10 Questions with ... Scarlet C

NAME:Scarlet C TITLE:APD/Middays STATION:WKQC (K-104.7) MARKET:Charlotte, NC COMPANY:CBS Radio BORN:September in Texas RAISED:I've lived the longest in Charlotte, NC

Please outline your radio career so far:

WLYT (1997) - love songs, 7-mid, WFMX (1999) mornings, KASE (1999) middays, KKMJ (2001) love songs, 7-mid, KAMX (2002) 7-midnight, WKQC (2003) Name the shift, I-ve done it!

1) What was your first job in radio?

I did sales for a small AM station outside of Charlotte... I'm trying to block it out of my memory.

2) Besides your own, what format would you like to program and why?

I would love Hot/Modern/AC mainly because that is my type of music from a listener stand point.

3) If you are wearing more hats this year than last, what area is suffering and how are you handling that?

Before getting my promotion, I took on more programming responsibilities after our PD left and I took on the morning show as well. I would say my personal life suffered the most. It's very difficult when you and your family are on different schedules. It was hard going to bed before my daughter and boyfriend and getting up before they did every morning. I didn't realize how nice it was waking up with them every day until I no longer did. Now that I'm back on middays, I have a greater appreciation for morning shows and for my personal relationships. I also get out of bed a LOT easier every morning! 6 AM no longer seems so early after my 4 AM alarms for the morning show!

4) What impact will the firing of Talk show Host Imus have on radio and the media in general?

Maybe I'm naïve, but I am just really am appalled at the lack of people in general allowing others to have a difference in opinion that may or may not necessarily be Politically Correct. While I by no means am endorsing what Imus said or did, I'm merely stating what is so great with the country's Bill Of Rights that we seem to be losing sight of lately.

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

Wow, that's hard. We are struggling with that right now, trying to revamp our website to appeal to listeners. I think once we figure that out and get on the right track we can really utilize the web to further our lead over the other AC station in the market.

6) Describe the relationship you have with your fellow co-workers? How do you motivate your staff to do better? How do they motivate you?

I get along pretty well with most of my co-workers. There are a few who have yet to fall under my spell, but overall I like to treat my co-workers the way I want to be treated. I try to remember they are people as well and deserve respect for their lives. However, I also feel they have a certain responsibility to this radio station and I hold them to the same standard I hold myself. With my new APD stripes, I'm trying to remember how I felt about management as a jock, and apply myself to improving what I thought was lacking in this business... communication! It's important we all know what's going on at the station from the full-timers to the part-timers keeps us all on the same page. I think it also gives people a feeling of inclusion.

7) As an air-talent how has industry consolidation helped or hurt you? What effect has industry consolidation had on the way you program your station?

I really think the whole voice-tracking movement is such a double-edged sword. It does allow us some flexibility, I get to attend our marketing meetings now because I voice-track. However I really think it inhibits new talent from "cutting their teeth" on the overnights, weekends, etc. or because those shifts are covered by air talent from other markets. When I first started at K-104.7 and after we fired our morning show, we only had three full-time air staff and one part timer for the entire station!!! What wasn't live was voice-tracked by one of us. It was very difficult to take vacation, sick time, etc. Thank goodness we've now expanded our part time staff, but our full-time staff has now gone down one!

8) What is your biggest pet peeve with your airstaff?

I've not noticed this with our staff in particular, but just as a general pet peeve I can't stand when people are sloppy and don't make every break count. With as little as we now talk, it's imperative we use every opportunity to be the best we can!

9) What is the best advice you would give to young programmers/promotion people?

I would tell them to give every offer you get from a radio station your full appreciation and do your best at whatever it is. By being a team player, you not only build relationships with those around you, but with management. You never know who will be your next boss, so treat everyone you work with as if they could one day make you a millionaire by putting you on the air!!!

10) As you look back over your career... any regrets? Missed opportunities?

I'm of the belief that life is really what you make it, and the choices you made in your past have put you in the position you are in at this point in time. I think I'm in a really great place right now having just been promoted and working with a great management team. After I have worked with some pretty difficult bosses, it's nice to have people like John Reynolds and Keith Cornwell to work for.

1) What, if any, celebrity do you most likely resemble?

I am always being told I look like Sheryl Crow.

2) What "reality show" could you see yourself appearing on and why?

I've been on "Trading Spaces" (the first season) and "Warehouse Warriors." Now I'd like to be on "The Amazing Race."

3) What do you do in your spare time?

I do so much with my free time! I currently volunteer with Girls on the Run as a head coach for a satellite location and I'm also on their marketing committee. I'm also training for my second marathon (Chicago) as well as being a coach for adults as they train for their first marathon. I'm also a sponsored runner for a local running store and for Goody's national "Team Stay Put". I'm also taking palates on the fancy-schmancy palates machines. I try to check out at least 3-5 plays/shows at the local acting theaters here as well as voicing the local performing arts center's podcasts. I also compete in at least two running/adventure races a month. My favorite is the muddy buddy! (www.muddybuddy.com)

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

Don't tell my boss, but I was so tired from God knows what that I put my head down on the desk and fell asleep! Yea... about eight minutes of dead air before I woke myself up. Pretty embarrassing! Surprisingly, my boss down the hall didn't notice.