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10 Questions with ... CRASH
June 15, 2021
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Please give us a brief career synopsis… Worked in a few different places, started in Terre Haute, Indiana. Ended up leaving there and doing a 3 year run at WNKS in Charlotte, after that, Moved in Indianapolis and did 3 years on WNOW. Was cut from there due to budget issues and finally landed down here in Gulfport at WZNF, which I’m programming, along with the Afternoon show each day. On top of that, I’m doing Mornings on KRAT in Reno NV, Middays at WRZK in Johnson City TN, and Afternoons at KYMK in Lafayette LA.
1. How would you describe your first radio gig?
I was excited to get my first gig. It was with WMGI in Terre Haute, IN. The only two stations I grew up listening to, were WZZQ and WMGI, so it was surreal to walk into, let alone WORK at a station that I listened to for years. It’s at this job that I realized what the term “Wearing Many Hats” meant in the business.
2. What led you to a career in radio?
I originally was a videographer, I would video the football team’s formations at games in high school, and do my own commentary that I didn’t think they could hear on the game film…. I was wrong, they thought it was HILARIOUS. Fast forward to college, I was going to be a behind the scenes cameraman or producer on the television side of things, and I just didn’t vibe with it--I just wasn’t having fun. One day I just stumbled on the radio side of things, and hung out with them for a day or two, and decided that was the way I wanted to go. The rest is history.
3. Are things back to “normal” as far as staff being back in the building and studios these days?
There never really was any type of slow down when the pandemic hit. Out of the entire year of 2020, we had to work at home maybe a total of 3-4 weeks. 2 weeks was precaution for the entire staff, and then I was around someone that had COVID, so I stayed at home for 2 weeks. I never had COVID. We were fortunate enough that we weren’t affected when it came to being away from the studios and building
4. What did you learn about yourself as a programmer navigating the pandemic?
That your listeners really do rely on you and other local outlets to help them know what’s going on. Also, programming as many positive vibes to come out of the speakers as possible, whether it be the music, imaging, and even having the jocks maintain a very positive attitude and delivery on-air. I believe that stuff resonates to the audience and can, in a way, give them a positive escape. When it comes to the street team, it was basically nonexistent, because we basically kept part-timers out of the building and just had the main full-time staff in the building, but to get the logo out there more, we went old school and purchased billboards around the coast, and we try to get the truck on the streets and “stuck” in traffic, where we are very visible, but able to keep the distance from people around us. Using Facebook, and other social media platforms to reach our audience beyond the speakers and studio helped us as well.
5. You’re still on the air—hosting afternoons every day. Why is it important for you to continue to crack the mic on a daily basis?
The mechanics of BEING live will wear and fade over time. I do a lot of riffing on my show. I know what I’m going to talk about, but I just crack the mic and let it flow. That’s something I think will fade away over time. I even find it hard to do that kind of thing after a nice long vacation….wait… what’s a vacation?
Also I think it’s important to be in here every day and not voicetracked because I can pick up on what the audience wants to hear through requests, texts, things like that, as well as what’s wearing them out. That info is very important when it comes to programming for your market, especially in a smaller market, and during the pandemic, we don’t have access to as much research as the bigger companies.
When you’re on air every day, you can get a firsthand look at what exactly the station sounds like, and how it flows. That’s hard to do sometimes when you’re in the office setting and keep getting interrupted, or your focus is on other tasks rather than the station itself.
6. How does Ryan Gavin’s morning show set the tone for the rest of the broadcast day?
Ryan’s show has to be upbeat, with very positive vibes. He nails this every day. He always brings his best and gets us off and running on the right foot. Now from time to time there will be unfortunate news that will have to be talked about on air, but Ryan is really good about balancing that with being sympathetic and keeping things moving forward and positive.
7. Which social media platforms are working best for you and the staff these days?
The usual suspects, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.
8. “Local local local” has always been radio’s mantra. How do you keep your station visible and involved in the community? Have you been getting back out there yet?
We’ve had remotes from time to time, a lot of the businesses here are still working to get back to the way things were, and will run advertising, but may skip the remotes because of the extra cost. But when we are out, listeners are very happy to see us and have no problem approaching the tent and getting a prize. As I said before, during the pandemic, we actually bought billboards that were highly visible on the coast, along with getting the truck off the lot, even if it was for a little bit.
9. Have we heard The Song Of Summer, 2021 yet? If so, what is it?
Right now it sounds like Dua Lipa “Levitating” is a strong leader in that category. But we have no idea what’s to come. Someone could drop the next big summer song on us the same day this is posted.
10. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?
I’ve been very fortunate to have surrounded myself with some of the best in the business and have been able to learn from their craft, from high school, through college, and professionally. I’m a sponge, I’m learning every day in this business. Alan Burns, Jeff Sanders, John Reynolds (WNKS), Tim “Rayne” Rainey, Leo Baldwin, Bryan Rhodes, Kevin Watson (Vincennes University), Mr. Patrick Killeen (Terre Haute South High School) has taught me a lot about this business, everything from programming strategy, to on-air mechanics.
Bonus Questions
With the venue of your choice at your disposal and an unlimited budget, which 3-5 acts would you pull together for a Q 93.5 welcome back concert?
The setup at the main stage for Hangout Fest has always been one of my favorite.
Billie Eilish
Twenty One Pilots
Maroon 5
Ariana Grande
The Weeknd -
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