-
10 Questions with ... Marconi
March 31, 2015
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I've done radio my entire adult life with the exception of a job working at El Pollo Loco, boiling corn. It's the only thing I've ever done. I've been heard in Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, Honolulu, Maui and beyond. I've recently started working with Maker Studios doing daily YouTube videos. It's a lot of fun and having done a morning show for so many years, it isn't much different in regards to prep.
1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?
I've always been positive. I run and try to eat right. I stay creative by making daily YouTube videos and maintaining my online radio stream. In the last few years I've even taken up cello lessons. That isn't going very well, but *GOALS* -- am I right?
2) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?
Besides YouTube, I do lots of voiceover. Having been an imaging director for much of my career, I find working with producers is a great way to stay connected. I feel their pain. I also am addicted to Snapchat. Some radio people are into it, but mostly YouTubers, comic writers and people on Vine I like. I document my life on it even more than my YouTube videos now. Thankfully it gets deleted within 24 hours. I've even gotten to do some cool brand deals with Uber and Nature Box there as well.
3) Some people get discouraged or enlightened with the business when they actually step out of it for a while. Tell us your observations from the outside.
I feel radio needs to get back to having fun. So many owners panic and make rushed decisions when they don't see immediate results. Notice there's not a deep bench of up-and-coming young radio people anymore. The industry is so unstable it's scared them away. That and every job out there wants you to wear 15 hats. I look horrible in hats.
4) Do you plan on sticking with radio?
Yes, I love radio. As a new YouTuber, I find everything I know from radio is easily applied there as well. I think I will always do radio of some kind. The question really should be can radio do me? Wait ... What was the question again?
5) What's the longest stretch you've had on the beach?
Maybe nine months. It was in 2009 when the economy was really bad. It flew by pretty fast. That's when I discovered Tumblr.
6) What's the best way to get your foot in the door?
I always try to make friends with everyone in the business. It helps to know someone on the inside obviously, but sending a case of whiskey never hurts. Ahem. I'VE never done that but...
7) What has been your best resource for finding out about job openings?
ALL ACCESS OBV! That was a trap, right? I mean if I mentioned another site you would just block my IP address?
8) What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get a job?
I'm pretty boring in this regard. I've been fortunate to be asked to join stations for most of my career, which is what could be what is REALLY wrong with radio. I've made custom packages and sent parody songs to KROQ a few times, but nothing too crazy.
9) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?
I am looking for a new challenge. I want to work with trustworthy people who really know how to make fun radio. I want to add to the party, not have to revive the party ... although I have done that, too. Working with creative people is everything. If not radio, I would love to work with Phillip DeFranco at SourceFed! They always look like they're having a good time.
10) What's the most unbelievable question you've ever been asked in an interview?
I recently had a group of people call me and grill me without warning on a conference call as if I were on 'Radio Idol' or something. The first question the "judges" asked was "So, what's with the hair?" I looked at my phone to see if it wasn't one of my friends pranking me. It wasn't, so I just said "It's a weave, I have several because I know what it's like to be a professional." They laughed and I was like, "Did this just happen? What am I doing with my life?" I've also had great conversations, too. Radio is filled with lots of awesomely unique characters.
Bonus Questions
Uh oh ... now you're on your own for getting new music. If applicable, name your three most recent purchases since leaving the biz.
Small Pools, Death Cab's new album, and Reign Wolf are three of my favorites right now. I love ALT NATION on SiriusXM. They help me stay up to date with current music. I am a big fan of Spotify, but less and less as more and more artists don't appear there.
-
-