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10 Questions with ... Brooke Summers
January 17, 2006
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NAME:Brooke SummersTITLE:PDSTATION:WUHU (107.1)MARKET:Bowling GreenCOMPANY:Forever CommunicationsBORN:Lewiston, NY (Mt. St. Mary's to be exact) somewhere in the 70'sRAISED:Buffalo, NY
1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
My first job was as a board op on an AM station in Clarksville TN. The am station was inside of an old trailer that leaned to one side attached to the FM station. Early influences? Steve Burke, he gave me my first break in radio, he said that I had a great smile and bright personality and those were great tools for radio. Who was he trying to fool?! Also I want to say thanks to a former GM of mine with the initials of S.F., if it weren't for his kind words to my OM at the time ("she sucks, get her off of my air") I probably wouldn't have pushed as hard as I did!!! One of my best friends to date, J. Patrick (works at Oldies 97.1 in Nashville), he coached me and worked with me and I credit a lot of my confidence to him. And I also have to say thanks to an old PD of mine Chad Rufer, we didn't always see eye to eye, but he did help me along in my journey, he obviously saw something in me and that's why he pushed me, either that, or he just wanted to push my buttons!! LOL
2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment, which made you realize "this is it"?
I was a "guest DJ" on a morning show with my then favorite on-air personality Scotty O'Brien. I loved waking up and listening to him. After I did two guest spots with him I fell in love [with radio]. I was in school at the time so I changed my major to communications and went for it.
3) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?
Our station is definitely unique because of its moniker..."Woo-Hoo!!!!!" Its fun making the listeners scream "Woo-Hoo" when they win a prize, especially when they are at work and trying to be quiet! I love it!!!
4) Just about every market has a station flipping to "Jack," "Bob," "Max," etc. What are your thoughts on this new format? Will it go the distance? Or is it just a fad?
I think eventually Jack/Bob will cater to the music fanatics that know music better than programmers. Its fun at first because you never know what you are going to hear, but eventually you want to know that when you flip it on you are going to hear that new "Beyonce" or "Nickelback." You also lose out on the personality. It seems like now more than ever, people are complaining about all of the talking that jocks do on-air, but when you don't get that you start to crave it. You want to interact and know what's going on in the area, in Hollywood, etc. You lose that with "Jack & Bob" formats. But hey, I'm still relatively new to this so I'm just taking a stab at it.
5) Tell us what music we would find on your car or home CD player (or turntable) right now and what is it you enjoy about that particular selection?
Right now in my car I have a wide variety...you would find anything from Harry Connick Jr (he's so smooth), and Lyfe Jennings (I am really intrigued by him at the moment) and Usher to Gretchen Wilson. I am not a big country fan but every now and again music can cross boundaries and touch anyone. Sounds cliche, but we all know its true or we wouldn't be in this field.
6) What do you think is the next emerging music trend?
Either Reggaeton or Alternative.
7) What is the most rewarding promotion or activity your station has ever been involved with to benefit the community or a charity?
Make-A-Wish. I love helping make-a-wish on the holidays.
8) *How much difference is there between your programming at night, versus programming in the day?
A HUGE Difference! During the day we are more HOT AC, and concentrate on Alanis, Rob Thomas. At night, we flip to TOP 40 Mainstream and focus on Missy, Ciara, Bow Wow, etc. They are like night and day. It took some adjusting programming wise, but I think we have a very happy medium.
9) What was the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you at a remote?
I had this homeless (and may I add toothless) guy stop into a gas station where I was doing a remote and he started flirting with me. He asked me if I wanted to go to the hotel across the street later that night and get some drinks and go dancing. He stayed for the entire time I was there and even started trying to help me pass out the products that we were helping sample. The whole time he just kept telling me that I was cute and had a nice butt.
10) What is the best advice you would give to young programmers/promotion people?
Its true what they say...you haven't truly worked in radio until you've been fired. And sometimes no matter what you've done, or how great of a job you are doing it will happen! Learn from it, take it with a grain of salt and don't let it bring you down. Everything happens for a reason!!!!
Bonus Questions
How did you get your on-air name?
This is really cheesy, but I am a huge "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" fan... so at first I was going to go with Buffy Summers as a "tribute" to her, but Buffy didn't really go over well with my air staff, so I chose Brooke instead.
What was the biggest gaffe you've made on air?
Only one??!! Once I gave out the wrong contest line number! .Another time I was looking ahead on the computer and not paying attention to the song playing...so my back-sell was for the wrong song.
What is your favorite TV show?
Okay it's a battle between "Nip/Tuck" and "Girlfriends"...I won't miss either one. Anything else I can TiVo, but I set my schedule around those two shows. Luckily they are both early on in the week.
What is your favorite TV Commercial? Radio Commercial? On radio:
The Ci-Ci's Pizza commercials awhile back promoting the "not your average fast food restaurant". Come to thing of it, the new Ci-Ci's are pretty good too! Very creative! On TV: Right now I would have to say T-Mobile, especially the one where the guy walks out of the Post Office and opens up his cell phone bill and drops to his knees and yells "What did I do!!!" Its too funny. Their "Poser" commercials are funny too!
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