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10 Questions with ... Matt Gentry
October 25, 2005
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NAME:Matt GentryTITLE:PD/OMSTATION:KLYT (M88)MARKET:Albuquerque, NMCOMPANY:Calvary CommunicationsBORN:5/21/68RAISED:Tucson, AZ
1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
My first radio job was at a station here in Albuquerque was KRBL "The Rebel Rocker". I actually went to college to study Criminology, but had a hard time even spelling the word so I thought radio would be a better choice. KRBL was a station that was programmed out of Detroit, and run here. It was pretty lame actually. Nobody knew what they were doing, which now that I think about it, was a great way to begin in radio. As far as early influences; Tony Chastain out of Oakdale, CA. Frank Jackson, who I believe is in Tacoma now, and Peter Benson.
2) Describe your role on the morning show?
The M88 Morning Show is currently under construction. But typically it is very random, and pretty amusing. I usually take the anchor role, straight guy, and the others add the color. One of our jocks Stevo, is incredibly witty and very opinionated, which makes great radio. He's truly one of a kind...even though he never bathes.
We try and push the envelope a little bit as far as Christian radio goes, and at the same time balance it out. I'm very real with our listeners, and I know they appreciate that based on all the feedback we get. We want to let our listeners know God loves them and to strengthen their faith through humor and encouragement.
3) How do you prepare for your show each morning?
Let's see...I get up, put on my gym clothes and go eat breakfast. Seriously though, I pray about the morning show, ask God to help me to have an impact in somebody's life. I try to give them a reason to wake up and tune in. One of the ways I know that works, is being real with them. They know all about my family, friends and weakness'. Try and have that one on one thing going on.
Also, and I know this is going against everything your taught in radio, but here goes. I, for the most part, DON'T SHOW-PREP. I watch TV, the news, read the paper, etc. I am aware of what's hip, what's not, and keep up with current events...the same way your average Joe lives life, comes home, mows the lawn, eats the kids and plays with his food...wait, I got that turned around. I think you get the point.
I also love the random radio, as long as it's good random radio. If a bit isn't going anywhere, we bale out of it. We talk about things that I know effect our listeners and things they can relate too, and hopefully deliver it in a way they can understand. I love sharing what God has done in my life and what He's doing here at the station, etc. How we live and what affects us personally is the best show-prep money can't buy. Obviously there are things that I don't share about, but for the most part, I'm pretty straight up with them.
4) Who do you feel is your competition in your market, and how do you go about competing with them?
I would say our biggest competition is i-pods, mp3 players. People have a TON of choices when it comes to entertainment, and they are bombarded with choices. Other than that, our biggest competition is ourselves. We are consistently pushing ourselves to make the station sound the best it can, and challenging ourselves with our on-air team to be better, and to make the biggest impact we can in peoples lives.
5) What is your most memorable on-air moment?
When I did Afternoons at KILO in Colorado...An April fools joke where I had a fellow jock of mine Dan Duffy, call in as Johnny Depp. I told the listeners the day before; I was interviewing Johnny Depp live on air. The timing was great...He had just been all over the news, so we jumped on it. I told the listeners he was in town visiting his sister and she was a huge KILO fan and basically talked Johnny in to it.
Dan came in the studio and sounded EXACTLY like Johnny Depp. During the interview I invited listeners to come down to the station and get pictures and autographs, and after about 45 minutes we had almost 50 people in our lobby. As I peered through our one-way mirror into the lobby I started getting a little nervous. Last thing I wanted was an angry mob on my hands, so I ordered a ton of pizza and delivered the pizza and the April fools news to them. Hook, line and sinker. It was great. And everybody was really cool about it. The newspaper even showed up and took a bunch of pictures.
6) Best advice for making a morning show for a Christian station?
Find the funniest guy or girl you know, regardless of radio experience, make sure they are on track with their walk and get 'em on.
7) Who do you look up to as a morning air/personality not at your station?
Ross Ford, morning guy at KILO. If you have a morning guy who thinks he's all that, and is the greatest gift to radio since FM was introduced, then have him spend a morning with Ross Ford...Actually, he may just quit radio all together after that...nevermind.
8) What is your favorite passage of Scripture?
Luke 23:43
9) What is the most precious memory of your life so far?
Meeting my wife Tobi at First Baptist Church, Modesto, CA in 1984. We were both 15, and her friend brought her to church to meet me. I had no idea that her friend brought her specifically to meet me. Long story short, I saw her from across an auditorium of 2000 people, and about fell over from her beauty. Seriously...if beauty caught fire, that city would have been in flames!
10) What is your favorite quote?
"Always preach the Gospel and occasionally use words".
Bonus Questions
1) Do you read everything?
I try too, but reading is not my specialty...EATING is my specialty.
2) What's in your CD player right now?
- The new CD from Family Force Five
- U2 "All the Things you can't leave behind"
- The Echoing Green "Winter of out Discontent" (If you are not spinning any tracks from this, you should strongly consider it.)
- Sevendust "Home"
- Paul McCartney "All the Best"
- Anberlin
- Project 86
- Gershwins "Rhapsody in Blue"3) Cat or Dog person?
Dog. Cat's don't like me too much.
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