-
10 Questions with ... Robin Nash
January 27, 2009
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
NAME:Robin NashTITLE:MiddaysSTATION:KEDJMARKET:PhoenixCOMPANY:Riviera Broadcast GroupBORN:Lawrence, NYRAISED:Oceanside, NY
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Working for The Edge since before I graduated college. Got picked up by the PD -- John Clay -- while I was DJing at the ASU radio station. Paid my dues! Worked overnights for three years, filed Willobee's freakin' rolodex for hours, filed CDs, etc...and did promotions and production too. I learned it all. Finally, Shellie Hart came aboard as PD and saw "the light" in me! She moved me to middays in 1998 and I've been doing it ever since! From Nancy Stevens, to Marc Young, to Bruce St. James...they all still believe in me. It's been and still is ...the most fun anyone could ever have "working."
LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:
Worked for a record store
FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:
I truly don't remember.
FIRST CONCERT:
My parents took me to the Pointer Sisters!
FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:
Gotta be Led Zeppelin
1. How did you become interested in radio?
In high school, my home economics teacher stopped me one day as I was walking out of the classroom and she randomly said, "Robin, you have a voice for radio. You should be on radio one day!" I laughed and I laughed! I grew up listening to Z100 and that was such a massive station -- there's no way I, little ol' me could ever actually BE on the radio...except for the one time I won movie passes and the DJ put me on as a winner!
Years later...I was still a student as ASU and I was getting bored...as all my friends were graduating and moving on (I was on the 5 year plan). My mom asked, "Isn't there a radio station at ASU you could join?" I thought Holy Crap that's a great idea. I then remembered my old teacher's words of wisdom! So I walked right in the next day and was hired immediately by the station manager. He put me on his morning show ever Monday. Yes, I was still spinning records at the time!
2. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?
Z100. I was really young, but remember my girlfriends and I lovin' it because it was all dance/top 40 stuff that us, as little girls would dance and sing along too.
3. What do like best about working at The Edge?
There are so many answers to this question. I would have to say first and foremost, it's the people I work for, and work with. My station is independently owned, and they 100% know us, talk to us, pull us aside to ask, "How is everything? Are you happy?" I like that they have parties and get-togethers throughout the year to keep the momentum of us being a solid team. It shines through on the airwaves.
4. How would you describe your midday show?
Fun and intelligent. I host "90 Minutes of the 90's" each day from noon to 1:30p. Most stations do only 1 hour lunch specialty shows. Bruce and I thought "screw the norm, let's go for more!" The music truly is the foundation for some major alternative rock music today, and my audience knows it, and loves it. Radio doesn't really tend to the 30-something generation, but with the '90s show my listeners feel like they are totally hip -- as they know ALL the music -- and songs that bring back a ton of memories! They get so into it, non-stop calls every day requesting their faves, and for those who may not know the songs (the younger kids); they get a mouthful of knowledge from me telling them who they're listening to.
5. What is your show prep routine?
My whole life is show prep. From going to concerts, MTV, VH1, Fuse, TMZ, internet, youtube, news, you name it...everything I do and see is show prep. I live the lifestyle of our listeners.
6. What do you find most amusing about your audience? Most annoying?
My listeners -- well, the ones that call-in are mostly guys. They all think I'm talking just to them. They ask me out on dates...I've had a few marriage proposals over the phone. They think I'm gonna go out there and be their instant girlfriend. And I air every single one of them! The more I air these guys, the more they call in.
The most annoying thing about my audience is the girlfriend's of these guys who get jealous. Don't they know it's all for entertainment and I'm just messing around?!
7. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Coffee.
8. What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
Rock Bands are NEVER on time!
9. What has been the biggest highlight of your career?
The best, and I mean the best, was bring sent two times to Tortola Island in the British Virgin Islands to broadcast live. This was a Jose Cuervo promotion and I joined a few other stations out there for what was considered "work!" We were picked up by boat and taken directly to "Cuervo Nation Island." We'd wake up every day, broadcast our show live to our city -- engineers were on site -- and in between breaks, and in between tasting mango or strawberry margaritas, we'd run 10 feet to the crystal clear ocean to boogie board. They took us to an old pirate ship in the middle of the ocean that was turned into a bar -- body shots anyone?! They took us to this amazing lobster house right on the beach with a local reggae band playing live all night. It was truly an amazing highlight! They just don't do promotions like that anymore.
10. What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?
I have no idea! But I always knew I could never do a desk job. I switched majors a few times in college however, as at one time I wanted to be a teacher (but I hated the required economics class I had to take and quit). I wanted to be a photographer (but I was bored taking the required pics of a freakin' bird or a tree, so I quit that too).
Bonus Questions
What are your hobbies?
COOKING! I like to think of myself as a little chef. It's not only art, its art you can eat!
-
-