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10 Questions with ... Wes Poe
April 29, 2012
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I started my career in Arizona, with stops in TX, AZ, KS, and CA. The majority of my career spent west of the Rockies. I've had an amazing journey that lead me home to KC. There is nothing better than doing what you love in your hometown. I should probably pinch myself right about now, because my entire career it was my dream to be here doing this.
1) Hi Wes! How are things in Kansas City, and what types of awesome things do you have slated for 2012 that you can talk about?
Hi to you too! Things are really good here in KC and it's been an insane concert season this year. So far Paisley, Strait, Aldean, and Lady A this Friday. Our calendar has been so busy from the get-go this year. We haven't had time to really plan anything extraordinary yet. But I'm working on some summertime events to get listeners more involved with artists, and building it around locations where people like to hang in the summer. I don't want to elaborate too much more because competitive eyes might be reading, wink, wink.
2) Congrats on your recent marriage to Kristi! Are you newlyweds finding time to do fun stuff with your crazy radio schedule?
Thanks for the congrats! It's really crazy to think it's almost been a year since we got married. Coming right up May 21st, we went out to Denver last fall and did a little camping and sightseeing, and did a couple weekend trips out of town. But we're in the process of finishing some house projects. Luckily Kristi and I enjoy doing that kind of stuff so that's fun for us, and we're looking forward to getting the camper out this spring and summer for some lake time.
3) What were some of the highlights at the recent CRS in your opinion?
I brought Kristi with me this year so it was great that she had the time to join me for all the festivities and could see what goes on. Really the majority of my time anymore at CRS is spent catching up with people I don't get enough time to talk to anymore. There was no shortage of great music to see, for instance the Universal lunch was as always impressive at the Ryman and getting to see George get his #1 ASCAP recognition. I think he was truly in shock to get those things which was endearing to me. As far as the convention and seminars, I found the futurist panel very intriguing. In addition to that I thought the keynote was a refreshing state of the radio business. And coming from the guy running the biggest radio company in the world talking about what comes out of the speakers still being the most important part of our business (paraphrasing) it made me feel a little better about where we're all headed.
4) As a busy PD, with an air shift, when do you get time to listen to new music?
Kristi just got a new job downtown KC so we're now commuting together and she has a little more structured schedule than I was used to before, so I find myself spending more time in the office and a lot of times while waiting for her to come pick me up at the end of the day I'll pull up Mediabase and listen to some tunes.
5) And speaking of new music-there seems to be a lot of great stuff out there-what are you especially high on right now?
I've seen somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 new artists on radio tours in the last two weeks and the weeks coming up on my calendar are loaded also. I agree there is a bunch of great stuff out there and they all sound really impressive to me. Unfortunately it seems like the chart doesn't cooperate on getting much of it started. It could just be me, but since the Citadel/Cumulus merger the chart is pretty unexciting. And with more new artists than I've ever seen coming out, it will be interesting to see who can beat the odds and break through the traffic jam. I might be being nostalgic but it seems to me like there was a much healthier churn on the chart in our not so distant past and I miss it.
6) Who have been some of your most inspirational mentors-both in radio and life outside of work?
My parents have been my biggest mentors and the more of life I experience the more I rely on them for inspiration and guidance. When I got into radio I had a lot of heroes. I've heard many times not to meet your heroes and there is there is a lot of truth to that statement. I wasn't disappointed by any of them as some folks are, but I realized in most cases they're not at all different from me, just different talents, opportunities, and choices they've made. My parents on the other hand made it possible for me to live my dreams and there is nothing more amazing than that to me.
7) Technology seems to be spinning out of control-how do you manage it, and not let it manage you?
I'm great with technology and am usually someone who wants to get the newest gadget to make my life and job easier as soon as I can afford it, but I would like to start a movement to eliminate voicemail. I hate it. I'm great with email, text messages and face to face is the best. But voicemail is the stupidest invention and I wish it would go the way of the typewriter. It's nothing but a gigantic waste of time. The rest of technology I'm fine with, love my Android and all the silly apps I can download on it.
8) How does WDAF tie in 'social media' to its benefit?
To some extent social media is still the wild west as to how we can use it to our benefit, including the fact that as soon as we feel like we get a handle on one aspect of it the rules and format change (on Facebook anyway). At this point I am trying to let it breathe a little and just have some fun with folks on there with the primary goal to bring people back to listening to the station. Facebook isn't our product and if it's not used to try and involve people with that product then we're missing the boat.
9) On a personal level, are you someone who goes to Facebook, Twitter etc. often, or does that stuff not really interest you when you're not at work?
I was really caught up in it when it first came out and would consider myself an early adopter to most things like this. But as soon as I got engaged and moved into the PD position I've become a little more guarded personally and professionally. I closed down my original Facebook page about a year ago and now I only have one to deal with station admin and for immediate family. It's not that I don't want to be connected to people but with all I have going on, I don't have the time to pay attention, and from what I know about managing social with the station, if you don't respond, people get hurt and upset because they think you're ignoring them. The reality is I don't have the time. And I would rather not be somewhere then be there and not paying attention to friends and colleagues.
10) What do you love most about living where you do?
Pretty much everything, it's where I met my wife, it's where I grew up. I love the food, the people, the college basketball, family, friends I've known forever, and the fact that this is a country music kinda town. With three stations holding around 15% of the market share it's an amazing place to program Country music and I love it.
Bonus Questions
1) What reality show could you see yourself on?
I feel like it would be fun to be on The Apprentice. (Is that still on?) I'm not a Trump fan or anything but I love product development, marketing and strategy.
2) What's a 'go-to' junk food that you love?
Lays Kettle Cooked Cheddar Potato Chips or a Dairy Queen Blizzard with Snickers and Heath bar.
3) What great movies, books or TV shows have grabbed your attention lately?
I haven't had time to do anything other than catch some TV shows. Who has the time to read books, or see movies? I am digging on the new Fox show "The Finder" it's a spinoff of Bones and its pretty good. It is a little tough at times to suspend disbelief but all and all a pretty solid show with interesting characters and unpredictable plots. And Kristi got me watching "New Girl." If you haven't seen it give it a try. It's a pretty clever show and usually has me laughing. Again great characters! That's about it though, I've been restoring an old 70 Chevy pickup so it's been occupying most of the rare spare time I get.
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