10 Questions with ... Dano

NAME:Dano TITLE:Night Jock STATIONS:KMHX Mix 104.9 MARKET:Santa Rosa COMPANY:Maverick Media BORN:Greenbrae, CA - July 1984 RAISED:Petaluma, CA

Please outline your radio career so far:

CFBT (The Beat 94.5)/Vancouver, BC, CN - 2006
KMHX (Mix 104.9)/Santa Rosa, CA - 2006-present

1) What Got You Interested In Radio?

Way, way, back...in the early 90's, I wasn't allowed to listen to the radio. One of my parents, and I won't say which (her name rhymes with "bomb"), considered it an infectious agent on her precious son's mind.

Surprisingly, I'm not bitter toward her for this sentiment. At the time, Stern was a housewife's Antichrist, Loveline was saying the word "vulva" on public airwaves, and even the dementing Ryan Seacrest was hypnotizing Bay Area listeners on KIOI. I can understand why she was afraid. So, let's all finish the story...The one thing I was prohibited from doing became the only thing I wanted to do (typical child-like behavior). Over a decade later, I'm seeing a bit of success in my childish pursuit, and my parents couldn't be happier. I win (person who's name rhymes with "bomb").

2) How would you describe your first radio gig?

My first gig in radio can be concisely summed up by my first day in radio: While interning for a record label in Vancouver, I additionally scored an Internship at the local Top 40 station (The Beat 94.5). Nothing pays better than two internships, trust me. Being familiar with the joys of Interning, I knew I'd essentially be doing nothing. But the fact that I was even partially involved with a radio station excited me, and I considered even mini-baby steps progress toward getting on the air.

My first exchange with the promotions director can be summarized like this:

"Hey there. So, what are we doing today?"

"Actually Dan, I need you to make a pickup for me." (In my head I'm thinking, Pickup, no problem. Got some new equipment for the studio?) Does Snoop Dogg need to be picked up at the airport for an in-studio? ""Ya, no problem. What am I getting?" "Pudding. We need food for a remote. You know, like the single serving six-packs they have in the grocery store?"

And just like that, I was put right in my place, which incidentally I already knew I was in, but it does make for a humorous story. I suppose everyone has to start at the bottom, I just didn't know mine would involve tapioca.

3) Who were your early influences?

Early on, I was really into a guy named Johnny Steele, who hosted mornings on KITS for a brief period. Obviously he was fired mid-shift one morning (as all the great jocks are), and I got my first bitter taste of the volatility of radio. I didn't officially catch the bug until I began consistently listening to "Loveline" with Adam Carolla and Dr. Drew. Up to that point, I had no idea that radio could be so informational, informal, impactful and interesting. Most importantly, it was funny. Damn funny. I saw a piece of myself in Carolla's abrasive rants, and his humble beginnings in the industry (he was previously a carpet cleaner). That gave me hope that I could make it as well. Later on, I became interested in Sports/Talk as well, and drew influence from the likes of Jim Rome and Dan Patrick.

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

Two people have had a profound impact on my career. For my on-air work, my PD Danny Wright has been a tremendous help. He's taught me virtually everything I know about the mechanics of on-air work, as well as the technical side of the job. His patience and tutelage are priceless. For my knowledge of the business side of radio, I owe a great debt to Gary McDonald. I interned for Gary at Frontside Promotions Group in Vancouver, where he manages their Radio Promotion. He helped me hone a few of those intangibles that PDs look for: work ethic, professionalism, motivation, confidence. Gary's also a goldmine when it comes to tips like "Don't swear on the air if the boss is listening" and "Never eat food listeners give you". Without him, I'd still be sitting at home, holding my broadcasting degree, saying "I wonder if I should get an internship or something?".

5) What are your thoughts on Voice-Tracking?

I have this vision in my head of a board-op and a night jock sitting around a Rock station in the 1970's on a Friday night. The board-op turns to the jock and says something like "Man, wouldn't it be awesome if we could like, record what you were gonna say ahead of time, and then like, have that tape set up to play in between the songs, and we could record the whole show earlier in the day, and then we could go get a beer right now." And the jock replies, "Yeah man! That'd be awesome."

