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10 Questions with ... Leah Rantz
August 8, 2017
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
WBEY-HD2, WZBH, and WLZX.
1. How did you become interested in radio?
I was doing some voicetracking for a Classic Rock station as a side gig but my fulltime job back in 2013 was a cake decorator at Wal-Mart. Sounds fun right? Wrong! I absolutely hated it and most people who worked there hated me. I also happened to be pretty crappy at it so a lot of kid's birthdays were ruined that year. I listened to "The Worst Show Ever" on mornings on WZBH and it was the sole highlight of my day. I immediately was drawn to the theatrical aspect of it. I could only describe the feeling as the same excitement one would feel standing at the edge of a dark backstage, waiting to jump into the spotlight and join the scene.
2. Congrats on your new afternoon show! How tough was it for you to leave your hometown station WZBH/Salisbury-Ocean City to join Lazer 99.3?
Thank you! There's this idea perpetuated around with young people that if you manage to leave your hometown, only then will you achieve success. So, I mentally prepared myself to leave for years before I'd ever gotten into radio. But it's funny how when actually presented with the opportunity, I still felt slight hesitation because I realized I had already achieved success in my own eyes by being in this business and the connections and friendships I've made along the way. Taking on this opportunity at Lazer wasn't about suddenly becoming successful because I was out of the nest, so to speak, it was about challenging myself and leaving behind what was comfortable.
3. Your boss Lenny Diana said you're addicted to energy drinks, love Marvel Comics, and B-Rated horror moves. Explain.
I've been drinking Monster since I was 15 going to Warped Tour shows and they'd hand them out for me to promote. I know I was part of that demo they wanted cause now I'm a lifer-totally addicted to them.
I love the MCU, especially Captain America's storyline. I cosplay [dress as the character] as Captain America at conventions. I might be getting a tattoo soon. Yeah. That into it.
Horror is my favorite genre, but I love ALL bad movies to be honest. Everything from Thankskilling to Killer Klowns from Outerspace and everything in between. I'm super excited about The Disaster Artist coming out soon; it's all about the making of one of the worst movies of all time, The Room.
4. For those tuning in for the first time to afternoons on Lazer, what can they expect?
Expect ThE UnEXpECted ooohhhhh spooky! Thankfully the format I'm in is what I listen to personally, so I actually love to talk about the music. My segments are generally music- centric like my Rock Radar which is a music news segment, and For Better Or Worse is a covers segment. That being said, if I feel particularly passionate about something be it the 13th Doctor on Doctor Who being a female, for example, my last name ain't Rantz for nothin.'
5. How would you describe your on-air style and has it changed moving from Active Rock to Alternative?
I'm a dork and I'm not afraid to make fun of myself for it. I'm much more at ease when I'm being silly or goofy than when I'm trying to be sexy or cool. It's just never the person I've been in real life. The difference between alternative and active is that I am more personally familiar with the music and connect with it better. The artists I'm playing currently are shows I look forward to or have been to. Not to say that wasn't the case with active rock, it's just more so with alternative.
6. What is your show prep routine?
Honestly, it's a little mish mash of everything. Sometimes I'll check prep services; sometimes I'll check what's trending on FB on Twitter. A lot of times I just use my own personal experiences and see if I can relate them to the audience. I'll scribble random statements on a notebook. Sometimes I have no idea what I intended. Like recently I wrote "Rat life." Still trying to find out what that one means.
7. What is your favorite part of being on-air?
The greatest compliment given to me was I had a listener tell me that she felt like she already knew me when we met in person at a remote. That's how I knew I had done a good job because that's exactly how I had felt listening to the morning show on WZBH. To know that I've made a listener's day humbles me because it reminds me of the days when I was at Wal-Mart and the radio was all I had for comfort. I empathize. That's my favorite part: connecting.
8. What has surprised you most about Western Massachusetts?
I asked a girl at Best Buy where the nearest PNC was and she said, "What's a PNC?" And that's when I realized my bank wasn't as widespread as I thought. Also everybody really does say "wicked" here a lot. And they think I have an accent.
9. What may surprise people about you?
Leah Rantz is my actual name. It's not a radio name. It's just fate, I guess.
10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Caffeine. Such a cliché in this industry, I know, but I genuinely get headaches. With the amount I consume, I won't see past 50, I assure you.
Bonus Questions
What are weekends like for you?
Weekends are typically hectic because I have a terrible habit of overbooking myself. I love travelling for comic conventions and concerts. I am the opposite of a home body. I'm never home if I can help it.
What are your hobbies?
Creative writing, yoga, acting, cosplaying... I also love video games; I've been playing a lot of Overwatch lately even though I'm not that good. I love losing, apparently.
Favorite concert in the past year?
The Worldwired Tour with Metallica, A7X and Volbeat at BB&T Stadium in Baltimore.
First record ever purchased?
Evanescence "Fallen"
First concert?
2007 Projekt Revolution with Linkin Park and MCR headlining
Favorite band of all-time?
My Chemical Romance
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