10 Questions with ... Erik Lane

NAME:Erik Lane TITLE:Afternoon Drive / Host of Bread-n-Jam! Rock show on Saturday nights WEB:www.BreadnJam.net STATION:WRXV RevFM MARKET:State College, PA COMPANY:Invisible Allies Ministries BORN:Booneville, AR RAISED:Booneville, AR

Brief Career Synopsis:

KACJ-A/Greenwood, AR from 1979-80; KZRK-A-F/Ozark AR (now KDYN-AM/FM) from 1980-81; KASU/Jonesboro, AR while attending Arkansas State University from 1981-85; KZZE/Ft. Smith, AR (now KZBB) from 1985-86; WKYN/Saint Marys, PA (now WDDH) from Feb-Oct of 1986; WKBI-A-F/Saint Marys, PA from 1986-2003; WRXV/State College, PA from 2004-Present

1) What was your first job in the industry? Did you have any mentors early on?

My first job was in high school at a daytime AM station about 20 miles from my hometown. I didn't have any mentor of sorts but I credit my boss at my second radio job (Bill McKissick at KZRK) for turning me on to Arkansas State University because I had never considered going to college.

2) What does your daily/weekly routine for prep include?

Mostly keeping up to date with current events combined with personal spiritual insight I use to relate to my audience. I also use "HM Magazine" to get great interviews and news for my rock show.

3) What has been your favorite promotion in the past year?

I enjoyed how we engaged our listeners through the recent Third Day "Revelation" tour that came through our area. We got a lot of great feedback from our listeners.

4) Who is your favorite on-air personality?

That's a loaded question! Personally I'd have to say my brother-in-law "Smilin' Tom" Fridley! But outside of family I am partial to Joe Szymanski (a.k.a. "Joe The Voice Guy").

5) What does Christian radio need to do to break through to a mass audience on a more consistent basis?

Be real. Stop using "churchified" lingo and talk normally. I don't talk that way when I speak to the man I buy my postage stamps from, so why do I need to speak that way on the radio? Am I a Christian who happens to be a broadcaster or a broadcaster who happens to be a Christian?

6) What are the greatest challenges in your position/job?

The greatest challenge is trying to find a "happy medium" between using my natural wit that finds humor in life and not "horking off" that listener who has thin skin! I don't want to offend but I also don't want to be homogenized either.

7) And what are the greatest rewards in your position/job?

Getting messages about how what I've said or a song I've played has made a life-changing difference in a person. I want to go beyond sitting behind a mic. I want to involve myself into the lives of my listeners. Knowing I've helped to avert a bout of depression or have given someone a reason to hope gives me tremendous satisfaction.

8) If you were just starting in radio today, and you knew what you know now, would you continue forward?

Yes, and I would become a stockholder in Ramen noodles. The pay isn't that great! But I'm not in this business for the money.

9) If you could have any other job outside radio, what would it be?

I did study public relations while in college so I would try to fall back on something like that. Or get a degree in meteorology and become a forecaster.

10) Any favorite or funny artist run-ins? Highlights from a promotion or interview?

I've had some extensive experience relating to artists both through interviews and through my connections in booking live concerts. My favorite memory has to come from the mid-90s when Disciple was just getting started, touring out from their home in Maryville, TN. I had booked them for a show after their EP "My Daddy Can Whip Your Daddy" came out. The band appeared on my program "Bread-n-Jam!" the following day and we spent the afternoon before the show hanging out, getting to know each other. We did my three-hour show and after it was over (at midnight), the guys (Kevin, Brad and Tim) were going to drive home. We prayed together and after we finished, Kevin was in tears. I found out that their weekend with us in PA had really moved him because of how God had used their talents but now he was about to return home to some issues he was facing personally. It really touched me because I realized that these "rock stars" for Christ had real problems and they need us (the fans and radio folks) to truly pray for them and to help meet real needs that come from life on the road.

1) Do you read everything or nothing? Do you have any favorite magazines, books or newspapers?

I have read "US News & World Report" since college, over 25 years ago.

2) What music is in your CD player/on your iPod right now?

"Southern Hospitality" by Disciple

3) Cat or dog person?

Cats. Absolutely cats. Cats perform burials; dogs leave monuments.

4) Describe your favorite meal.

Anything that's served at Bucca Di Beppo

5) What is your favorite quote?

"Don't walk ahead of me; I may not follow. Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Just walk beside me, and be my friend." -Albert Camus

6) If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want to have with you and why?

My Bible for my soul, "Ash" my cat for my companion, and a hammock!