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10 Questions with ... Dave Farra
September 8, 2020
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. We have also worked hard to grow with the times and advancing technology. The live video stream that we do (Twitch, Facebook, and YouTube) of the last two hours of the show each morning has turned into a popular feature for both live and on-demand viewing. We are reaching people on multiple platforms, in multiple cities, while maintaining that authenticity and relatability that Mahoney and I have built over a decade and a half of friendship.
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Started in Columbia, SC at WARQ (Alt Rock at the time) in 2000 as a part-timer and worked every job until I left as APD/MD/afternoons. Got the call to move to Vegas in 2005 to take over afternoons on KXTE and launched The Dave and Mahoney Morning Show in 2009. We started syndicating the show in late 2018, signed a deal with Compass Media Networks to handle the ad sales, and have been able to grow a nice base of affiliates in a relatively short amount of time.
1. For those who have never heard The Dave & Mahoney Show, how would you describe the show?
The hallmark of the show is that Mahoney and I have been friends for the past 15 years, and that comes through on-air. If we are able to make each other laugh, we are on the right track, and we genuinely LOVE waking up and doing the show with this team each morning. We produce a topical, fast paced show that is rooted in the happenings of the world today, with strong benchmarks every single day.
2. Last time we chatted you didn’t have Audrey Drake on the show. Tell us about her role on The Dave & Mahoney Show.
Audrey is a real talent. She grew up in radio (her Dad is superstar programmer Cat Thomas who runs Hubbard's KQMV in Seattle), and you can tell she has a real passion for this. She's an open book on-air, really knows how to make a point, and never hesitates to call Mahoney and I out when we say something stupid. She's become an invaluable part of the team in just over a year on air with us.
3. Your newest affiliate is ALT 105.1 in Louisville. Tell us about syndicating the show and how you localize the show for each market.
Very excited to add both Lafayette, LA and Louisville, KY to the list of growing affiliates. We've found a great connection with many listeners in the markets we're fortunate enough to broadcast in, and we work hard to be way out in front of prep by sourcing that ourselves each day and having memorable original benchmarks. Plus, the over the top opinions of Mahoney, Audrey's razor-sharp wit, and Ian's work on the street talking to weird pigeon people really makes the show sound different than anything else on the radio. We customize with multiple hourly teases, market specific breaks when there is big news in that city (like when COVID-19 was first breaking), and make SURE we are responding to every listener from each market we get the privilege to serve.
4. You’re the play-by-play guy. Take us behind the scenes of putting the Dave & Mahoney Show together each day.
I handle the rundown, we all source our own stories of interest, and Ian Schebel, our producer, organizes it according to the rundown. We map out a topic of the day and our benchmark features the day before, and then adjust accordingly if there is any breaking news. It has to feel fresh and fast paced to make the cut. We have a wonderful consultant in Mike Stern (of Jacobs Media) that really helps us focus of vision and make sure each show features only strong, battle tested, features.
5. What is your goal for each show?
We want a show that flies by for both us and the audience. We play 6-8 songs an hour, so it's not a clunky stream of consciousness type of show. We want each bit hit, play a great song, and then come roaring back with another strong piece of content. We always know we've turned in a good show when we look at the clock and the four hours is already off the clock.
6. How much has the show grown since you launched in 2009?
You wouldn't even recognize the show from 2009 to now. We aren't just "trying" a bunch of features on-air to see if they fit. We have a good grasp on what is going to work, and who our audience is, so we've vetted our content thoroughly. We have also worked hard to grow with the times and advancing technology. The live video stream that we do (Twitch, Facebook, and YouTube) of the last two hours of the show each morning has turned into a popular feature for both live and on-demand viewing. We are reaching people on multiple platforms, in multiple cities, while maintaining that authenticity and relatability that Mahoney and I have built over a decade and a half of friendship.
7. In the last 10+ years of doing the show, what are you most proud of?
The charity work that we've done for Three Square, our local food bank for hungry kids, can't be topped. But outside of that important work, getting the show into syndication, and consistently being one of the top-rated alternative shows in the country is very rewarding. This has been our dream since we were kids listening to the radio and getting to do it daily is something we are grateful for on a daily basis.
8. What do you love most about being on-air?
The connection with listeners and giving them the opportunity to be stars. We are always trying to set our listeners up to be the one with the big punchline or memorable moment. After being in the market for the past 15+ years, we have an amazing base of genuinely funny listeners that support us. Seeing them shine on-air, and in their personal lives, and knowing that we are able to be along for the ride with them is awesome. We take it very seriously that they give us their attention each morning.
9. Which social media platforms are you finding best to engage with your listeners these days?
Twitch is awesome for the daily multi-hour broadcasts I mentioned earlier, which people actively seek out on that platform. Instagram is great for quick, but personal, interactions. Facebook still has a big base, so we hit a lot of people with our content there too.
10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Getting woken up by my kids at 6a, even on the weekends. The joys of being a Dad to three young kids means I'm getting punched in the face by a toddler before the sun comes up every-damn-day.
Bonus Questions
What are weekends like for you these days?
Mentioned the kids above, and having a 4.5, an almost 2-year-old, and a newborn means weekends are jammed with activities for them. And I love it.
Tell us about Farra Productions.
Farra Productions is a production firm that I started in 2008 that handles all the business of the syndication arm of the radio show, but it's much more than that. Under the Farra | Foxdog Productions banner, we produce all kinds of digital content and television programming for the likes of MGM Resorts International, AXS TV, VISA, Marriott, Fox Sports and more. Most of the content is in the sports space around the NFL, MMA, sports betting, and poker, but we also produce episodic content and specials like the World MMA Awards, MGM's international cooking challenge, All AXS Fantasy Football, and much more. It's a blast to work with business partner Matt Brown, my brother James Farra, and a great team of talented producers to create national programming.
What are your favorite places to eat in Las Vegas?
I'll give you my favorites per category:
Scotch80 Prime @ Palms for a steakhouse (if Palms ever re-opens).
Battistas Hole In The Wall for an Italian spot. Free unlimited wine, a cool speakeasy vibe, and good prices. Local joint called Pier 215 for sushi.
Mon Ami Gabi for a French restaurant. It's got a great patio that is directly across from the Bellagio fountains, so it has a great built in show.How often do you get back to South Carolina and what are your top priorities when you get back home?
A couple of times a year. My parents still live in Columbia, and South Carolina is a truly beautiful place. Charleston is one of my favorite cities in the world. When I go back to SC it's normally centered around a family function, so I try to limit it to that and a small handful of close friends. Perhaps a Gamecocks game and afterparty in the Vista with the friends if the timing aligns.
Rank your sports teams in order of passion.
Minnesota Vikings will always be #1
Vegas Golden Knights
Carolina Gamecocks
Seattle Seahawks (my wife is a huge fan, and I fear her)
I'll gladly support the Raiders now that they are the home team in Vegas....and I LOVE whatever team I have a bet on that night.Favorite new band over the past year?
The Interrupters are just so damn cool. Their engaging, chaotic, energy is hard to match. Love the new Killers record, and Mumford And Sons and Bastille can do no wrong in my mind.
Anything else you would like to add?
Thanks for asking me to do this Shawn. You've been a stalwart of the alternative radio and records world for a long time, and I'm so grateful for your support over the years as we've been working to grow The Dave And Mahoney Show into a meaningful brand. We're just getting started!
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