I can guarantee that conversation has occurred somewhere, and I can also guarantee that those same two guys had no idea what effect tracking would have on their own employment in the industry (I doubt they'd describe it as "awesome"). Personally, tracking has saved me from making some truly stupid mistakes on the air (like saying "the breast mix of the 80s, 90s, and Now"), since I can simply re-record my breaks. But tracking has also removed the live element from the product, which is one of the major draws radio has over its competitors (TV and the Internet). So while my feelings are mixed, it's important to note that my opinion is inconsequential. "Voice-Tracking is here to stay whether you like it or you like it or..." AGRH! Can I take that again?

6) Some stations have clamped down on their jocks giving them a lot less time to talk. Have you felt that pinch at your station?

My PD has given me pretty much free rein to talk, as long as it's interesting. However, as a listener myself, I loathe pointless wordy breaks. Thus, I do my best to keep breaks short when they need to be, longer when it's called for, and always focus on being informative and entertaining.

7) You're stuck on a deserted island and you only have 5 CDs with an unlimited supply of batteries. What are they?

Third Eye Blind - "Third Eye Blind "
Weezer - "Pinkerton"
Radiohead - "Kid A"
Charles Mingus - "Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus, Mingus"
The Pixies - "Death to the Pixies"

8) What's the best sweeper you've ever heard?

Not so much the "best" I've ever heard, more the "silliest." I won't give the true calls to protect the innocent, but this was an actual sweeper I heard, on a real radio station, in the United States of America: "You know, we had such a tough time naming our new station. We took calls from all over the county on what it should be called. One caller even thought we should name our station The June Bug! But after a lot of thinking, (and a couple'a beers) we came up with...Q102." Really? After a couple of beers you came up with...a standard brand for a radio station that's used nationally? Unbelievable.

9) What was the biggest gaffe you've made on air? (dead air ... forget a mic was still on ... etc.)

One day while voice tracking in the air studio, I noticed that the phones were blowing up. At first, I ignored it and continued tracking. However, after five minutes, the phones were still full, and I thought something might be up. When I picked up, a very nice woman informed me that she could hear everything I was saying, and that it was interfering with the song she was trying to listen to. With a panicked look to the board, I saw that I'd left the mic in PGM. Everyone listening had been treated to me stumbling and re-recording a Nickelback front sell three times. I felt about two inches tall. Focus on being informative and entertaining.

10. What's the best piece of advice anyone's ever given you? The worst?

While still interning, a series of bizarre events landed me at a table sharing drinks with an established jock from a top ten market (who shall remain nameless for fear of him kicking my ass). He spoke at length about the business and shared anecdotes about obsessed listeners and crazy PDs.

Eventually, he got around to asking me what I was interested in doing. When I told him I wanted to be on-air, these were the next words out of his mouth: "Look man, you're a good guy, you've got a good head on your shoulders and you're young. I've got one word for you, 'sales." Suffice to say, I didn't take his advice. Then again, if I had, I probably wouldn't be driving an '87 Volvo wagon.

1) How did you get your on-air name?

I've been called Dano for many years, prior to getting into broadcasting. Growing up, I went by Dan. However, once I became friends with another Dan, we decided we needed a way to differentiate. Thus, I became Dano and he became Danny. And no, I don't watch "Hawaii Five-0" and I've never "booked" anybody.

2) What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?

My first year of college I majored in Chemistry. From there, I became an analytical chemist for a laboratory and eventually a hardware technician for Google. I'm good with mathematics and technology, but it bores the crap out of me. There's not much room to be creative. Had I not made the move to broadcasting, I'd be working at Initech or Intertrode wasting away in a cubicle.

3) What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?

I don't talk about it much on the air, since it's out of format, but I'm an avid Sports fan. I aggressively follow the San Jose Sharks, the San Francisco 49ers, and to a lesser extent the San Francisco Giants (still in my doghouse for the 2002 World Series). Unfortunately, I live in the North Bay Area, which is clueless when it comes to supporting sports teams. Thus, I often stick out like a sore thumb. Ever seen that idiot walking around the grocery store on game day with a football jersey on while everyone else is in street clothes? That would be me.

4) What do you like to read?

Chalk me up as another one of those crazy Hunter S. Thompson kids. Most people cite "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" as his masterpiece. I however am less interested in drug use and more in razor-sharp commentary (although I did enjoy that book). Thus, you'll often catch me re-reading "Hells Angels" or "The Gonzo Letters" rather than rattling off lines from the "Fear and Loathing..." movie. I also dig Kurt Vonnegut, and consider his doomsday device in "Cat's Cradle" pure genius. I'm currently reading Cormac McCarthy, "The Road."