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10 Questions with ... Max Miller
July 18, 2017
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
The day after I graduated college, I stumbled into work hungover for my first day in radio at WAZO. I worked nights and weekends for WAZO for about 10 months. When the morning show position opened up on WRMR about a year ago, I made the transition to mornings.
1. How did you become interested in radio?
I honestly had no idea that a career in radio was even possible. I knew I didn't want to just have a traditional job and I knew I wanted to do something special but I had no clue what. Then there it was, radio kind of found me. I was about to graduate college and I was applying for jobs like a mad man when I saw an ad for a part time radio air personality and thought "I could probably do that." A few weeks later I was doing weekends and eventually nights on Top 40 station WAZO. I realized I had a passion for it and when a position opened up at our sister Alt Rock station WRMR I jumped on it.
2. What has been your biggest challenge moving from Top 40 sister WAZO (Z107.5) nights to mornings on Modern Rock 98.7?
Well obviously waking up at 4am rather than 10am was a big challenge... but once I figured out how much coffee I had to drink to be awake, but not so much that I poop my pants in the studio it became a little easier. But the biggest challenge... I had only been in radio for less than a year and I was still figuring out how to really "be myself" on the air. I was more a goofy/silly personality with a ton of energy at night on WAZO because I kind of figured who cares and not that many people are listening anyways. But when I switched to mornings on WRMR I had to figure how to bring the same energy without yelling into the mic all morning long. I was a little bit like a pitcher with a ton of power but I was wild... I had to figure out how to bring the same power but throw strikes... with my mouth... into people's ear holes.
3. I'm guessing your hilarious boss wrote your morning show bio. Give us the 411 on Max In The Morning.
He deserves no credit, I wrote my bio... I really honestly feel incredibly lucky to be where I am in life right now. I love being active. I live at the beach and I surf whenever there are waves, I love skateboarding when there aren't. I grew up a hockey player and I play once a week in a men's league. I play golf as much as I can without going broke and I play guitar and love writing songs when I'm not outside. I have a girlfriend who is great to me and we spend a lot of time together. I love people and I'll do just about anything if it means I'll get a good laugh.
4. How different is your Alternative morning show from your Top 40 night show?
I have always been very upbeat and positive in life as well as on the radio so not much has changed on that front. One big difference is that I'm not talking about what club Justin Bieber went to over the weekend... I get to talk about things that I'm actually interested in like bands and people who write their own music. I have always had a passion for music and I've always been interested in the "fun facts" about bands and music. I have a knack for remembering little factoids that I find fascinating like how a band got their name or why they wrote a song. I also interact with my audience a lot more. During the night show it was mostly me doing my own thing, but I love interacting with listeners on the phone and I get to do that way more on mornings.
5. How would you describe your on-air style?
I would say I have a lot of energy, I'm very positive and I love to have fun. I'm definitely not the laid back, super chill, smoked too much pot in college, rock morning show guy. My style reflects my life. I'm happy, have a lot of energy, I love goofing around and I love music.
6. What is your favorite part of your show?
Well the most popular segment on my show is called Beverly Thrills. Our front desk receptionist, who has become like a cult superstar and is now known all over town as "Front Desk Bev", reads lyrics to rock songs. She is a mid-60's southern grandmother who has no idea what the songs are and her reactions to the lyrics are hilarious. She reads the lyrics, listeners guess the songs. BUT, my favorite part of the show? Interacting with listeners. I love interacting and connecting with people in general and when I get the phones lighting up with people chiming in on things like "Do you walk around the house naked?" That is usually the highlight of the morning for me.
7. What is your show prep routine?
I get to work around 5 and use wisebrother media's complete sheet, delicious audio, and studio think tank for content pretty often. But I also check ladbible, barstoolsports, brobible and a variety of other sites for some good "dude" content. Aside from that, I take notes on my phone pretty much all day every day on things that happen or thoughts that I have. I always check my notes to see if there was anything funny or entertaining I thought of the day before. It's amazing how quickly I forget things if I don't write them down...
8. Biggest mistake you've ever made in the studio?
Where do I even begin... probably editing audio from a listener or talking to a listener on the phone and accidentally broadcasting it on air.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Spilling something on my shorts. If I ever make it through a full day you will know because I will be wearing the same shorts two days in a row like a trophy.
10. What would surprise people most about you?
It would probably surprise people to know that I am really into 90's and early 2000's rap music and I'm not a bad rapper myself. I write a lot of music and about half the time I write some pretty killer white guy rap.
Bonus Questions
Tell us about Max Miller the hockey player at the University Of North Carolina.
Oh boy... hockey. I was/still am a pretty good hockey player. I always loved mixing it up with other guys and getting into fights. But that's just the game. I'm not necessarily an aggressive person in real life. Hockey is the best sport ever. You can fight someone and then say, "Hey, nice fight" immediately after and shake hands. Playing hockey at UNC Wilmington was a big part of who I am today. We partied a lot, played hockey a lot, and partied a lot.
What are weekends like for you?
Weekends are pretty great. I'm lucky enough to live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, Wrightsville Beach, NC. W eekends are usually filled with hanging out at the beach with friends and doing various activities. Drinking beverages and grilling out at night is pretty typical. I love to be outside so I try to spend as much time outside as I can.
First record ever purchased?
The Who's Greatest Hits.
First concert?
Went to see Sting with my parents when I was about 13. But the first concert I went to by myself was Lil Wayne. Don't judge me. He was popular back then.
Favorite band of all-time?
Without a shadow of a doubt, the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Not only my favorite, but definitely are in the conversation for best band of all time. Bring it on haters.
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