Bruce Goldberg sits down with one of the most recognised and respected voice over artists in the industry, Ian ‘Lofty’ Fulton.
Where did the nick name “Lofty” come from?
It was when I was working at my first full time radio station, 7BU in Burnie, Tasmania. I was changing shift with Rob Bean and he said “Lofty’s next” and as it was NOT born out of malice, it stuck. His inspiration for the name came from a character in the old BBC series “It Ain’t Half Hot Mum”
How did you get started?
I was given the chance to start in radio fresh out of school. John Seaman the then manager of 7LA in Launceston (my hometown), offered for me to learn the ropes after school.
The station, being part of the local community, gave schools the opportunity to send a student in to do a pre-record on what the school had been doing over the past semester. After the last report I did, they phoned the school and asked if I would come in for an interview. I was offered the opportunity to train at the station and that experience was enough to get me the gig in Burnie.
My mum first suggested radio to me when my voice broke around the age of 15, but, being a rebellious teenager, I ignored her.
Mum spoke to my Speech and Drama teacher at school, and when my teacher suggested radio, then I thought “well that’s a great idea.”
You know what kids are like, do anything but what their parents suggestJ Thanks Mum!
How long have you been in the industry?
I just turned 50 in April, and I started full time in Burnie just before my 18th birthday. So that’s nearly 33 years.
Would you still like to be a jock on a music station?
No. I moved into freelancing with Voice Overs when I was 28, as I was getting bored playing the same songs over and over.
This was way before you could pre-record a shift onto a hard drive in 15-30 minutes. Back then you were tied to the studio changing vinyl firstly, then it became CDs and playing ads off cart.
As I couldn’t see myself still wanting to do it at 40, that’s when I took the leap of faith into freelancing and I haven’t looked back.
Best experience you have ever encountered in radio?
I would have to say being at the birth of a radio station. I’m talking from the ground up, not a format change.
I was lucky enough to be part of the original line up at SEAFM on the Gold Coast, when the station launched on March 20 1989. That was a great experience.
The most surreal experience was being on air (again at SEAFM) the moment the 1st Gulf War started, they started bombing Baghdad during my shift.
What exercises do you do to get the voice toned?
There are a number of vocal exercises you can do and I’m sure everyone has their own favourites. Ranging from the Goo Ga’s right through to She Sells Sea Shells by the Sea Shore and breathing exercises.
Favourite style of read?
My passion is for trailers and promos, I love commercials and corporate narrations too, but I am definitely most passionate about promos and trailers.
Most frustrating thing about doing voice overs.
Vague direction from clients. For example, “we won’t know what we want until we hear it.”
Do you ever get recognised by your voice?
Yeah I have been. Sometimes you see the wheels spinning in someone’s head and they just can’t place where they know your voice from and they don’t want to ask.
Then you get those who aren’t afraid to ask, which is cool.
Favourite song?
I don’t have just one but right up there are:
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For-U2
Waiting on A Friend-The Stones
River-Natalie Merchant.
Fumbling Towards Ecstasy-Sarah McLachlan
Where do you see radio going in the future?
Truthfully I don’t know.
As I don’t know how many people saw how far it was going to come in the last 10-20 years through the advancements in technology.
I mean, when I last worked full time on-air in ‘92, had someone said, “the day will come where people will vote for their favourite song via an app on their smartphone,”
I would’ve asked what’s an app and what’s a smart phone?
Any tips for an up and coming voice talent?
Direction is direction, it’s not a personal attack.
Our contributor Bruce Goldberg runs the AustRadioIndustry Facebook group.
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