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10 Questions with ... Eloy Camacho-Panoski
June 11, 2019
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
"I began working in radio in 2014, right after graduating from Sonoma State Univ. I started on the promotions team and was offered the Promotions Dir. position for two of our stations within a year. A few months later, I was offered what I had been dreaming of -- an on-air opportunity on Hot 101.7, our Top 40 station. I started out as the overnight guy and I've since had experience with just about every daypart, but I'm most happy currently as the afternoon guy. I get to mix my love of talking, pop culture, horror movie obsessions, social awareness, and creativity every day. It really doesn't get much better than that!"
1) You're doing afternoons on Hot 101.7, as well as wearing the Promotions Dir. hat, and also handling promotions for your sister Classic Rock 97.7 The River. What is your method to prioritize priorities?
Being a Promotions Dir. was actually the first role I took on, working primarily with our News/Talk KSRO AM 1350/FM 103.5/94.5, so I feel like that role is something that is always going to have a special place in my heart and has been the role that takes more of a front seat on my day-to-day tasks. My mentality is that promotions don't only effect the station, but it's also directly tied to clients and sales. My goal is to always make sure that our clients are happy and that they know that we take our responsibilities seriously. It's a bit like work hard, play hard, with promotions being at the forefront and the on-air fun being second.
2) Is the air studio a "safe haven" for you?
It absolutely is a safe haven for me. Most personalities would agree that there is a level of goofiness, confidence and humor that we get to fully engage with behind the mic. As corny as it sounds, it feels like a safe, comfortable and familiar conversation with a friend when talking to our listeners.
3) Sonoma is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. There was a devastating fire there a year-and-a-half ago. How has the recovery gone?
Seeing the damage that was done by the fires was heartbreaking, not only because we heard first-hand accounts of people who lost their homes, their belongings, pets and loved ones, but also because Sonoma County is my home. I was born and raised in Santa Rosa, CA, and so it felt like a personal hit seeing how much devastation the fires caused. Many people are still recovering, dealing with contracts and a slew of financial hurdles.
4) What role did the station play in getting information out to your listeners?
This was my first experience dealing with a serious, local crisis as a personality. It was also one of the experiences I've had where "all hands on deck" was fully realized. All five of our stations essentially turned to our sister station, KSRO, which disseminated crucial and life-saving information to our listeners. Our entire team answered probably thousands of phone calls; we stayed at the station for hours, and we kept each other's spirits as high as possible. While I didn't handle much of the on-air responsibilities during that time, I was one of the first people at the station at 5a on that morning and was told by our president that I would need to get on the mic and start giving out any information we had at the time. It was a scary time and a tragedy in many ways, but it taught me a valuable lesson about the role that we play and how our jobs really do affect people's lives.
5) How would you describe your first radio gig?
I would describe it as "lucky as hell!" Ha ha! There have definitely been ups and downs, but I've been so fortunate to have had such incredible team members who have allowed me to grow and become better over time, but who also look out for me as a person. There was a part of me that was nervous to discuss any part of my personal life, specifically regarding my relationship and my sexuality, which I had never really had any fear of doing in real life before I started. But my team ("squad" is a better term) has encouraged me to be open, honest, and real on air. So yes, very, very lucky!
6) What led you to a career in radio?
My close friend -- and fellow radio personality, Ashlee Sleek -- and I were co-hosts on our college radio station, KSUN. At first, our show "Red Carpet Ready" was a fun idea for me, but I don't know if I ever thought I would be good enough to actually be a personality. That changed when our professor - another fellow radio peep - Nate Campbell told Ashlee and I that we had something. That was all the motivation we needed to know that we wanted to pursue this amazing and crazy radio dream. I interned at our cluster during my last semester of college and was offered a job on the promotions team. One thing led to another and now I'm here!
7) "Local local local" has always been radio's mantra. How do you keep your station and the show visible and involved in the community?
Being a Sonoma County native has definitely helped with a sense of familiarity and community. It's always fun for me to relate to our listeners on an extra personal level because this is our home. I felt a real full-circle moment this year when we were at the local Sonoma County Pride event. What I found most rewarding was being able to emcee the Pride parade. I had a handful of very young listeners come up to me afterwards who asked for selfies and who told me how much they love the station. This was very meaningful for me because I wasn't only communicating with Sonoma County members, but I was also engaging with the young LGBTQ+ community and it reminded me of how much I wished I had that type of visibility and connection as a kid. It was really beautiful.
8) Who would be the perfect dream guest to plug-in across the table from you?
My dream celebrity guests include: Beyoncé, because she's Beyoncé; Lady Gaga, because she's my hero and idol; and Jamie Lee Curtis, because she's the original scream queen and horror rules everything around me.
My dream radio guests include: Zach Sang, because he is the epitome of having his finger on the pulse of what is current, trending, and relevant; Brady Broski from 103.5 KISS FM, because his interviews are really interesting and fun to listen to; and Shan from 99.7 Now, because she is a legitimate business woman who is turning her career into an empire and the hustle is admirable.
9) What is your favorite part of the job(s)?
I know it's cliché, but it's the listener interaction. With my initial apprehension about whether I could do this or not, hearing from our listeners is affirming and validating.
10) Who would you say that your mentors have been?
I lucked out with my mentor - Jenn Routh was one of the Promotions Dirs. at our cluster when I interned, and I admired her so much. She's determined, direct, kind and so helpful, and I'm fortunate enough to call her a co-worker, a friend, and a mentor who showed me the ropes and kept my head above water when I felt doubtful about myself. I quite literally would not be in this field if it weren't for her.
Bonus Questions
Where would you take someone who was looking for a great meal with their great wine?
It's a combo - first, drive to Healdsburg (about 15-20 minutes from Santa Rosa), and clear your schedule so that you can stop at every winery. Most importantly, visit Williamson Wines because they do a complementary wine and cheese pairing, and their mango stilton cheese is life-changing. Then, hit up Healdsburg Bar and Grill across the street and eat an entire bucket of truffle fries and chipotle fries. Then, go home and have more wine!
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