I was really lucky
to begin at Power 106 Los Angeles as Jay Thomas'
producer. From there, you write your ticket anywhere. I wrote
it to the island of Kauai to do afternoons on KQNG (CHR).
This is when I learned it was all about "lifestyle"
and not market size. A luxury you get when you start in
LA. In the next 15 years, I would make stops at Classic Rocker
KRFX Denver, News-talk KHOW Denver, Rocker KMBY
Monterey, CHR KYLD San Francisco, CHR KCAQ Ventura/Oxnard,
Active Rock KHTY Santa Barbara, CHR KBOS Fresno and KMXS
Anchorage. What a whore! Each market was a jewel.
While "sleeping in a doghouse" as part of a SPCA drive
I did as the morning man at WUMX Charlottesville, I decided
to start Animal Radio Network™ - creating the weekly
two-hour nationally syndicated Animal Radio® - and
growing it to 96 stations. It's like a morning show for pet-lovers
and it crosses all formats and niches. For instance, it
airs on AC KOST 103.5 Los Angeles, News-radio WEEU
Reading and Public Radio WXBA Long Island. I've been doing
this for the last 6-7 years.
How
are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job? Growing my beard and saying I'm showing my support
for the writers strike. Working on affirmations: "I will
not pee on the program directors car." Photoshop-ing and
morphing Hillary and Obama to see what their kids might look like.
Running around from stoplight to stoplight pressing the "Press
to Cross" button.sinisterly laughing when light changes.
Doing a daily radio show in my bedroom for my goldfishtest possible
future material on them to see fishy reaction. Sneaking into my
neighbors house while they're gone and training their dog to operate
the TV remote control.Wearing an empathy belly (pregnancy
simulator) to see what it would be like if I were preggers. Driving
from fast-food drive thru to another striking up conversations
about my life "on the beach." Getting really engaged
in the lather, rinse, repeat cycle. Speculating why Heath Ledger
had a rolled up twenty (too soon? Sorry).
Having been through all you have dealt
with in this biz, what advice would you give people trying to
break in? Radio can become addictive. Once
you start, you may not be able to quit. There are no 12-step programs
to get you off radio. It can take over your life. It can take
you from family. It can destroy you.
Best advice: Don't LIVE RADIO. LIVE LIFE insteadand bring that
to the radio. Don't be a radio geek. Be a "life-geek"
and tell your listeners everything that goes on. They will
better relate to you as a human, not a DJ.
What do you do to maintain a positive
mental attitude and stay motivated? I have a big ass white-board and
a bunch of erasable markers in lots of colors (I like colors and
sparkly objects). I write all the positive stuff on the board.
Good things that happened, goals, people that were nice to yap
with, possible career directions, fun doodles.whatever. I don't
put anything negative on the board. The board sits in my office
right in front of me. I'm constantly checking with the board to
re-evaluate the possibilities. It's amazing how things come together
when there is a visual representation. Being in radio sharpens
only your auditory skills. This will sharpen your visualization
which we all know if the first step for any task or project.
Do you plan on sticking with the music/radio
industry? I guess the one thing I've learned
in 42 years is that nothing ever goes as planned. With that in
mind, I have never really veered from radio or TV in 23 years.
I did lose my gig in Hawaiiand worked for the USPS for a momentjust
so I could stay in Hawaii. I think I will always be in the media.
My hopes are to grow with the new-medias. Frankly, I'm not qualified
to deliver pizzaso I hope this radio thing works out.
What has been your best resource for
finding out about job openings? Actually, I'm not blowing anybody
but the truth is that All Access gives the most news and
information that relates to the job hunt. As the former owner
of the legendary TVandRadioJobs.com website, I still would refer
anybody to All Access. If you like to pay for infoKevin Carter's
Street-talk online is good for daily bits of info and leads.
I don't have the cash personally.
Also, if you're not networking on Linkden.you're
missing a lot of potential ops.
What is the next job you'd like to
obtain? After spending the last 7 years
as host of the nationally syndicated Animal Radio® - I'm pining
to get back into "Live and Local" radio. I really enjoy
old school radio. I'm disillusioned by the sterile sound of corporate
radio. I believe you can keep a positive bottom line without removing
the personality. I hope to find a station owner that appreciates
this.
