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10 Questions with ... Shawn Tempesta
July 29, 2019
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. I've had an idea to essentially do a live podcast that would catch people not working and cruising Facebook on the last hour of their job. Dipped my toe in and tested the concept. Eventually I made the jump and invested a ton of time, money and energy, and created a live, interactive daily talk show. The result is gorgeous, and I am incredibly proud of it. We can bring social reaction onto the screen in real time along with the commenter's picture and name ... it's like the new "shout-out." It's a chance for listeners to get their moment of fame and make us laugh
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Grew up in Boston, and got my first break as a phone screener for Kiss 108's AM sister station. Turned that into a board-op gig at Kiss. Got on-air part-time at WLNH/ Laconia, NH (90 minutes north of me) and Fun 107 in New Bedford, MA (90 minutes south of me). After a failed MySpace date, I ended up in Las Vegas at Mix 94.1 as part-time and webmaster. Got passed up for nights three times, took my ball and went home to part-time at Mix 104.1 in Boston. Landed a TV gig on the Fox affiliate in Providence. Headed back to Vegas for a gig at the ABC affiliate, got back on Mix, got put in afternoons, and I have since become the longest running host (besides Mercedes and JC) in the history of the station.
1. How would you describe your first radio gig?
My first gig was at WXKS-A/Boston as a phone screener. Never ran a board in my life. But I always peaked over his shoulder. Three weeks in ... the guy who did run the board overslept. Somehow, barely, I was able to get the show on the air. That led to a board-op gig at Kiss 108 across the hall ... which was my dream station growing up!
2. What led you to a career in radio?
A love of everything media. My mom wouldn't let me listen to the radio as it was "the devil." So, of course, in an effort to show her up, I end up in it. Started in Public Access TV, was the annoying kid that would linger too long if I showed up at a remote and got really invested into radio. Growing up in Boston and hearing the greats there - there's a reason so much great talent comes from that part of the country.
3. You've personally invested thousands of dollars into camera equipment, and designed an entire Facebook Live podcast style show called #Free4All that runs every day at 4p. Please let us in on how it all came together.
I've had a fascination with getting radio and television to merge. Producing TV commercials for radio stations across the country with "HitThePost.net," working on-air in both mediums, etc. I've had an idea to essentially do a live podcast that would catch people not working and cruising Facebook on the last hour of their job. Dipped my toe in and tested the concept. Eventually I made the jump and invested a ton of time, money and energy, and created a live, interactive daily talk show. The result is gorgeous, and I am incredibly proud of it. We can bring social reaction onto the screen in real time along with the commenter's picture and name ... it's like the new "shout-out." It's a chance for listeners to get their moment of fame and make us laugh. We can do live shots from anywhere; we've broken Golden Knights news, made drinks, etc. and it's been a lot of fun, and it's become my "killer app."
4. Explain who the cast of characters are who join you on the videos.
Part of the inspiration of the show was our street team. We probably have the busiest promotions department in all of Entercom when it comes to events, so we have a decent-sized team who are absolutely hilarious. The conversations at remotes and in the office are hysterical. Harnessing those personalities and giving them spotlight has been great, and frankly it's to the point where I hardly have to ask around for guests; they ask to be on. It's a chance for them to prove themselves as talent and show their witty side. Our on-air staff joins us; you meet the personalities across all departments and get invested in them.
5. Was it a tough sell to your program director, J Love?
Yes and no. Explaining the premise didn't really "land" initially because it hadn't really been done yet. Once he saw what it was capable of, it clicked with him. Once when people from NAB were visiting the stations and were in the studio for a while scoping out the setup, it clicked for my GM. Now, slowly, it's starting to click for Sales. We can make money off of the production with sales integration and studio title sponsorships. If I was asking the station to buy all of it for me, that wouldn't have flown. But now that they see what it can bring, and the extra sellable content it can provide the station, it's gaining steam.
6. "Local, local, local" has always been radio's mantra. How do you keep your station visible and involved in the community?
If there is another cluster that is out there pounding the pavement more than Entercom/Las Vegas, I'd love to hear of them. Ultimately the thing that sets us apart isn't just "having live jocks and bumper stickers." We try to make a difference in the lives of our community, whether it's throwing a fun concert or helping to feed military overseas. Raising an obscene amount of gift card cash and bikes with KLUC's Toy Drive or reading at local schools. Walking in the night of October 1st, 2017 to go wall-to-wall an hour after the shooting with our former utility player Morty, and seeing John Moug and Alan Stock doing the same, without being asked, to do it for their respective stations. That's how you make a difference.
7. What's the most unbelievable on-air bit you were allowed to do?
Oh man. Some of my most fun moments in radio were at Fun 107 in New Bedford, with JR Reitz (RIP) as PD. He let me make a proper "show" out of my Saturday night dance mix show. The pre-produced mixes had these talk breaks you could drive a truck through, so we had fun with it. The phone lines (both of them) were always alive, and probably remain busier than even Vegas. Because I only get to have fun in tiny bits (morning show, please God, one day), the most I've pushed it is playing a call from a girl with her friend trying to "swoon" me. Her: "Picture the both of us washing your car, bending down, cleaning between your rims with toothbrushes." Me: "I think they call that a rim job." Thank you, try the veal.
8. Who would be a "dream guest" to have on your show?
I can barely squeeze in the station name into some of these intros! #ForwardMomentum. That saidb...bon the #Free4All, Olivia Munn, Jennifer Lawrence, GAVIN DEGRAW. All people who have opinions, who are incredibly charming, and you can kind of wind up and watch them go.
9. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid? Favorite jock?
Kiss 108 and Jamin' 94.5 in Boston were the only game in town for me. Growing up listening to Matty, Uncle Dale, Baltazar and Pebbles, Ralphie Marinob-- holy crap, what an amazing era. My favorite jock(s) are a three-fer. Jackson Blue for the incredible amount of enthusiasm and format-smashing breaks he brings every day, Lady D (THE Lady D) who has worked for practically every station in the market, and David Alan Boucher, who has reliably put the city to bed for years and has probably been the soundtrack to half of the city being conceived.
10. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?
There've been so many. Chris Ialuna (former PD at WLNH/Laconia) for taking the first chance on me and beating my announcer voice out of my skull. The entire crew of people I worked with in public access since I was 8, who taught me the ins and outs of practically everything TV-wise. Tim Clarke from Cox Media Group (when we met he was 15). What he has done career-wise is astounding. And most recently, people like Mahoney from X107.5 who has been an amazing friend and has always been incredibly helpful to me when facing existential career crossroads.
Bonus Questions
You're all in on the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team. Every game looks like a party. Let us know how hockey translates so well in the desert.
Oh man. I am a season ticket member from way before the team even had a name. I think the city was hungry for anything to truly call "its own." UNLV has a brand in the market, but that logo stands for the school. When the shooting happened, and nine days later for the first major congregation of locals since October 1st gathered, it was a total moment of catharsis, put over by the team scoring four goals in the first 13 minutes. The in-arena entertainment is incredible, including my buddy/mortal enemy Big D from The Bull across the street as in-arena host.
The end of the day, the blue "LA" cap doesn't just stand for the Dodgers, it stands for the city. The "NY" cap, the "B" cap... it stands for the city. Now Vegas has an identity beyond gambling, and we've got a "V" that screams where we are from. It was way more than a hockey team for the valley, for sure.
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