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10 Questions with ... Chuck Charles
June 2, 2015
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
In February of 2013, I started off as an intern at WIXX for Midwest Communications in Green Bay. I later got hired as a board operator for Packer games. That then led to being a sports game producer for the women's and men's UW-Green Bay basketball teams on the Sports station, traffic reporter on the News/Talk station and eventual weekend overnights on WIXX. I got hired by Woodward in May of 2014 where I've been part-time on air for Kiss FM and Razor 94.7. Recently I started doing production in the Creative Services department.
1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?
What keeps me motivated is thinking of the satisfaction I get from doing this job. I could never go back to working in a restaurant or in a retail store. I really would just dislike every day I had to go to work. I just keep the faith that someday someone is going to take a chance on me and get rewarded very handsomely.
2) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?
I am consistently giving myself airchecks and listening to other radio personalities to try and improve what I am doing. I like to update my production samples and airchecks monthly so I can hand out fresh material. I also actively write my own music and try to keep physically active. A body in motion, stays in motion.
3) Do you plan on sticking with radio?
Considering this is the first job that I've ever felt I could be myself in, yes. I absolutely love being in radio because I get to be creative, meet new people, entertain, and it's the perfect combination for the two college degrees I have.
4) What's the best way to get your foot in the door?
Coming from my own experience, other experiences I've observed and other experiences I've heard about, I would say the internship. Sure, they may or may not be paid, but it's the experience and networking that'll get you there. Not the money.
5) What has been your best resource for finding out about job openings?
I have come to find that All Access has the most job postings and up-to-date job postings all in one spot. I would also argue that each state's broadcaster's association site is just as good, too.
6) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?
A full-time on air personality somewhere, and production/creative services director. I really like producing. It's another way for me to express myself creatively.
7) How are you finding the "courtesy level" at places you've applied? (Callbacks, e-mails, rejection letters, etc.)
The courtesy level is quite low. iHeartMedia is pretty good at letting you know if they've decided to go with someone else. I do appreciate that. Others just let you know they've received your materials, but most of the time you hear nothing. Then you go back to All Access to find out that a job you applied for months ago is re-posted. That's the toughest thing to see. So then I just apply again. I'm very persistent.
8) With consolidation there are definitely fewer jobs. How do you separate yourself from the pack?
That's the hard part. This is an industry where there is so much competition. I follow people on Twitter, Instagram, Snap Chat and Facebook to see what they are doing. Then I either modify what they're doing or try and go in a completely different direction.
9) Having been through all you have dealt with in this biz, what advice would you give people trying to break in?
Be patient, but be tenacious. Do all that you can and ask for more than you are given. You have to prove yourself in this business. You also have to make sacrifices at the beginning with working weekends, overnights and holidays. If you do those things, people notice. Hard work prevails over talent when talent doesn't work hard.
10) Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?
My five-year plan is finally getting that full-time job I've been working so hard for, wherever that may be. I'm unattached, never been married/engaged and have no kids. So whatever job I get and wherever I end up, that's where I will plan to call home. In 10 years, I hope to have influenced and helped many people to get into radio so that we may keep the industry going strong.
Bonus Questions
Your favorite new diversion is ...
Geocaching. I really have gotten into it this year. I was first told about it two years ago and just dismissed it. It really didn't sound like my kind of thing. Now I go several times a week whenever the weather is nice here in good ol' Wisconsin.
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