Dan “Bass” Levy is a voice actor whose website describes as “[t]he range and ability to smoothly transition between roles requiring a big thunderous sound to those that specify the voice of Middle America.”
Continuing, “Dan specializes in speaking the language of Corporate America. Displaying an exceptional ability to work well with individuals and groups at all organizational levels.”
Dan Levy is today’s featured voice actor.
Jeff Lynn: You’ve been around radio and media for a minute. What is your background?
Dan Levy: I’ve been working in Chicago radio/media for over 20 years. Doing everything from co-hosting a national radio show for the Howard Stern Channel, traffic, news, and sports reporting to imaging Chicago’s biggest radio stations.
In 2015, I started taking on freelance clients to voice and do production for. Now, I service clients nationwide and continue to voice and audition for several agents and managers.
JL: How do you manage your workload and keep everyone straight? I once had a voice actor send me someone else’s scripts with my call letters. And I have to say it was better than what I wrote.
DL: I now work with several stations and networks nationwide. When it comes to this and all of my gigs, I am EXTREMELY organized (Which is cloud-based), so I can access it anywhere. Everything gets put into an Excel sheet with due dates. It’s extremely helpful to see what I need to do and when everything is due.
JL: I love the character voices on your demo. Is there a client you don’t have that you want?
DL: It sounds cliche, but I want them all. But if you had to tie me down, I was close a few times to becoming the voice of Tony the Tiger. I am the only one who can say I got the audition from the voice of the Pillsbury Doughboy. It would be a dream come true to say I’m the voice of Frosted Flakes! It would be pretty GRRRRRRRRREAT!
JL: Are you using AI?
DL: AI has been pretty helpful for me. I use it to help organize things and bounce some ideas off of it. I don’t see any issues with AI, nor do I fear it. If we learn to use it to our benefit, it becomes just another useful tool.
JL: With Chicago winters, the famous wind, and lake effect snow, do you live in fear of getting a cold or sore throat? When I worked there, I had a sinus infection once a month.
DL: I don’t think it’s possible to be in this business and NOT be in fear of getting sick, sore throats, or, dare if I say it, “LOST VOICE” NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
All I can do is be proactive. I wake up and take a very hot shower with essential oils to clear out my nose. Take my vitamins, drink tea with honey, and hope for the best. Especially since I have a 9-year-old who always manages to bring home ALL the viruses.
JL: Tell me three things about you that people may not know.
DL: I once competed in a pierogi eating contest in 2011 just to see how hungry I was. I took 3rd place! 🙂
I once was a bodyguard for Sylvester Stallone. He came into a radio show that I was producing, and because of all of the people who came out to get autographs, he asked if I could protect him. He also told me I do one of the best impressions of him that he’d ever heard!
I host a very popular podcast called; “Barguments.” It’s part interview and part silly topics that you’d have with your buds at a bar, BBQ, and/or Barbershop! Check it out here.
Hoss Management represents Dan, and he is available for barter with Benztown.
Check out Dan’s demo here.
Connect with Dan here.
Jeff Lynn serves as Editor of Barrett Media’s Music Radio coverage. Prior to joining Barrett Media, Jeff spent time programming in Milwaukee, Omaha, Cleveland, Des Moines, and Madison for multiple radio groups, including iHeartMedia, Townsquare Media, NRG Media, and Entercom (now Audacy). He also worked as a Country Format Editor for All Access until the outlet shut down in August 2023.
To get in touch with Jeff by email, reach him at Jeff@BarrettMedia.com.
