-
10 Questions with ... Rubin
August 26, 2008
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
NAME:RubinTITLE:Imaging Director/afternoon driveSTATION:KWODMARKET:SacramentoCOMPANY:EntercomBORN:PhoenixRAISED:Phoenix
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
KROQ/Los Angeles Van Driver in the late-'90s; KBLT/Silverlake-L.A.(Pirate Radio) DJ on "Three Straight Guys in a Closet" Morning Show; KPCC NPR/AAA nights (my college internship); KTCL Denver part-time banner hanger and overnights (fellow KROQ Van Driver Nerf was Promo Dir. and hired me). Worked my way up at KTCK to APD/MD/mornings. Then to KWOD as part of a morning team. When station format shifted, I was moved to afternoons and now I'm the Imaging Director as well.
LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:
Bartender at the Derby in Los Angeles (where they filmed SWINGERS).
FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:
A 45 of "Turning Japanese" by The Vapors.
FIRST CONCERT:
Rolling Stones, Tattoo You tour at ASU Sun Devil Stadium.
FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:
Rage Against The Machine
1. How did you become interested in radio?
Always listened to KROQ when I lived in LA. Loved it from the first moment I heard it. Still have cassettes that I'd put in the boom box. I'd push record and leave for work. When I went back to school I wanted a second job, and KROQ was literally down the street. I called and asked if they were hiring for anything. They were looking for van drivers and interviewed and got the job. I LOVED THAT JOB and if I win the lottery, I'll move back to LA and ask for it back. One day, having a few drinks at Dalts downstairs from the station with buddy Nerf (now KTCL PD), I found myself sitting next to Kevin Weatherly. I recited a funny phone call to him about some guy wanting to win tickets to Joan Jett at the Temecula Mud Bogs. He said, "You have a great voice for radio." That was all I needed to hear!
2. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?
98 KUPD. I loved the Red Radio Morning Show with Dave Pratt. Curtiss Johnson was on-air too and such the cool jock. And now he's my PD at KWOD.
3. What part of your job do you like best: imaging duties or being on-air?
Because imaging is still new to me, I love the challenge. I'm far from being a fully accomplished jock but I'm pretty satisfied with what I have to offer on-air. I love interaction with people who are just as insane about what we play as I am. Imaging lets me be creative in a way I never thought possible. I learn something new every time I make new prod.
4. Who in radio are your influences, your mentors, the people to whom you listen?
Kevin Weatherly was the first person to ever air-check me, and I was only a van driver! He took the time to listen and gave some pointers that I still use today. Mike O'Connor took me to radio boot-camp in Denver. A brilliant and intense guy who just knows how to position a station. He taught me tons.
My current boss Curtiss Johnson is just as effective as O'Connor was with a totally different approach. Curtiss is the Zen Master. Sitting back, listening, and offering subtle pointers in how I approach what I do. For imaging, I learned so much working with KTCL/KBCO Imaging Director Roger Keeler. Manic creative is the best way to describe The Rocket. He's always thinking of a new angle. He taught me technical things that I still use. He's one of a kind. Creative Prod buddy Mike Santos at Alice in Denver is a technical wizard and always has good advice. Also for imaging, just listening to what John Frost does is inspiring.
Finally Nerf, my best friend has always offered amazing advice as to how to "move" within a radio station. He is a very intelligent guy and super creative. But mostly, his heart is what makes him successful.
5. Give a brief description of a typical day at KWOD?
I image KWOD from my home studio so except for the Monday meeting, I have no idea what they're doing at the station from morning until I get there around 3:30. I do know that they never save me any free food (MD Andy Hawk is a good little eater!). I get up, make a ton of coffee, and go straight to my studio. It's all about priority A, B & C. Promos get first consideration then I'll check burn on standard sweeps/features/all prod and see what needs updating. Promos that need to get on-air ASAP get emailed to Andy. Standard imaging I'll put on CD and bring in.
Then I'll prep my 4-8 shift. Before I leave for the station, I try to write one original creative "bit" to run by Curtiss. I like to time getting to the station so I'm on-air within 10 minutes of getting there. I'm all prepped but I'm online a lot for breaking news, traffic, etc. the whole time. And by 8p my voice is shot because I probably take too many calls, but there are a lot of funny and weird people in Sacramento. Just my types... After my air-shift I'll load whatever imaging I have on CD into the system, record my Adam Carolla Recycler for the next day and motor. The days are just packed!
6. What makes your afternoon show unique?
Phones, phones, phones...I LIVE to answer the phone. I think the most effective break I can do is a phoner that is also a liner. When a listener asks a question, I answer it with all the details covered. I feel that KWOD is their station. So I cater to making it sound like they're the ones running it. And for the most part, they do. I also am a fully realized smart-ass and I try to have as much fun with callers as possible. Some get it right away, some don't, but that can make for a great phoner too. I also have to make fun of Hollywood so lately I've been "Checking In With The Skanks" and have some on-air fun at Lindsay & Brittany's expense. Lastly, I'm a huge believer in band audio. Dexter or Tom Morello can say what's going on with their bands better than I can.
7. What is your show prep routine?
Egotastic.com, TMZ.com, MicCheck, CNN, The Daily Show, E Online...Name it, I look at it for prep.
8. What do you find most amusing about your audience? Most annoying?
Most amusing is that, let's face it, Sacramento is not what you'd call "The Most Exciting City In America," but the people who listen to KWOD understand that, have a great sense of humor about where they live and about the cruddy traffic. They're also MAD PASSIONATE about the local music scene. And that keeps things interesting as there's always genuine support for local music here. MC Rut is a local band that has been NUMBER 1 in our research. Amazing!
Most annoying: I do live traffic reports and don't understand why people can be so WEIRD about traffic. Frustrated, I understand, but it's California. It's rush-hour. It's going to suck no matter what. So when I take traffic lightly and say things like "Does it really matter why there's slowing on Southbound 5? It's 4:38 on a Thursday, probably a cow or a new species of lemur..." Some folks get WAY bent.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ____________?
RUNNING. I have a stupid high metabolism and if I don't do something that gets my heart moving I don't sleep.
10. What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?
Religious History was my major at UCLA before the call of a full-time job took me away. I'm not a religious person but I've always been fascinated as to how/why we believe what we believe. Always wanted to know what the origins were. I also want to study sharks. I'm going to Guadalupe next month to cage dive and meet some great whites.
Bonus Questions
What are your hobbies?
Would Voiceover work be considered a hobby? Since I image I work with my voice a lot. I'm the voice of VS. Network's "Whitetail Revolution" hunting show. I've also voiced for Sesame Street and ESPN. It's a hobby, I guess. I also love to snowboard, surf, run, and ride my bike. Pretty much anything that keeps me moving.
-
-