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10 Questions with ... Dale Best
November 3, 2008
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NAME:Dale BestTITLE:Assistant Promotions Director / Evening Host for Praise 88.7 and The House FMMARKET:Ponca City/Oklahoma City, OKCOMPANY:The Love Station NetworkBORN:Nashville, TN (Go Titans and Vols!)RAISED:Richmond, VA
Brief Career Synopsis:
Hoffman Communications as part-time jock at WGGM and WDYL, Cox Radio/Richmond as Internet Production, Overnights/Morning Producer for WKLR, Cox Radio/Tulsa as APD, Promotions Director, Internet Production for KKCM, Producer for KRMG. I've also done local TV news production. I was also a roadie for about a month traveling with Chris Tomlin, Lincoln Brewster, Twila Paris, ZOEgirl and Sara Groves all at the same time.
1) What was your first job in radio? Who were your early influences and/or mentors?
My first job in radio was doing weekends and overnights at a Southern Gospel station outside Richmond, VA. I have a Rebecca St. James concert to thank for putting me in contact with PD Mark Niemand. When I got back into radio after leaving for 2 1/2 years, it was legendary rock PD Bill Weston. It was intimidating learning from a PD as good as Bill. The most important thing I learned was how to not take radio so seriously that it becomes mundane and no fun.
2) What does Christian radio need to do to break through to a mass audience on a more consistent basis?
Take risks. Be innovative. Programmers need to realize that you can't program for the 5-10 percent of your listeners that complain about things consistently and threaten to cease their financial support. The reward is huge for a Christian station that is willing to get out of the Christian subculture bubble. We must reach out and laud and be a part of the redemptive things in culture.
For example, as wonderful of a movie "Fireproof" was, there was also another movie that Christian radio should have been involved with this fall, "The Secret Life of Bees." "Bees" is a wonderful movie given 3 1/2 (of 4) stars by "Christianity Today," starring some of the biggest actresses of this decade. And I don't know of any Christian station talking about or doing promotions for "Bees." While there are really mature themes in the film because it's partly about racial tensions in the 1960s South, I want to see Christian radio lauding films like this. I want to see Christian radio being involved with films and events and movements that speak to culture in big, redemptive ways. I trust moms and dads to make decisions for their owns families.
"Relevant Magazine" is a great brand that's accomplished breaking through to a mass audience over the last few years by realizing that truth exists in every part of our culture. And now they've been a player and voice in the current presidential election.
I think you also need to encourage your audience to serve the community. Be partners with churches in your communities that are doing the same.
3) What are the greatest rewards of your job? What are the biggest challenges?
The greatest reward is getting to meet and know listeners. It's rewarding to know that listeners value the station enough to send prayer requests and also let us know that they are praying for us and our mission to the community we serve.
The biggest challenge is trying to answer question #2 on a daily basis.
4) Who are your favorite air personalities not at your station?
Eric Summers (WRCM/Charlotte), Brant Hansen (CHRSN), Dave Weston (KRAV-KKCM/Tulsa) and Rebecca Bennett (KKCM)
5) Any favorite or funny artist run-ins? Highlights from a promotion or interview?
I got a couple. When I worked at KKCM/Tulsa, Jeremy Camp dropped by our studio when he was in town for a concert. I had a phone interview with Bebo Norman scheduled around the same time. I mentioned that to Jeremy and he wanted to stick around so he could crank Bebo over the phone. Pretty funny! 4Him vocalist Andy Chrisman was gracious enough to lend his vocal talents to our wedding ceremony. Oh, and Steven Curtis Chapman recorded the voicemail greeting on my cell phone about a year ago. It catches people off-guard whenever they call.
6) If you were just starting out in radio today, but you knew what you know now, would you continue forward?
Most definitely! My only regret is not becoming a better on-air communicator. But more than anything else, I LOVE doing behind-the-scenes programming and promotions work. I'm an ideas person. I'm an abstract thinker. I love being disciplined in the basics and discovering things that work and implementing them into the heartbeat of a station.
7) If you could have any job outside the music business, what would it be?
Programming pastor or creative director at an innovative church
8) If money were no object, what hair-brained idea (or hair-brained event) would you pull together for the greater good of the world?
With culture changing as quickly as it is, I'd create an organization to assist pastors and churches. I'd give them practical tools to help them connect and communicate with their congregations in a deeper and more relevant way. Too many churches don't have the resources to take advantage of technology in how they do ministry. I'd also like to be in a place to motivate the church to be the remedy for injustices every corner the world.
9) You are a new dad - and a proud one at that. How has life improved with the arrival of Caedmon Best?
Well, I wouldn't call lack of sleep an improvement. But everything is a first. For example, he smiled for the first time the other day. You hear this from every new parent but it's amazing how being a dad can give you a tiny, tiny glimpse into the amount of love God has for us.
10) The move from Tulsa to Ponca City: Was it everything you dreamed it could be?
That's yet to be determined. The only places I've ever lived have been cites: Richmond, Nashville, Los Angeles and Tulsa. I know now more than ever how wired I am to live in a major metropolitan area. The closest Chick-Fil-A is an hour away and the local Starbucks closed soon after I arrived. Not fun at all!
Bonus Questions
1) Do you read everything or nothing? Do you have a favorite?
"Relevant Magazine" religiously. I'm also an avid blog reader and writer. (Every radio programmer should have a blog reader of some sort and subscribe to at least 50 blogs.) My wife and I also read books together. We love the writings of Rob Bell, Brian McLaren, Shane Claiborne and Matthew Paul Turner.
2) What's in your stereo or on your iPod right now?
The new Brandon Heath project, "What If We," is phenomenal. His music gets better the deeper into the album you get. Leeland's "Opposite Way," Lincoln Brewster's "Today Is the Day," Bart Millard's "Hymned Again," Ben Shive's "Ill-Tempered Klavier" and the latest Dave Matthews live release.
3) Do you have musical guilty pleasures?
Jackson Browne, Dave Matthews, Phil Collins, Genesis, Pat McGee Band, Edwin McCain, John Mayer, Robert Randolph, Jonny Lang, Marc Broussard, Andrew Peterson and Derek Webb
4) Cat or dog person?
Dog person but I'm still an apartment dweller and the deposit to keep a pet is too high.
5) Describe your favorite meal.
Appetizer: Chicken corn chowder from Mimi's Café, maybe a good Caesar Salad
Main Course: Daytona-Style Chicken Wings from Hooter's. The only way my wife will let me eat them, as a carryout order, along with my wife's potato salad.
Dessert: Huge slice of pecan pie
6) Stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you want with you and why?
My family, computer and Internet access
7) Favorite TV program of all-time?
Too hard to choose. I like shows that broke or are breaking new ground like "The Cosby Show," "Saturday Night Live," "Friends," "Arrested Development," "The Office," "30 Rock" and "American Idol." You'll also find me watching NFL Football every weekend!
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