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10 Questions with ... Jana
December 8, 2009
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
- G105/Raleigh Weeknds and overnights
- WSSX/Charleston AM show then MD/middays
- WNOU/Indianapolis MD/middays
- KSLZ/St. Louis MD/middays
- Maverick Records Regional Promotion, Nashville
- KMXV/Kansas City MD/middays
- WZNY/Augusta, GA PD /PM drive
- Since 2004...XL1067 Orlando APD/ MD midday/nights and host of The Sunday Night New.
1) How would you describe your first radio gig?
It was the job everyone should have their first time out. I did overnights, weekends, set up remotes, faxed, fetched and learned EVERYTHING I could. If you needed something done I was your girl. At the time I was just so excited to be at G105 ... what I didn't realize was I was getting a great education in radio operations. That early radio education proved to be the foundation of my career.
2) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
Positive attitudes bring about positive results. Whether I was being challenged by a PD or co-worker ... or when times in the industry got bleak, staying positive has always been key. If you look at your situation in a positive frame of mind, the outcome will always be better. Don't get frustrated ... be thankful and then find a way around that obstacle. Not only will you grow as a person, but you will impress your higher-ups. It's tough to do every time ... but it is always the way to go.
3) What makes your station unique? How would you compare it to other stations you've worked at?
This is BY FAR the best team of people I have worked with. While I have been very fortunate in my career to work with some of the best (Kapugi, Linda Byrd, Zellner and many more). this team gels like no other. The levels of respect (from the very top on down) create this "we can do anything" environment. We have been through our ups and downs together ... and emerged better than ever before. To borrow my co-worker Johnny Magic's word ... We got our swagga back! That is an intangible power that other stations do not have. And we have it in spades! You know when XL1067 is in the room.
4) Are you wearing more "hats" than you have in the past?
Who isn't? But every time something new hits my plate, I take a deep breath and find a way to fit it in. It all goes back to that "positive thinking." Rather than thinking that my boss is trying to kill me ... I see it as my boss knows I can handle it, and I do ... handle it. So music, calls, two daily shows, numerous reports, downloads, web pages, social networks, etc. ... bring it on. The more the merrier. I'm lucky. I'm still here doing what I love to do; if having a full work plate is the way to ensure I get to continue that, sign me up ... for even more. When it becomes too much (which it hasn't yet), then I'll ask for help. It goes back to our team. No matter what, Team XL has it covered.
5) What is your favorite part of the job?
While we get to do A LOT of very cool things in our jobs, my favorite part is still the power of the music. I love it when I play a new song and it connects with a listener. When a listener loves a song enough to reach out to me (not a fan club e-mail, but a true heartfelt one), that puts the BIGGEST grin on my face. It is that simple. Music is amazing. It can make you happy or sad. A song can instantly wake you up or calm you down. When your heart is breaking, music can make you feel not so alone. And what celebration is complete without music? None. I love that we get to be a conduit to bring music into someone's life. For a brief second, many times a day, it is just you, me and the music. That is my most favorite thing.
6) What is the most challenging part of the job?
The most challenging part of this job is balancing it all. Not only do I have to balance the multiple jobs and responsibilities of this job, but I have to balance my life within this job. I'm not that 23-year-old intern anymore. I have an amazing husband, friends and family who I like to spend my free time with. It would be very easy for me to work all day every day. I love my job. But I am finally learning to put down the laptop and enjoy these moments. One of the most important things I have learned from my BBE (Best Boss Ever) Michael Bryan, is to delegate and prioritize. Those of you who know me or have worked with me know I am list-driven. If it's on my list, it's going to be completed ... and the sooner the better. Michael has been great at helping me create that all-important "second list." One list for "today" ... and another to be completed "soon." That way I can balance it all. I have a wonderful job, an amazing husband and life, and I still give it 110%.
7) Could you give us a little insight into your on-air staff?
