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10 Questions with ... Gary McElyea
June 21, 2005
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NAME:Gary McElyeaPOSITION:Morning HostSTATION:WPTR(Pulse 96.7)/WDCD(Life 1540)MARKET:Albany, NYCOMPANY:Crawford Broadcasting CompanyBORN:Missouri (GO CARDS!!!)RAISED:Willow Springs, MO (yeah...near Branson.)
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I started doing weekends on a small Oldies station, KUKU in my hometown during high school. That led to fill in shifts and weekends on KUPH (Hot AC) in Mountain View, MO and news for the Ozark Radio Network group in West Plains, MO. I went to college and started off doing news at the legendary country station KTTS in Springfield, MO. After 'many a sleepless night,' I decided to throw away my pager and press pass (well, maybe I kept that for good parking spots). I had done some remotes and fill-ins cross town at KADI (Christian CHR). I called up Rod Kittleman and spent the next couple of years in the afternoon chair. In January 2005, I packed up my mustang, braved the snow and headed to upstate New York for a new Christian Hot AC Station here in Albany.
1. What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
I was fifteen years old, clad in some geeky shirt and acne, I made my way to the 'hometown' radio station to see if they needed any help. The PD, at the time, Harlin Hutcheson took a risk and had me start the next day. People like Harlin Hutcheson and Tom Marhefka in West Plains, Missouri taught me how to do radio. Rod Kittleman at KADI taught me how to do it well and get paid for it ...the rest, as they say, is historical content that does not need to be contextually repeated.
2. How do you prepare for your show each morning? What's your biggest challenge each morning?
Well, I'm not a morning person, so the 4:00AM alarm is not fun! I like to do my prep for the each morning the day before. So usually as soon as I get off the air I'll head to my office and scour the Internet for stories, entertainment stuff and try to develop bits for the next day. I've found this a much easier system for the 'non-morning people'. When I come in the next morning, all I have to do is check the news sites and the morning paper to see what Becky wants to hear. Also, if you have a stand up board...stand up! It will double your energy in the morning (that and Starbucks).
3. Who do you feel is your competition in your market, and how do you go about competing with them?
The Albany market is saturated with AC and Rock stations. Our main objective with Pulse is to find a sound that WORKS for Albany. It became evident rather quickly that I was no longer in the Bible belt when I moved here. We have seen some amazing success here at Pulse, but it has come with trial and error. I think we have to be aware of our own tastes and styles and weigh them carefully with what works with our listeners. As a commercial station, it's our hope to make a positive impact on our advertiser with the way we do business, and do everything we can to get them results. We realize that we may never be #1 in the market, or be the highest billing station, but that doesn't keep us from putting our best efforts forth every day!
4. What is your favorite morning show feature and what makes it successful?
Darren Marler did a bit in Kansas City, and I proudly stole it, where you have a listener give you a husband/wife/pastors cell phone number and you call them, while the listeners continues to ask "Can you hear my now?? Good!" until the other person hangs up. You can do this bit once a week and it never gets old with the listeners!
5. Best advice for making a morning show for a Christian station?
I'll let you know when I figure it out! Actually, a book that has had a big impact on my morning show mentality is Raving Fans: A Revolutionary Approach to Customer Service. Customer Service...Morning Show?!?! Let me explain... this was mandatory reading at KADI. The book deals with going above and beyond for your customers, making them not only customers but fans...RAVING FANS! This is an excellent read for sales, production, underwriting, hosts and janitors. From a host's perspective, I plan my show with one thought "How can I create raving fans today"? If we would look at our listeners as customers, I think we'd learn to appreciate them much more and work harder for them!
6. Who do you look up to as a morning air/personality not at your station?
I like to listen to talk radio on occasion, and I really like Glenn Beck. Beck has taken talk radio to a new place. He balances politics, news and humor in great way. A great example of variety in a radio show!
7. If you could have any job outside the music business, what would it be?
A professional beach lounge chair tester in Florida.
8. What book have you read that has touched you or taught you the most?
"If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat" -John Ortberg "The Pressure's Off" -Larry Crabb
9. Which character in the Bible do you most relate to? Why?
Peter... I like to think I have it all figured out some times!
10. What is the most precious memory of your life so far?
So here we go, I'll be awaiting all of your emails guys. So I proposed to my girlfriend Sarah back in December. I took her to church and, unbeknownst to her, I had a full band waiting to play the song 'Will You Love Jesus More'. It was a great feeling to know that I was marrying a girl that definitely would love Jesus more. Ok, ok...dry your eyes!
Bonus Questions
Do you read everything? Books, Magazines, etc. Nothing? What is your favorite reading material?
I like Newsweek...when they get their stories right.
What's in your CD player right now?
Switchfoot, Black Eyed Peas, Best of Sinatra, Kutless, Dave Crowder.
Do you have Musical Guilty Pleasures?
Nora Jones (Hey, at least it's not Enya)
Describe your favorite meal?
Nothing can beat a good steak!
Favorite TV program of all-time?
I'm currently a huge Apprentice fan, and love the West Wing.
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