-
10 Questions with ... Allan Camp
July 5, 2022
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Grew up in Rutland Vermont. Attended Grahm Jr. College-AS Communications class of 1975. Began career at WHWB Rutland Vermont (Hometown station), WTSL/Hanover N.H, WCFR/Springfield, VT, WKZE/Cape Cod, Sconnix Broadcasting’s WOCB West Yarmouth Cape Cod, Larry Justice’s WCIB Cape Cod, WSNE Providence, WDRC Hartford, WRCH Hartford. Served as Production Director at WDRC. PD at WTSI, WOCB and WRCH.
1. How would you describe your first radio gig?
A 1000 watt daytimer/FM Combo in my hometown Rutland Vermont. Night show on WHWB FM ‘The Country Voice Of The Green Mountains’ (Now WJJR) Format was a stack of records, no clocks. It was do-it-yourself-radio. To get hired, I did a station visit to drop off my aircheck and told the lady at the front desk how hard it was trying to find my first job. Lots of rejection letters. She turned out to be the boss's wife and she told her husband to talk to this boy. The night guy quit the next day and I got my start.
2. What led you to a career in radio?
Discovered the AM skywave when I was in 4th grade and started listening to WCFL when our local daytimer signed off. Discovered WKBW, WPTR and CKGM/Montreal. Then in 9th grade my class had a bus trip to Washington D.C., and driving through New York, the driver played WABC. Couldn't believe how it sounded compared to the local stations in my town. As soon as I could drive, I started visiting Jack Healy the night man on WSYB/Rutland, and I knew I had to get on the radio. I was bit!
3. You’re hanging them up after a 47-year career in radio. Are there a few specific highlights that you can pinpoint for us?
Getting hired by John Frawley at WCFR which was programmed like a major market station. Everyone on staff was great at Production but me, and I committed to changing that. By the time I left for my next job, I won an award for one of my spots in the Vermont Association Of Broadcasters awards. Years later, I remember sitting across the table from John Gehron at an American Radio System Programming meeting and thinking, “ I can’t believe I am at the same table as this legend” I became ARS PD of the year in 1993. Another “star struck” moment was an invite for WRCH to the opening broadcast of Animal Kingdom at Disney, we were right next to Dick Purtan and his Detroit morning team. He was friendly and a gentleman.
Another highlight...I was proud that WRCH was the highest ranked PPM station in the country and we ranked second highest rated All-Christmas station in America.
4. You spent 33 years programming AND doing mornings at WRCH. Other than that alarm clock, what will you miss the most as you look back?
Not seeing the staff every day. Freshening up imaging, and being part of the team that creates the direction the station follows. Will miss the passion of the team and their connection to our audience.
5. No two AC stations seem to sound the same or do it the same in 2022. What were the determining factors that led you to know when a “current” was ready to go on?
We wanted to make sure no other station could slip in between our clusters wall of female audience. WRCH holding the older side of the demo and sister station WTIC-F the younger. ‘TIC starts the currents. WRCH picks them up when they are warmed up. It's worked well.
6. How did navigating the pandemic make you a better programmer and broadcaster?
What a humbling experience for a "Listen At Work Station" like WRCH. 9 to 5 didn't bring it home for us with some people working different hours. Some from the living room, some the kitchen table and some in a traditional office. It is still coming back. At the start of COVID, morning partner Mike Stacy ran the board and Mary Scanlon and I worked from our homes. Most people say they couldn’t tell the difference, but when we are on live in the same room, it feels and sounds better. I think I worked more hours a day through the pandemic to stay in touch. I had to wait at times to get promos into the system, so I had to work ahead more. That was a help. Glad it is getting back to normal.
7. You’ve been heavily involved over the years in many community endeavors. What are some of the highlights in that regard?
Mike Stacy our promotions director, started Christmas Wish CT with contest prizes listeners didn't pick up. This evolved from one person to two hundred volunteers distributing a six figure budget to shelters and families in need in Connecticut.
The WRCH ‘Nite of Lite Laughter Breast Cancer’ benefit has been active for 23 years on the station. Each October the station brought comedians to The Bushnell in Hartford like Jay Leno, Lilly Tomlin, Bob Newhart and Joan Rivers, to raise money for the Hartford Healthcare Cancer Institute at Hartford Hospital. We took the last 2 years off because of COVID and hope to start up again this year.
8. What is the one truth that held constant throughout your career?
Be always be FOR and never Against.
9. What was your favorite station(s) to listen to when you were a kid? Jock(s)?
WKBW, WCFL Tim Kelly, Big Ron O'Brien, WPTR Boom Boom Branigan, WGY Tom McCarthy, CKGM Marc Denis ,WSYB Alex Dunn, Jack Healy, WHWB- Brian Collamore, Ed Lloyd and Bob Bascom.
10. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?
Ron Roy my first WRCH GM, Suzanne McDonald VP Market Manager from ARS to CBS. David Perlman, Scott Herman, Gary Berkowitz, John Parikhal, Bob Elliot- JCI and John Frawley.
Bonus Questions
Sooooooooooo—what will you be doing with yourself as your life moves to the next phase?
I want to take the summer off but would like to do more with my love of photography. New grandchild on the way in November. Still have my home studio, Spend some reconnection with Florida family, and maybe dabble in part time radio down the road. It's been a great journey. I am grateful.
-
-