You couldn't ask for a better staff in this business. We've got a morning show that is ON FIRE. All systems go. The timing, the points of view, and what each one brings to the table ... The Johnny & Jayde morning show gives us an awesome show everyday. Me? I'm happy to hold down the midday show, so I can dish with my "at-workers." Then I pass it off to Ryan Seacrest. Hey ... I get it. I wasn't thrilled initially, either. But listen up ... he brings Hollywood to Orlando. And between our Johnny & Jayde morning show and Ryan Seacrest, we get ALL THE BIG INTERVIEWS (many times we get them both and that sounds HUGE on-air). That is great content!
Our PM drive slot is in flux right now. But let me just say this about our former PM drive talent "Stick on the Radio." Stick gets it. He can be one of the hardest working jocks you will ever work with. He's got passion for the station, the city, and the lifestyle. If you are looking for a talent, you really should check out Stick. He has grown by leaps and bounds since he came here to Orlando four years ago. I am excited to see what is next for him ... and I for one will be cheering him the whole way!
I am currently tracking some of our night show hours. Michael Bryan had a great idea. Why pipe in a talent from another market that doesn't "get Orlando" when you've got top talent right here? It saves on VT money for the station's bottom line and I get more station exposure. That is a true WIN - WIN! It also lets me open up the "fun factor" more so than during the midday show. I'm not all crazy sound effect, wacky night guy-ish, but I do go some places I wouldn't go during the lunch hour. It's a blast and I'm thankful for it.
Rounding out our daily lineup is LAST CALL with Andy Kovacs. Not only is Andy a great "go-to" guy who can do it all here, but between him and our mixer DJ JayMac, they know the club scene and club music better than anyone. We kick off with a mini-mix at 10P and then jump into some solid hits and exciting new records through 1A. It really creates a vibe that is unique to XL1067 and we love it!
Our part-timers are insanely good, our promotions staff is second to none, and our Web team is SICK! I'm not kidding. There is NOTHING that Team XL1067 can't do, do well, and dominate with.
8) What is the current state of the radio 'talent pool'?
Oh, man. It's pretty sad. We got over 100 demos in one week when our PM drive slot opened. And maybe two or three really turned my head. But all the blame doesn't fall on the jocks. It's our fault. We've streamlined ourselves out of our "training grounds." Gone are the live overnight shifts that I learned through. I feel fortunate to have live weekend shifts to train our part-timers. The talent is out there. It's just finding them and teaching them. If you have a fantastic talent in your midst, find time to help them become the best on air talent they can be. You never know, our night guy could eventually become your morning guy ... down the road.
9) What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?
I grew up listening to Q94/Richmond. From the age of 5-15. I loved that station. I was the girl who had the blank cassette in my boom box, ready to tape all my favorite songs. Rather than cut the DJ off mix tape, I loved to leave them on there. Guess that was a clue. After that I moved to Atlanta. My radio bounced between three stations -- Star 94, 96 Rock, and 99X. All stations were great at what they were doing. Unbeknownst to me, all of those stations helped me to become the jock and programmer that I am today.
10) What music do you listen to when you're not working?
Around our house you'll hear a pretty good mix of Alternative rock, Classical music, Country, Dance/Techno, Chill/ Ambient and Motown. Pretty much a bunch of stuff you aren't going to hear on XL1067. I think of it as refreshing my Top 40 years. But every now and then, you'll still hear me cranking some Kings of Leon, The Script and other great "Pop" CDs. They are just TOO GOOD not to play!
Bonus Questions
For someone vacationing in your market, what one thing would you say they "must-see"?
Well, this is Orlando, so just one thing won't do. DISNEY's Epcot is #1 on my list. After that, you can still fill weeks with other Disney Parks, Universal Orlando, Sea World, Outlet Shopping, so many amazing restaurants, Magic Games, Lake Eola, Windermere, THE BEACH and Cape Canaveral. Orlando is the most amazing city I have ever lived in and I hope to call it home for many more years.
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