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10 Questions with ... Nick Giorno "Nicky G"
April 5, 2016
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Very lucky to have spent 40 years on-air in the South Jersey/Philadelphia radio market.
- 1976 @WRDR/Hammonton, NJ
- 1981 @WMVB (BOSS 97 FM)/Vineland, NJ
- 1995 @WMGM (The Shark 103.7)/Atlantic City, NJ
- 2008 @WAYV/Atlantic City, NJ
- 2012 @WOGL/Philadelphia
Mobile DJ events (weddings, class reunions, corporate events, fundraisers) voiceover talent for local commercial businesses.
1) How would you describe your first radio gig?
Amazing! At 16 years old in 1976 at my hometown (Hammonton, NJ) radio station WRD Radio. WRDR and WRDI-A, when simulcasting, it was just WRD Radio. Broadcasting high school sports, board-op, producing shows, week-end and holiday air shifts, traffic logs, music librarian, coffee and lunch runner and more!
2) What led you to a career in radio?
As a high school sophomore in March of 1976, broke my ankle playing baseball and started hanging out at the radio station van/trailer during broadcasts. I was asked to join in on the broadcast when one of the guys took a new PD gig in another market.
3) Are you wearing more "hats" than you have in the past?
I'm very lucky presently. I do afternoon drive (2-7p) at Equity Communications' WAYV/Atlantic City and weekends/fill-ins at WOGL/Philadelphia. I do have a nice client list database while doing P/T radio sales, which is where the money is. But, I'm able to just focus on being the best on-air talent possible.
4) What are you doing social media-wise?
I'm a big Facebook guy. Love the interaction with fans/friends of me and the radio stations. It's an awesome tool to connect personally with people. Friends who you've known for years. And, fans who you've never met somehow become like best friends.
5) What are your favorite show prep sources?
Show prep is everyday life. Places you go, people you meet and things that you do. Bring it to the air and keep it local and friendly. Google is amazing. Type in an artist name and bam ...all you need is at your fingertips. Local websites like Philly.com and Press of Atlantic City.com are great.
6) "Local local local" has always been radio's mantra. How do you keep your station visible and involved in the community?
Partner with every charity and non-profit organization that you can. Attend fundraisers. Keep an eye out on Facebook for events and plug them. Local shout-outs are a favorite of mine. I guess you would call them old-fashioned PSAs.
7) What is your favorite part of the job?
Being an on-air personality who gives 100% every talk-point. Being a person who entertains and informs. Making connections with people and being a person who makes fans/friends "just feel good" when they listen to you and the radio station. Doing "live on location" events and appearances ... interacting with your fans/friends, community and clients.
8) What's the coolest promotion you've been involved with recently?
WAYV "$1000 Phrase That Pays!" Everywhere you go in South Jersey, people ask you about it and say it back to you verbatim. "I Listen To 95.1 WAYV Now Give Me My Money." They say it before they even say hello. And the WOGL "Loves Our Kids Radio-Thon" for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. It's a three-day event that just rocks the city. It's three days of "soul cleansing" for me ... a real-life helping hand to children, families and hospital staff.
9) What's the coolest promotion you've EVER been involved with?
BOSS-97 FM "Cash Man"! In the late '80s/early '90s ... when people saw you wearing a station T-shirt/jacket/hat ... they would tell you, go ahead ask me! The Cash Man would go around asking ... "What radio station did you make the switch to?" The answer for $100 was ... "I switched To BOSS-97." We would do it 10 times a day ... every Thursday for 13 weeks, during the Spring/Fall Arbs.
10) What artist would we be surprised to find on your personal playlist?
I'm a huge fan of music from 1967 to 1983, my growing up years. From seven years of age to 23. Glen Campbell is one of my all-time faves.
Bonus Questions
Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff and why do you like them?
My idol is the late Jim O'Brien of WFIL and WPVI TV-6 in Philadelphia. "Jimbo Your Ole Pardno" did WFIL Radio and then Channel 6 WPVI-TV in the '70s and '80s. He would do the morning WFIL radio show from 6-9a, then go upstairs to Channel 6 TV and host the Dialing for Dollars game show at 10a. He would then host the noon "Action News" segment. Then, come back for the 6p and 11p weather forecasts. His work ethic is something I model myself after. His personality was and still is legendary in Philly/South Jersey. He came to Philly in 1970 for WFIL radio and by the mid-70s he was on TV also. Jimbo passed away in a sky-diving tragedy in 1983, but when you mention his name people smile, light up and start praising him like they watched him last night. That's a true radio/TV legend and someone I aspire to be. In 1974, as a 14-year-old kid, I knew what I wanted to do because of "Jimbo."
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