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10 Questions with ... Mike Shaffer
November 4, 2008
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NAME:Mike ShafferPOSITION:MD/AfternoonsSTATION:KCLDMARKET:St Cloud, MNOWNER:Leighton Broadcasting
Please outline your radio career so far:
I started out at KUOO/Spirit Lake, IA doing afternoons. Big ups to the cornfields! Then I moved up to KCLD/St. Cloud, MN to do late-nights and weekends. From there I bounced out to the East Coast to WSEA/Myrtle Beach, SC to take nights. No more than three months later ... (holla if you've ever been screwed by the man!) I found myself back at KCLD as the MD/afternoon guy.
1) How would you describe your first radio gig?
Moving from my hometown of Cleveland to a town of a few thousand people was just a BIT of a culture shock. Let's just say I paid my dues. I was playing Soft Rock all day, the air literally smelled like manure, and often times I found myself at remotes that made me contemplate retirement at the tender age of 24. Ever rock the mic at a nursing home garage sale? I have! Yeah you read that right ... a NURSING HOME GARAGE SALE.
2) What led you to a career in radio?
My attention whore-ness disorder and the fact that I never really wanted to work for a living.
3) What makes your station unique? How would you compare it to other stations you've worked at?
KCLD is very unique because we're an earshot from Minneapolis. We're forced to compete with the big boys and it takes our staff's game to a higher level. I'm lucky enough to work with a cast of characters who know how to have fun, and it comes through on the air.
4) What is your favorite part of the job?
It sounds cheesy, but most people can't wait to leave their job and get home every night ... but for me, the time I spend inside the station is my happy time. I can forget about all the drama and problems outside of work and just have FUN.
5) What is the most challenging part of the job?
Keeping the listener engaged and entertained. It's our main objective to develop an emotional connection with whatever it is we're saying or doing. You've only got a short amount of time to make an impression ... don't make 'em change the station! No pressure!
6) What artist would we be surprised to find on your iPod?
David Lee Roth. Any man who can do the mid-air splits in his 50's is a rock n' roll GOD.
7) What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?
I was once a member of a small-time pro wrestling promotion. I was known as "Eugene Green The Hardcore Machine" -- 150 lbs. of terror inside the squared circle boyeeee! Buy me a drink and I'll show you the tapes sometime.
8) What is it about our industry that keeps you wanting to do it for a living?
Radio can be crazy stressful but it's also very rewarding. Those instances when a listener walks up to you at a remote and tells you that you helped brighten up their day with a bit about booty cream make it all worthwhile.
9) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
The cornfields really do smell like cornfields and livestock shows aren't as fun as they sound. Oh yeah ... they don't really sound fun at all, do they?
10) What advice you would give people new to the business?
G-R-I-N-D. If you want something bad enough, put in the work and eventually someone will take notice. Don't get complacent. You've got one life to live, why settle for mediocrity? And lastly, just try and enjoy the ride. It's gonna be bumpy, for sure, but you're guaranteed free T-shirts for life.
Bonus Questions
What's the biggest gaffe you've made on-air?
Oh, there have been a few, but how about the time I was talking with the night guy about how I didn't want to "reproduce with skanks" while the mic was live. "Reproduce" wasn't the word I used, either. Whoopsie.
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