I grabbed the long version off one of her live albums where she said "Mother Fu%$#@".

I was all the way down the hall chatting it up with someone in the sales department when I heard the "F" bomb. I ran so fast down the hallway and segued so fast it would make your head spin. Of course the next thing that happened was my hotline was ringing off the hook. Great memories!