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10 Questions with ... Jon "Fatguy" Marte
October 30, 2012
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Eighteen-year vet, got my start back in my hometown of Sacramento as an intern and have grown up in the industry through good times and bad in markets such as Memphis, Salt Lake City, Jacksonville, Biloxi and Anchorage.
1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?
It's tough sometimes because I'm a workaholic. I love to work and without focus on other tasks it's easy to get negative. I've had the pleasure of working with amazing people up here in Anchorage and we are putting on a big show a few days before I leave so that has helped me stay positive. That and my family ... my wife has been a constant source of positive reinforcement.
2) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?
Well, I am currently packing up the family and moving back down to the lower 48, and that is a full-time task so it's been keeping me busy. I'm also putting on one last big show with all the Anchorage local bands I've worked with over the last three years.
3) Do you plan on sticking with radio?
I love radio and would love to stay behind a mic because that is where I feel whole. If I need to take another job outside of radio, my hope is to stay in the industry somehow on the record or promo side of things because I believe that I have top notch promotion skills and could be an asset.
4) What's the best way to get your foot in the door?
Well, on November 4th I'm flying down to Seattle and picking up my car and then making a tour of markets on the West side of the States. I plan on knocking on every door I can to get my face in front of people who might give me a job. I see the views on the jobs postings and if I am to go up against 500+ e-mails than I feel like I have to do something different ... I have to get face-to-face with people to show why I'm a great hire. I don't know if it's going to work, but damn it I can't sit around and wait ... I have to do what I love and I'll do anything I can to do that.
5) What has been your best resource for finding out about job openings?
I've got great friends in the industry who have turned me on to leads, and of course All Access jobs has been great. I guess finding out about openings hasn't been an issue, it's trying to stand out against thousands of other people who are on the beach as well...that's the hard part.
6) What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get a job?
I once sent a strange postcard every day to a future employer until I got a call back. Worked.
7) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?
I would like to be in a situation where I can help a station or a cluster of stations and make a difference in the community. Big market or small market, doesn't matter ... I just want to help a company keep their commitment to local broadcasting. If that doesn't work out then I hope that I can at least stay in the industry somehow.
8) How are you finding the "courtesy level" at places you've applied? (Callbacks, emails, rejection letters, etc.)
Look, I was on the other side of this game less than two months ago. I know how many packages get sent off for a gig (even in Alaska), so I don't hold ill will to people who don't have the time to shoot an email off to everyone who applied for a job. It is nice to hear back from people, but I understand if it can't be done.
9) With consolidation there are definitely fewer jobs. How do you separate yourself from the pack?
I hope that the time I've spent in the industry, the abilities that I possess and the passion that I have for what we do shines through on my resume, but sometimes it's tough. I am not the best phone interviewee ... I don't know why I get nervous but I do and I usually end up saying dumb things. That's why I'm doing this road trip. I feel like if people can meet me face to face they will fall in love with me and what I can do for their company. I think that's why I couldn't do sales, cold calls for me would be a nightmare and that is part of that world.
10) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?
I started a program up here called "Pump Up The Kids," where we adopted every foster child ages 12 to 21 and made sure that they all got a good Christmas. I grew up in foster care and know that the holidays are not a fun time for foster teens. The little kids get all the love with toy drives but foster teens are lucky to get shampoo. The last two years we fulfilled the wishes of over 600 foster teens with presents that THEY WANTED, not what we wanted to get them. It was a great community interactive promotion and I am really proud that the program is continuing this year.
Bonus Questions
Your favorite new diversion is...
Moving. Moving from Alaska to the lower 48 is a complex thing to do. Very expensive because it's not like you can just rent a U-Haul for a few hundred bucks and drive a few states over. We are packing, selling, shipping, flying, driving ... it's been a crazy process trying to put this all together with a family. I want to make sure that my two-year-old daughter is happy and make sure we can afford to do all this at the same time. Not easy, but fun to figure out.
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