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10 Questions with ... Brian Kramp & Jon Adler
April 23, 2013
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Kramp: Nine years at Saga Communications WLZR/Milwaukee -Overnights, Nights, Afternoons and Production.
Adler: WMMM/Madison part-time from 1997-2000. Also worked in TV news.
Email:
Brian Kramp - kramp@milwaukeeradio.com & Jon Adler - adler@milwaukeeradio.com
1. How did you become interested in radio?
Kramp: My love for music attracted me to it.
Adler: In college, a guy who worked at the college radio said I wouldn't be any good at radio, so I kind of got into radio out of spite, but stayed with it because it's fun.
2. What led to you becoming a morning team?
Kramp: There was a name change/format flip at my previous station. I was let go and the following day I was in the PDs office at WLUM. Five months later I was offered the morning show so I called Adler. One month later we started the show. It's a rare occurrence that you can call a friend to co-host a morning show and the GM approves it.
Adler: We went to college together (University of Wisconsin - Whitewater). Upon graduating Kramp moved to Milwaukee and I moved to Madison but we did say (over drinks) we would try to get our own morning show within 10 years. We officially started our first day nine years after that.
3. How would you describe your role on the Kramp & Adler Show?
Kramp: Our roles vary from day to day, but overall I'm a Co-Host, Writer, Producer, Booking Agent, Musician and I'm heavily involved with the Social Media of the show.
Adler: I am Flavor Flav, a doughy white Flavor Flav.
4. What makes your morning show successful?
Kramp: We have great chemistry. Plus, we're creative, intelligent and most important we have fun.
Adler: We always have fun. We do a lot of prep but once it starts we always have fun.
5. Explain your feature called Who Is More Sheboygan?
Kramp: We take two news stories from Sheboygan, WI and you get to decide who is more Sheboygan. Is it going to be a woman bites her husband's tongue off while she sits on a toilet singing Christmas carols or the mayor of the city that passed out a bar after groping female patrons? The first story to five votes wins. Votes double if the caller lives in Sheboygan or is directly associated with the story. It's the most competitive either of us get about anything.
Adler: Sheboygan is an odd city of 50,000 people with a hilarious name located 70 miles north of Milwaukee that may or may not be the nexus of the universe and will most likely be responsible for the rise of the zombies. Some of the most original crimes have happened there with enough consistency that we both can find two amazing stories to pit against each other. Here is just a sample from their newspaper:
"He paid for his cab ride with a laptop computer, which the driver later reported to police because he suspected it was stolen."
6. What's the story with Facebook Bullies?
Kramp: Every Friday we take Facebook fan status updates and give them "constructive criticism." The more ridiculous the update, the more attention it gets. It's a great way for fans to be a part of the show, but it's also a way to keep them responsible for idiotic posts.
Adler: Social media is everywhere, but that doesn't mean you aren't responsible for what you post.
7. How are you using Social Media for your morning show?
Kramp: We use our Facebook and Twitter feeds daily. Most of our Facebook posts are an extension of what we talk about on-air. We get our followers involved online before we talk about it on air. We use both to promote our shows guests, but the tweets are more or less what are thinking at any given time throughout the day.
Adler: Twitter is great for hitting things you just didn't get to during the show and after a while it really helps people get a better feel for the show's sensibility...or lack thereof.
8. What would surprise people most about your show?
Kramp: That it is just the two of us. No producer. No news director. No intern. No social media director.
Adler: No call screener, just the two of us.
9. Who in radio are your influences, your mentors, and the people to whom you listen?
Kramp: To be honest, I've never been influenced by any particular DJ or talk show host. My parents influenced me to be creative and have a voice.
Adler: Starting out, John Urban (former morning guy at 105.5 WMMM in Madison) was always great to me. Gave me some confidence and hope for having a future in radio. He also was the one who convinced me to attend a class at ComedySportz.
10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ________?
Kramp: My Wife
Adler: "Super Coffee" aka "punch you in the balls coffee" (triple brewed coffee with sugar and instant coffee mixed in).
Bonus Questions
What are your hobbies?
Kramp: Playing Guitar, Cooking, Graphic Design, Running and Conspiracy Theories.
Adler: I have an extensive shoe collection (Starbury's, still in the box! If anyone has a lead on where to get D Wade's Li Nings, please hook me up!).
Last non-industry job?
Kramp: Band Manager
Adler: I trained TV broadcast software for AVID Technology for six years. I went to TV news stations in South America, Asia, Europe and hit up about 35 different states for a week at a time.
First record ever purchased?
Kramp: N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton
Adler: The Cars - Heartbeak City
First concert?
Kramp: Paul Simon Graceland Tour
Adler: The Pointer Sisters (New Mexico State Fair 1986, an actual tornado was spotted shortly after, which I believe they caused)
Favorite band of all-time?
Kramp: Pearl Jam
Adler: Social Distortion, Bad Religion, Black Flag.....The Pointer Sisters.
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