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10 Questions with ... Tessa Hall
August 5, 2008
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NAME:Tessa HallPOSITION:Middays, 10am-3pm / WebmasterSTATION:WAPEMARKET:Jacksonville, FLOWNER:Cox Radio
Please outline your radio career so far:
2007-present: WAPE/Jacksonville, FL -- Middays / Webmaster
2007: KHTT/Tulsa, OK -- Morning show co-host
2005-2007: KDJE/Little Rock, AR - Nights, Interim PD, afternoons, then finally middays and APD.
2004-2005: WYOY/Jackson, MS -- Middays / Production Director.
2003-2004: KIXY/San Angelo, TX -- Nights, then middays.1) You've worked in other formats ... what are the significant differences between those and Top 40? Are you having more fun now?
When I worked in Active Rock, the one thing that really stood out in stark contrast to Top 40 was that rockers wanted all the picayune details about their hero's music. They could care less about their personal lives, unless it directly affected their music.
In comparison, practically all the Top 40 audience wants to know about is any dirt on the artists. And as long as it's got a good beat, they'll parrot lyrics without pause to the actual content.
Rockers accept direction: "I just played it 10 minutes ago, but if you liked that you'll probably like the new one from Nine Inch Nails ... and that's coming up in five minutes." Top 40 callers, from the inevitable tweens to the target demo, expect the station to be their personal iPod. I've come to learn that a brightly issued, "Hey, thanks for the call," at the end of any conversation works like a charm.
As for whether I'm having more fun ... I've had fun practically anywhere I've been on the air. The audience changes, and with it your delivery and content, but it's always fun for me to make that connection resonate.
2) Tell us about your webmaster duties. Where did you acquire your skills? What are you doing different with the WAPE site?
My mad, totally green and wicked electronic webmaster skills were mostly acquired by way of Google. We have a template site, but you're allowed quite a bit of leeway within it. When I first started, I'd simply Google "html code" and whatever it was I was trying to do. I'd then play around with it to make it look like I wanted. Now it comes naturally.
We just transferred over to a new version of the website with far better audio and video capabilities -- new features include comments, blogging, archived station audio and video, and a slew of music videos to choose from. My personal touch is the writing style; I realize we're going to be redundant with so many other entertainment sites, so even something as simple as being an engaging read helps.
3) How would you describe your first radio gig?
"Worked like a dog" comes to mind. The entire air staff was not allowed to sit down at all during their air shifts, which were six days a week, or production shifts. For some inestimable reason, we were also compelled to wear business attire, though programming was on the second floor, and never had any interaction in day-to-day business transactions. I consider it a great example of "paying my dues," and I loved practically every day of it ... except the time the brown recluse spider crawled out of one of the pots on the board. Yes, I screamed. Yes, the mic was hot.
4) Are you wearing more "hats" than you have in the past?
For once I'm not. It's a rather refreshing change. Cox really believes in its talent; from what I've seen at the Jacksonville cluster, talent is coached to do what they're interested in. If that means you think you'd like to learn about websites, they'll let you jump in. If you're the type to concentrate solely on your air work, they understand. That's one benefit I definitely don't mind.
5) What is the most challenging part of the job?
For me, the most challenging part of the job is coming up with compelling content that I can use over an 11-second intro with no stop-downs or music beds ... and still fit in, "95.1 WAPE, Jacksonville's Number 1 Hit Music Station." I'm probably even more into "keeping the flow going" than corporate directive. I try to be a daily subscriber to the K.I.S.S. principle ... and it usually works to my favor.
6) What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?
I'm in Mensa ... but I had to repeat Kindergarten.
7) If you could add one full-time position to your budget right now, what would it be?
Please God, please ... a copywriter. Asking salespeople to write scripts just isn't in the best interest of anyone. Trying to make something out of a script that starts out in third person, wanders through narrative, and ends up in first person never fails to give me a headache ... and spectacular outtakes.
8) Who would be a "dream guest" to have on your show?
Carlos Mencia. The man is brilliant. His stand-up style is so suited to radio; he can seize on the smallest detail and turn it on its ear. I wouldn't so much have him as a "dream guest," but as a "dream guest co-host."
9) Do you have a favorite hobby outside of radio?
I love sketching and painting. I've even left my mark at the station in my PD's (JR Ammons) office: http://wape.com/inside/bigapesighting.html
So I guess it's my favorite hobby inside and outside of radio.
10) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
There will always be those people you helped out in a pinch who remember (and hire you) seven years later. Or get you a signed Metallica guitar to give away.
Bonus Questions
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I wanted to be a superhero. I still don't subscribe to reality.
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