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10 Questions with ... Bobby Slater
March 21, 2023
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. I do way too much scrolling. I'm typically not as active on my personal account as I am working on the stations. I know my boss hates to hear me say that. All of our stations are very active on social media so that is where the majority of my social media comes in. The Edge is always heavy on concerts and being out on the streets so you see a lot of info going out. As a Christian station, KXOJ is heavy on inspiration to keep our listeners engaged. We also have a great team of DJ's here who are really connected to our listeners through social media.
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I started doing promotions for 92.5 KZPS (Lonestar 92.5) and 102.1 The Edge (KDGE) in Dallas. I loved those stations. Moved to Promotions Coordinator and added 97.1 The Eagle (KEGL) to the list. I started doing weekend on-air shifts on The Edge in Dallas and was doing overnights when I got caught up in the CC Restructuring Plan in early 2013. I took some time off before my friend Jake Daniels hooked me up with Steve McAnally at the legendary KATT in OKC. Started doing air shifts for a while as well as promotions. It was cool being on the station I grew up listening to. My friend Josh Venable had been trying to get me to Tulsa for a bit and when the position opened I started doing middays on The Edge Tulsa and also Promotions Director for our cluster, including KXOJ & KTSO. And here we are…
1. How did you first become interested in radio?
I grew up listening to the radio. I used to listen to the KATT and KRXO (Classic Rock) as I was growing up in OKC. I remember the first time I heard Nazareth "Hair Of The Dog." I was at my grandparents house and it came on and I was blown away. I was hooked. Plus, I can't play any instruments, so radio was my way to get close to the music.
2. You've been at Stephens Media Group/Tulsa since 2014. What is a typical workday like for you in Promotions and on-air at Z104.5 The Edge?
Very busy. Between all of our promotions and events, we are always on the go. I typically do some show prep then off to do my shows. I also do middays on 105.7 The Hawk in Yakima, as well as The Edge. All at the same time working on promotions everything, giveaways, events, social media, web pieces etc. I also do a little bit of sales as far as working with our promoters. So, the day is really all over the place.
3. You've been working with Josh Venable going back to KDGE (The Edge)/Dallas. What's it like working with Venable?
What's there to say, he's the man. I started working with him in Dallas in 2002. I loved listening to the Adventure Club. His knowledge of music has always been mind-blowing. When he became the PD for The Edge in Dallas, we worked together every day. He left shortly before I did and of course we stayed in touch. When the time came, he helped me get on here in Tulsa and the rest is history. He's a great mentor to work under. Just hang out around him and you'll learn something.
4. Tell us about Slater On The Edge in Tulsa?!
I'm just Slater doing Slater things. I love a good show, but I hate paying for parking. It's a hard life I know. I have 4 kids and a very busy life outside of work coupled with work events, so the days go by very quickly. I don't like people who think they are better than other people. We're all just living this life. I mean, I just wanna rock and enjoy it.
5. How would you describe your on-air style?
I just try to be natural. I think about what I like to hear, which is just being me. Talking about everyday life and being relatable. I'm just a regular guy doing regular things, let's chat.
6. What is your show prep routine?
I start the day doing prep. I come on at 10a so the first hour or so is all just reading the web and finding out what's going on. Plus, social media and everything going on there. I also include a lot of what I've been doing personally. It's easy to be a part of life in Tulsa and talk about what I've been doing around town.
7. What is your favorite part of your job?
Well of course it's meeting rock stars. 99% of the time it's awesome. I've been in some really cool moments and conversations that I would not have been in if I were not in radio. Early on I learned that most of them are just regular people and want to talk about and do regular things. That made it even better. I've been very blessed to have this as my career.
8. How do you use social media?
For me personally I do way too much scrolling. I'm typically not as active on my personal account as I am working on the stations. I know my boss hates to hear me say that. All of our stations are very active on social media so that is where the majority of my social media comes in. The Edge is always heavy on concerts and being out on the streets so you see a lot of info going out. As a Christian station, KXOJ is heavy on inspiration to keep our listeners engaged. We also have a great team of DJ's here who are really connected to our listeners through social media.
9. What would surprise people most about you?
Probably not a lot. I'm pretty open on the radio and in-person. I talk about my faith, my family and everything in between. I'm pretty easy to get to know.
10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _______?
Jesus. He is my inspiration and my life. Without him on a daily basis, I wouldn't be where I am today. As for worldly things, I must have the sweet nectar of Dr Pepper. Enjoy your coffee, bring me a DP.
Bonus Questions
Your bio states: I love video games, ADIDAS anything, Mexican food, hanging at the river, and talking to random people. I'm a serial pizza eater, cat lover, Dazed & Confused fan, Snickers junkie, lottery winner wanna-be, island lover, good parallel parker, not a football player, an actress/model/dancer, whatever... You gave me a lot of material. Time for a little rapid fire to learn more on…
Video Games: Fallout. all of them. My 13 year old son also makes fun of me because I play Farming Simulator. It's just relaxing.
Mexican Food: We have this place in Tulsa called Ted's. It's soooo good.
Hanging At The River: Always good times. Except the sunburns.
Talking To Random People: You never know what types of stories you'll hear talking to random people. Always entertaining.
Serial Pizza Eater: I do love a good pie. I'm starting to enjoy Chicago style pizza as of late. A late bloomer, I guess.
Dazed & Confused fan: Slater. Enough said.
Snickers junkie: Snickers eggs. I mean come on.
Lottery Winner Wanna-be: Who wouldn't want to win the lottery?
Island Lover: I went to Maui for my honeymoon. I didn't want to leave.
Good Parallel Parker: Some go it, some don't.
Not a football player: no interest
An actress/model/dancer: whatever. UNWRITTEN LAW
Ok, back to our regular program with more bonus question:
What are weekends like for you?
Typically, we are doing events or shows with one of the stations. Plus, we do soccer and baseball with the kids, church and any other events happening around town. The Tulsa metro has a lot to offer for families. So very busy
What are your favorite restaurants in Tulsa?
As I mentioned above, it's Ted's Mexican. The queso is to die for. You'll never not leave full.
Rank your sports teams in order of passion.
I'm not a big sports person so I don't have teams that I have a passion for. We like going to Tulsa Drillers games and will be hitting up FC Tulsa this year as well.
First record ever purchased?
That's hard to remember. I think it was Ozzy Diary Of A Madman. What a great record.
First concert?
Motley Crue in OKC on the Dr Feelgood tour. I was 13. I can't believe my parents let me go. Lita Ford was on that bill. It was an experience I'll never forget.
Favorite band of all-time?
This is really hard to pick. The answer is The Smashing Pumpkins. Mellon Collie into Aeroplane Flies High, Adore, Machina. Plus add in Siamese Dream and Gish and then Zeitgeist plus everything else. Some have Robert and The Cure or Morrissey and the Smiths. For me it's Billy and the Pumpkins. However, I must give a nod to Pink Floyd. I listen to Floyd more than just about anybody else.
Favorite new band over the past year?
That's another hard question. There's so much new music out there. Wilderado has been in heavy rotation now for a while, I'm into Talk right now and I'm ready for Maneskin to come to town.
Anything else you would like to add?
Just that it's been a great ride. I've been very blessed to find something I enjoy doing for a career. I certainly know I could have gone down a different path and who knows where that would have led.
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