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10 Questions with ... Deric Peace
March 15, 2016
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Full name is Frederic - no, no one calls me Fred
I found radio in the '90s in Key West, FL. I annoyed the PD at 107.1 "The Island", who was around my age, and a friend of mine, long enough where he finally gave up a specialty show spot, for an alt rock program, Tuesday and Thursday nights. Eventually, we changed formats from AAA to Alternative, and I literally did everything you can at a radio station. That was after 5 1/2 years of being totally immersed in radio, and the bug never really did leave me, turns out. That was 2001. Fast forward to last year, and I found my radio voice again at an AM station in Bennington, VT. 1370 WBTN. Love that place. Dolly Parton, into fundraising call-a thon promo, into Tool's 46&2. They let me be me, and it gave me the confidence to try it all over again, which is how I ended up here at WJSE. Someone pinch me.
1. How did you become interested in radio?
Crazy enough, Neil Rogers (RIP) who had an afternoon talk show on WQAM out of Miami that was televised. One of the greats, and taught me a ton, before I ever cracked the mic for myself....and you thought I was going to say because music is more important than water, or something equally cliché, right?
2. Congrats on your recent promotion to MD. What do you love most about your new responsibilities?
Moving into a daily programming role, from solely on-air, you get to connect with other industry people more regularly. I love the amount of good new music that crosses my desk, but ALWAYS could use more! Radio can't be everything for everyone, all the time. You learn that quickly. With that said, programming music, knowing it will be the soundtrack to listeners' lives, I take very seriously. Mix today's freshest music with yesterday's hits, and with a little luck, it comes together. You want your station to have its own sound and identity, which is a challenge, but a welcome one.
3. What is it like working at Coastal Broadcasting?
It's a mom+pop shop. Literally (ha-ha). We all get along well, but with just enough tension, and "when is the other shoe going to drop", to keep everyone on their toes, and things tight. I hope listeners appreciate what a gift independently owned radio stations are, nowadays. Seriously.
4. What sorts of things make WJSE unique?
Philly is a little over an hour away. It's close enough, not so close that every act that pulls through the City of Brotherly Love wants to make the 2 hour trip to see us in Rio Grande, NJ, but when they do, I think the bands really dig it. We just updated our in-station studio, for sessions, so anyone reading...nudge nudge. Once you get down here, and find us, you'll encounter a bunch of regular people, who happen to all love radio. Loving radio is different from loving music, but both are critical.
5. You describe yourself as a "social media junkie." How are you using social media to interact with listeners?
I think I meant that as, I scour those information highways constantly. I hate that I think of myself as the guy continuously looking at his phone, but with so much info to absorb out there?!?! You really do need to make time, like anything in your routine, to put all of that stuff away, and come back to Earth. Skin your knee, again. But, social media to promote new music, and our station events? There is never enough of that. It's crazy how it is still so "new" to say, hit us up on Facebook, instagram, and twitter (@1063wjse, shameless!), but it is picking up as people start to understand the potential of such large scale networking. We've seen it with our own eyes, and hope it continues to grow. We love the interaction with our listeners. And, I'm saying it here first, and even if it gives my idea away to someone else, all who read this will know: PayPal for cash radio promotions, etc. Sliced bread has met its match.
6. How would describe yourself as an on-air personality?
If I said, I'm just myself that would be a lie. I'm way more than just myself on the air. That reminds me of something I always combat, when voice tracking. I always say, I'm Deric Peace, until 7pm...but listeners don't have any clue I put a comma there, so then in my head I follow it up with...but after 7, who the hell knows who I'll be?? (Ha-ha) I try to talk to myself, essentially, and be succinct. I work on my delivery every single day. It's an art for the ones who have mastered it.
7. What is your show prep routine?
Social Media to the gills, but my love of sports keeps me up on relevant content, too. There is also a dash of special sauce, which obviously, I cannot divulge. Funny note: I usually finish a show with more stuff to use, but just didn't get to it. And then, the next day, it's junk.
8. What do you like best about living in South Jersey?
In South JERSEY, we appreciate both the busy and off seasons. We have a studio on the Wildwood Boardwalk, which can see (and I guess while you HAVE to quote me on this, don't) over a million tourists in a summer? Millions of impressions to be made, and there we are, on Morey's Adventure Pier, blasting Tool's 46&2 (come on, that song is sick). Our weather is nice 9-10 months of the year, too. Bonus.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Candy. Pretty bad candy problem. Can easily open my eyes, reach over to the night stand, and find Bumpy Nerds to do battle with morning breath. Don't judge me.
10. What would surprise people most about you?
I can legit rap. During college years, at Coastal Carolina, I rapped with a dude (Mike Vee) as Anteus the Giant. Anteus (although I believe to be spelled like Antaeus) was one of Hercules' foes, and was defeated by Hercules uprooting him, and depriving him of his source of strength, his mother, Mother Earth. Geeze! Where are we again?? Oh right, 10 Questions.
Bonus Questions
What are your hobbies?
Biking, so I can eat anything I want. Foosball, because when you know how to play, you understand. Surfing, although I think I'm actually getting worse the older I get. College hoops. Yes, it counts when you watch Syracuse games like I do.
Last non-industry job?
Account Manager for a real estate management software company. Hated my manager, loved the division president. Worked there for 10 years. On the ride home with my desk stuff in a box, I decided to stop at a nearby dumpster, and trash it all. Good riddance. Learned so much there, but mostly about which managers to avoid for employment.
First record ever purchased?
Some sort of K-Tel cassette, I'm sure. Was it K-Tel? Also, distinctly remember buying Public Enemy, Fear Of A Black Planet.
First concert?
Easy. Steve Miller Band at Lake Compounce, Bristol, CT. On time with the Jungle Love whistle, too. You know it.
Favorite band of all-time?
Wow. A Rite of Passage. Not an open and closed case, but I will give an answer, because I think sometimes I know, and now is one of those times. Blend The Doors, Foals, B.I.G. and Burnt By the Sun, and there you have it!
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