10 Questions with ... Paul Kraimer

NAME:Paul Kraimer TITLE:Broadcasting Instructor, Voice-Over Talent, and more! STATIONS:www.KraimerKreative.com & www.BrownCollege.edu MARKET:Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN COMPANY:Kraimer Kreative & Career Education Corporation BORN:Eau Claire, WI - (Don't tell my students) 1964 RAISED:Menomonie, WI (Less than 90 minutes from Minneapolis/St. Paul)

Please outline your radio career so far:

WCCO Radio/Minneapolis, MN - 1987 (Promotions Intern)
KKPR (Power 99) - Kearney, NE - 1987-89
WKZW (KZ93) - Peoria, IL - 1989-91
KQKQ (Sweet 98) - Omaha, NE - 1991-92
WBZW (B103) - State College, PA - 1992-93
WXCL - Peoria, IL - 1993
WHMS (Lite Rock 97.5) - Champaign, IL - 1993-98
WIFC/Wausau, WI - 1998
WXPT (104.1 The Point) (Mix 104.1) (Jack FM)/Minneapolis, MN/1998-2006
Brown College (Radio Instructor)/Mendota Heights, MN - 2006-present.

1) What Got You Interested In Radio?

A "career" report that I had to write in 6th grade sealed the deal for me. I knew it was long hours and low pay and I wanted nothing else since then. Listening to distant AM stations from Chicago (WLS), and Little Rock, AR (KAAY), on a transistor radio under my pillow when I was young didn't hurt either.

2) Who do you consider your radio mentor(s)?

So many good people along the way like Marty Meldahl and Dave Barrett in Nebraska, Keith Edwards, Gene Stern and Rob Brown (aka Scott Wheeler) in Peoria, Peter Oleshchuk in Champaign, IL (and the owner of the Pop Radio format) and Dusty Hayes in Minneapolis. For voice over work I have learned a great deal from Sonny Warner (www.SonnyWarner.com). She is amazing, and I learn from her almost daily. I learn something new everywhere I go, that's part of the intrigue.

3) What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?

The stockholder. Don't get me wrong, I have some worthless CBS/Viacom options that I wish were worth something right now. But the need to feed the bottom line isn't helping radio.

4) What is the current state of radio's "talent pool"?

Speaking from my current point of view, as a radio instructor at Brown College, the talent pool is doing pretty well. I have had some very talented students in the short time that I have been there and it is good to see the hunger for radio that I had (and still have) when I was younger. The only thing that holds some of these "kids" back is their unwillingness to move. GET OUT OF TOWN!!! Travel, work in places like Kearney Nebraska so you can work up to places like Minneapolis or higher. It won't kill you and you may find something you like.

5) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff?

Minneapolis has (and has had) some great talent. A few on the music stations include Remy Maxwell from 93X, Moon and Stacy on KS95, and Chris Carr from K102.

6) How are you using new music technologies to work with the music you program on your station, in production, and in your personal life?

I have been doing production for most of my radio career and even beyond. If you can't keep up with the new technologies you might as well be a greeter at your local "Wal-Get."

I still look for the commercial voice over gigs as well as voicing and producing station imaging. I just subscribed to a service that will let my clients see and hear what is happening as I voice and produce their spots from their computer. (If you don't have a Mac, sorry). Staying on top of what is happening is a MUST!

7) What should radio be doing now to secure a role in the future of the ever-changing media landscape?

Don't be afraid of anything. "Media" is here to stay. You just have to roll with the changes. If you missed the Conclave this year, you missed some great sessions, especially how "media" is vital to radio.

8) What can we be doing with our station web sites to better our stations as a whole?

Don't let it look like crap. At Brown College we train our students, not only to be DJs, but we also teach them commercial writing, sales, production and the web. Small market stations would be foolish not to tap the talent that comes out of our school. Ask your interview prospect if they can manage your web site. Yes? Congratulations, you not only have a new jock but you have a new Web Master too. Need to fill that community service aspect that you still follow? Have your new Web Master create a Web Site for the local non-profit.

9) What advice would you give people new to the business?

Work hard. Do everything you can do. Learn from everybody. NEVER stop learning from everybody, and say hi to the receptionist and "custodial engineer" every time you see them. Also, and this is very important, beware of Rose (last name withheld by request)! She may sound sexy, but that 4 1/2 foot shy person in the corner at your remote is who she really is. Are you sure you want to meet THAT after your shift?

10) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?

Radio is what you make of it. If you don't like what you are doing or where you are, change it yourself without bitching in the hallways. If you can't do that you will probably be asked to make that change before you are ready.

1) How would you describe your first radio gig?

The first commercial station I worked at was an AM Country station in LaCrosse, WI. I drove 30 miles one way to work midnight-6a on Sunday morning. I slept on the couch in the basement and I worked noon-6p Sunday afternoon. Best part-time job I ever could have had and I loved every minute of it...except for that old-time twang satellite Country music.

2) What do you do in your spare time?

As I write this I am capturing an 8mm film so I can transfer it to DVD, part of what I do with Kraimer Kreative. We also capture video tape, edit video, I do voice work, as you may have read, umpire softball games in the summer and spend time with my wife and 2 boys.

3) What are your three favorite industry web sites?

MainStreet Tattler (www.Main-st.net), www.Radio-info.com. and ... um ... what's that other one.........oh yeah, www.AllAccess.com!