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10 Questions with ... P.K.
February 5, 2008
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NAME:P.K.POSITION:Morning Show HostSTATION:Syndicated from KXJM (Jammin 95.5)MARKET:Portland, ORCOMPANY:Rose City RadioBORN:1978RAISED:Athens, Greece (till 10) / Virginia Beach, VA (10-18)
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
WNVZ/Virginia Beach, VA; KZQZ/San Francisco, CA; WLDI/West Palm Beach, FL; KDND/Sacramento, CA; KXJM/Portland, OR; To name a few...
1. Think back to 1993...where did you think you'd be in 15 years?
Wow, how ironic that you would pick 1993. That's when this all started, when I knew I wanted radio to be my life. It was early July to be precise, my friends where outside playing games, building forts, getting into trouble, not me. I spent my summer copying the dictionary. It was my father's way of not having to worry about where I was or what I was doing. He would find a reason to ground me, every year. I would wake up, write, eat lunch, write, eat dinner, go to bed. No phone, TV, playtime, nothing. The only escape I had was a small alarm clock radio I stole from the guest room. I listened nonstop... I actually was able to tune out the writing by listening to that small radio. I would try to sneak the phone from time to time, try to win whatever contest Mix 105.9 had on. I finally did win, I can't remember the prize but hearing my voice on that small clock radio was a life changing event. Weird how thing work out. It's like I said, how ironic that you would pick 1993.
2. What's the statute of limitations on jokes/humor about dead people...on air -vs- at the bar with your buddies?
At the bar there are no limits (especially after some drinks). Shakespeare once said comedy is travesty over time. On the air it comes down to the time that has passed, the person, and the joke. I realize the "P.D. friendly" answer is NEVER but that answer would make me a liar... and I only lie to my fiancée's, mother, her mother, and the listening audience (kidding on the last one).
3. I understand that you've recently gotten engaged to be married. How did you swing that?
The first night was alcohol. I'm not really sure why she stayed in the morning, still trying to figure that out. All kidding aside, she is HOT, sweet, and can take a joke. She also understands radio (as she co-produced a syndicated A.M. talk program). I learned the hard way that there are very few things in the world that can make a man more miserable then having to come home to "that was suppose to be private" or "that made me sound like a b#^$h".
4. What's the highlight of your radio career to date?
One? How about my highlight(s)?! Pleasssseee...
I remember earlier this year discussing on-air a personal trip to Las Vegas. We ended up spending our trip with a car full of fans from Fresno. They heard us talking about the trip, drove from Fresno, and found us by calling random hotels on the strip. How is that for not being local? I also just had my birthday in Vancouver B.C. (fav. city of all time), again, a couple from Portland DROVE 7 hours each way to buy me a birthday shot. The fans we have today have to be one of my highlights.
I also HAVE to add the time we blindfolded DuRyan and convinced him that for his birthday we got a stripper that he could feel up. The look on his face as the blindfold was removed and the realization hit that the stripper was his MOTHER was priceless.
Could I add memorable as well? Is there a morning person in America who's isn't 9/11? Man, the emotion, confusion, shock, fear. It's not a highlight but a memory that will stay with me to the end.
5. Now that The Playhouse is syndicated in over a dozen very diverse markets, how has your daily preparation for the show changed?
Not one bit. The cold hard fact (as proven by our numbers) is that a show does NOT need to be local in order to succeed. The key is to have good content and more important (now more then ever) a good crew. When it comes to content, we prep at 1am, have a schedule by 4:30am, and go on at 5am. I never understood why so many program directors insist on having their show's stick around until 1 in the afternoon. I say live life and bring me stories baby!
Here is the other secret, marry your listening audience. What I mean by that is there isn't a thing our listeners don't know about our personal lives. Just like they know their wife or husband, our audience knows us... that well. I have to say more then anything in today's climate of ADD (I-Pods, Internet, Satellite, 500 Television channels) your job IS to create an inseparable bond with your fans. What better way then sharing a personal moment that they can relate to? If you are doing a show with characters please, for radio's future, get out of the 80's. Evolve with the world, radio doesn't have a choice. It is why we get people that are willing to make a 14 hour road trip just to buy us a drink.
6. Who is your favorite morning personality?
I make it a point not listen to morning radio. I hate hearing a brilliant idea only to realize I wasn't the creator.
7. You're trapped on a deserted island for one year with an actress, a singer and an newscaster. Who would they be?
Actress: The very sexxxxxyyy Scarlet Johansson.
Singer: Is there a bar on this desert island? If so... Amy Winehouse!
Newscaster: Barbara Walters baby... sexy time.
8. What's your favorite TV show?
The majority of my favorites have been cancelled. I wonder what that say's about my taste.
Entourage - Californication - Studio 60 - Dead Like Me - West Wing - MacGyver (old school baby)
9. Five words on each of your Playhouse mates.
a. Sonie: Angry; Motherly; Militant; Stubborn; Opinionated;
b: DuRyan: Idiot; Stupid; Moron; Buffoon; LIKABLE;
c. Neveen: Roommate; Bad-Girl; Messy; Loud; Diva;
d. Ivan: Roommate; Creepy; Funny; Quick; Did I say CREEPY?
10. Can you describe the guidance given to you by your boss, Mark Adams?
a. daily:
When Mark hears something he likes or hates, we talk. Mark is the only man in radio that's ever articulated CLEARLY to me why something did or did not work. There is a gigantic difference between teaching and dictating. I owe my entire career to the man.
b. on handling the syndication aspect, as it relates to his priority...Portland:
We really don't have any issues here. As far as importance, obviously Portland comes first.
Bonus Questions
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I am honestly not sure. I want to win in a Top 4 with the people I now refer to as my family. I also love flying and if the call never comes I am not against calling it a day and perusing my pilot career. I have had a great run and don't want to end up 50 and in a small market working for a guy who thinks they are God's gift to radio.
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