10 Questions with ... Big Chris Hart

NAME:Big Chris Hart TITLE:APD/MD/Afternoons STATION:KUUB Cub Country 94.5 MARKET:Reno, NV COMPANY:Lotus BORN:December 20th, Oakland, CA RAISED:As well as my parents could

1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?

I interned at KICE/Bend, OR in high school with a buddy of mine. They gave us a two- hour show on Friday nights. Fools! We got fired for me making some off-handed Dolly Parton comment. I really was talking about her teeth, I swear!

As far as early influences? A lot of listening to the big "boss jocks" of the time (1970s San Francisco). They made the music better somehow and I wanted to do it too. That and the aforementioned buddy I interned with in high school, Jeff "Woody" Fife, he's taught me a lot over the years and still does to this day.

2) Can you be a boss and also a friend to your employees?

It's tough. Friendly? Yes. Friends? Maybe. I enjoy the camaraderie we have here at the Cub. We have a great group of people here. I try to keep my life (what little I have) outside the station separate. Helps keep me "fresh" when I come in at the beginning of the week, I think.

3) Of all the skills that you've gained as a programmer, which area are you NOT as strong as you would like to be?

The administrative crap! I love watching a day of music come together while scheduling, but the nuts and bolts of the business side of things bores me. I was a jock first and still enjoy the creative aspect of radio more than anything else. I would love to be a little more rounded (no fat jokes) as a manager.

4) What do you think of National Contesting? Is it effective?

I'm sure it is, but I prefer to have that local twist to all our contesting. If we run a promotion, that interferes with songs that could be playing. I want to make sure if we're interrupting the music it's something OUR listeners want to hear.

5) What do you like best about your job? Least?

I'm a jock first and foremost. I still love locking myself in the studio every afternoon and entertaining my listeners. I only have one, but she is very entertained. After that, watching the station come to life through the scheduling of music and promotions. Seeing things go from thoughts on paper to a complete promotion or day of music is fun too me (did I mention I don't get out much?)

6) What do you plan to do differently in the next year regarding work and family?

Get better at streamlining my efforts at work, so that when it's time for me to be husband and dad, I'm not distracted by "did I call so-and-so back?", "Did that promo get cut?", etc.

7) What's your take on current music? Is it as good as say, six months ago? Better than it was? Same? Elaborate please!

I love where the format is musically right now. We'll always have our core artists

(Hell we can't even keep Garth retired). They're great to build from. Right now I see a great crop of new acts that I believe will benefit the format through crossover appeal. Now, I'm not talking about Faith getting play on the Alice's and Jack's of the world, but music that makes a Country newbie want to listen to us. They hear it from a friend and say, "THAT'S COUNTRY? I gotta hear more of that!" - Mercury's "Halfway to Hazard" is a prime example.

8) Favorite artist that you have met?

I'm a huge Gary Allan fan, so it was cool to finally meet him. Until his security pulled me off his leg and beat me, that part kind of sucked.

9) What's the biggest record that you completely missed on?

I didn't completely miss, but Heartland's "I Loved Her First" took me a while to jump on board.

10) Most surprising record of the past 12 months?

I like what Lyric Street has with Trent Tomlinson. He's just plain good.

1) Do you read.....everything? Books, Magazines, etc. Nothing? What's your favorite reading material?

I don't have a lot of time for books or pleasure reading unfortunately, but I read a lot of newspapers, magazines and the like for show prep.

2) Do you have Musical Guilty Pleasures?

I knew this would come back to bite me, I LOVED Paris Hilton's "Stars Are Blind" It sucked me in. I think she might actually be the devil.

3) You are on a desert island...what 5 CDs are in your portable disc player?

Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies - "Have A Ball"
Halfway to Hazard
Gary Allan - "Smoke Rings In The Dark"
Jimmy Buffett - "Barometer Soup"
NOFX - "Punk in Drublic"