How are you finding the "courtesy
level" at places you've applied? (Callbacks, emails, rejection
letters, etc.) When I first began in radio in
1985, there was no Internet. If you wanted a job, you'd send a
hard T&R. With the advance of email and MP3 attachments, it's
easier and cheaper than spending your days at Kinkos copying resumes.
Because of this, there are more applicants making it a very
time consuming task to listen and respond to all emails. I've
personally received 3 or 4 responses regarding the 30 or so emails
I sent out. All were courteous. However, in the 80's and early
90's, when I sent out actual T&R's the response rate
was almost 100%. I find that being an old-timer in the biz that
I get far more responses from my colleagues that have been in
the biz a while too.
What has been your biggest career accomplishment?
Certainly Animal Radio® has
been the biggest accomplishment. I built it from scratch. I did
production, promotions, sales, co-hosting, affiliate clearancethe
whole enchilada. Now it's on 96 AM-FM outlets including KOST in
LA. And on a personal level, it was a lot more rewarding than
telling dick jokes at 7am. I learned a lot about animals and helped
them live better lives. Of course, it never has paid as well as
morning radiogoing to show that no good deed goes unpunished.
What do you miss most about music/radio?
The least? I really enjoyed digging myself
into the trenches and getting the pulse of a market and living
the lifestyle on-air. Being the OM of Animal Radio® has been
very tight-niched. It's "all animal all the time." I
miss being able to rap on "non-animal" related topics.
And I even miss the music! Hosting a national show is greatbut
it lacks "the presence" of doing a morning show with
lots of listener interaction. Can't wait to be "live and
local" again.
Is there anything specific that you
regret doing while you were still working? I've made mistakes.like asking
the 9 year old if she ever walked in on her parents doing "it"
a somewhat tame question for 1993 but clearly inappropriate
for Jones Networks satellite feed to the Bible Belt.
I also regret taking a job hosting mornings
with the Program Directors wife. The PD hired me on the basis
that I make her the co-host. She was awful! I was doomed from
day one.
BONUS QUESTION
Care to contribute a low-cost recipe
to our "ON THE BEACH" cookbook?
Blues and Brews Breakfast Burritos Created at the Santa Barbara Blues
and Brews Festival
5 eggs
1 package shredded O'Brien potatoes
1/2 package link sausage (5 sausages)
8 oz shredded cheese of your choice I like the Mexican blend.it's
usually the cheapest!
Flour tortillas
Scramble eggs in bowl. Set aside. Cut
up sausage links into 1/2 inch pieces. Heat O'Brien potatoes and
sausage in pan. Stir in eggs keep mixing while eggs cook.
Pour cheese onto tortillas and heat in microwave. Pour egg and
sausage mixture onto heated cheesy tortilla. Roll concoction into
something resembling burrito. Top with Picante. Makes 2-4 burritos
depending on your rolling skills. Goes great with Mimosas!
I was really lucky
to begin at Power 106 Los Angeles as Jay Thomas'
producer. From there, you write your ticket anywhere. I wrote
it to the island of Kauai to do afternoons on KQNG (CHR).
This is when I learned it was all about "lifestyle"
and not market size. A luxury you get when you start in
LA. In the next 15 years, I would make stops at Classic Rocker
KRFX Denver, News-talk KHOW Denver, Rocker KMBY
Monterey, CHR KYLD San Francisco, CHR KCAQ Ventura/Oxnard,
Active Rock KHTY Santa Barbara, CHR KBOS Fresno and KMXS
Anchorage. What a whore! Each market was a jewel.
How
are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job? Growing my beard and saying I'm showing my support
for the writers strike. Working on affirmations: "I will
not pee on the program directors car." Photoshop-ing and
morphing Hillary and Obama to see what their kids might look like.
Running around from stoplight to stoplight pressing the "Press
to Cross" button.sinisterly laughing when light changes.
Doing a daily radio show in my bedroom for my goldfishtest possible
future material on them to see fishy reaction. Sneaking into my
neighbors house while they're gone and training their dog to operate
the TV remote control. Wearing an empathy belly (pregnancy
simulator) to see what it would be like if I were preggers. Driving
from fast-food drive thru to another striking up conversations
about my life "on the beach." Getting really engaged
in the lather, rinse, repeat cycle. Speculating why Heath Ledger
had a rolled up twenty (too soon? Sorry). 