-
10 Questions with ... Cindy Pace
April 8, 2008
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
NAME:Cindy PaceLAST WITH:101.5 KGB, San Diego (Clear Channel)PHONE:(760) 672-5605EMAIL:cindiego@hotmail.com
Please begin by giving us a brief career history ...
I've been a DJ at Oldies, Top 40, AC and Hot AC stations in Colorado Springs, San Luis Obispo, and St. Louis. I was also a weekend weather anchor for a little while in Colorado Springs.
For the last 14 years though, I've been playing Classic Rock in San Diego. I was let go at 103.7 The Planet when they switched to FREE-FM a couple of years ago, but landed at 101.5 KGB two months later, which was awesome! Unfortunately, my contract was not renewed when CC decided to put my PD on-air voicetracked for three hours and add two hours voicetracked to the afternoon jock's shift. I was told it was a reduction in force and not performance related.
1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?
I keep reminding myself that I'm saving gas money and am lucky to have severance pay. I've also put together a home recording studio for voice work to get some income going.
2) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?
I'm getting my house ready to sell and watching way too much reality TV -- Rock of Love, Project Runway and Intervention, etc. Plus I've been trying to get through to the California Unemployment Office for a week now and they are still "receiving more calls than their system can currently handle" all day every day!
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 see that talent and content are not as important to a lot of companies as bottom line. DJs are given 10-second windows to talk. Two-minute-long time-share endorsements, which are a huge tune-out, are okay with the bosses, though.
The success of jockless stations like Jack FM has led to more copycats. Voicetracking has eliminated benefits and livable wages, too. New talent is not being cultivated.
4) What's the longest stretch you've had on the beach?
This is it! Four months and counting.
5) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?
My dream job would be at a station in Molokai, Hawaii. Too bad there aren't any there. I like warm tropical weather the best.
6) How are you finding the "courtesy level" at places you've applied? \
I can always count on Jhani Kaye (now at K-Earth 101 in L.A.) to respond to my employment inquiries with encouragement and praise. He's such a class act! The folks at Visionary Entertainment in Honolulu have been kind to me, too, even though they have no full-time openings. Oddly, the stations who've advertised openings have not replied at all to my applications. I imagine they're swamped with responses to their ads.
7) With consolidation there are definitely fewer jobs. How do you separate yourself from the pack?
I have experience with Selector, NexGen, AudioVault, Adobe Audition and VoxPr,o and I'm a show prep freak who shows up at least an hour, if not more, before going on-air. While I was at KGB, I updated my webpage regularly and got some good traffic on it. My attitude is great and I'm not a whiner. I have handled loads of production for cluster stations and been pleasant about it.
8) Are you spending as much time listening to radio as you used to?
I'm listening to it more than ever. I'm obsessed! I also download podcasts on my iPod Shuffle to listen to.
9) Are you able to slow down and enjoy free time doing things with your family and friends that you probably did not have time to do while you were working?
Absolutely! I had a blast joining my son on a 3rd grade field trip to the Wild Animal Park recently, and I was able to join my comedian husband, Mike Pace, at a gig in Palm Springs last week.
10) Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
If I'd been asked that in November, I'd have said on KGB. Now, I'm not really sure. My husband has a development deal for a TV show. I'd like to be on the radio again, but the situation has to be right.
Bonus Questions
Care to contribute a low-cost recipe to our "ON THE BEACH" cookbook?
FRITO PIE.
Place Fritos in a bowl and cover with Chili (canned is ok).
Lay a slice (or 2) of Velveeta cheese on top.
Microwave until cheese melts and chili is hot.
Add chopped onions on top if you like them.
Eat up! Yum Yum!(Now go do an hour on an elliptical and have some breath mints.)
-
-