10 Questions with ... Candy from the Candy + Potter Show

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• KYCW (96.5 Young Country)/Seattle, WA - 1997-1998 (Producer/Talent)
• KMPS (94.1)/Seattle, WA (Part-Time talent) - 1998-2003
• KBKS (Kiss 106.1)/Seattle, WA (Late Nights/Nights/Morning Fill-In/Web Master)
• WFLY (FLY 92.3)/Albany, NY - (Morning Show Host) 2003-2006
• WLNK '06 - Charlotte, NC - 1079 The LINK (Midday Show Host) 2007-2010

1) What Got You Interested In Radio?

This is so embarrassing, let me start this story by saying I was 18...18! I was in college in Seattle and a guidance counselor put me in the Intro Radio class without my consent. I had no interest in "radio history" but stayed in the class for three days because there was very hot man-candy involved. When "hot guy" turned out to have a girlfriend, I went to drop the class but was told it was too late.

2) Who do you consider your radio mentors?

I can't really think of one, but I still look up to Mike Preston, one of my first PD's who gave me a shot. I worked with Mike for eight years at KISS in Seattle and he basically watched me grow up. (I am not sure how much "growing up" I actually did but whatever...)

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

I have been professionally working in radio since I was 18, but before that I used to dress mannequins for Old Navy store openings. Apparel merchandising isn't that exciting but we had a great time putting mannequin legs behind some of the employee's cars when they were backing out of parking spaces!

4) What makes your show unique?

We are a female targeted lifestyle talk station. No, I do not get on my feminism soap box and bash Mad Men all day. We talk about cool stuff like pop culture, music, relationships, sex and whatever is going on in our lives at the moment.

I grew up in Seattle and lived in New York. When I first moved to Charlotte, friends said, "Wow, aren't they still fighting the Civil War down there?" I am happy to report that hasn't been my experience. Some I go days without hearing a Southern accent. Charlotte is a growing area, with all of the same growing pains as any other city. I live in a condo uptown and I can walk to work, the theater and sporting events, so it's not much different from Seattle.

5) What do you like best about working in this format?

I feel that working in this format has made me a stronger personality. Our listeners love to hear about what is really happening in our lives, good or bad. There's no hiding behind "10 In A Row." One of my key issues has always been finding genuine ways to express my "softer side." I am always a smart-ass, cynical and a realist. But don't get me started on homeless animals and my rescue puppy Brooklyn or we will all need a box of Kleenex.

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

Candy is my real name so it was either radio or stripping...and stripping is hard work! I always get teased and asked if that's my real name. My response is, "Obviously, if I had an opportunity to make up a name, I would pick something better than Candy." True story, when my aunt was born my grandfather looked at my grandma and said, "I have the perfect name! Let's call her Candy!" My grandmother screamed, "Absolutely not! My daughter is not going to have a whore name like that." How did I get my name? My mom loves my grandfather and hates my grandmother. So shout out to my mom for naming me out of spite and to my aunt Cindy.

7) How do you stay in tune with your audience?

I am obviously a woman so that helps. I also happen to be addicted to pop culture and I adore trying new things. If it's a new product, a TV show, or artist...I'll sample it. I admit I also am a tech geek. I am not as bad as my husband when it comes to tech but I'm close.

8) Who is the most amazing talent you've worked with?

This will be my brownie point portion of my answers. My co-host is my husband Potter. Seriously, we are really married, it's legal and everything. We have been married for almost 8 years and have been working together for 10 years. It might sound crazy to you but it works for us. I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT FOR EVERY COUPLE. We were friends for a year before we hooked up and our personalities make it easy to be in the studio together and not want to ring each-other's neck. He is anal, a perfectionist and radio nerd (his words). I am spontaneous, goofy and sometimes too creative. Potter is great at taking one of my jacked ideas and helping make it work for our show. And not to get mushy but he makes me laugh everyday.

9) What is the most rewarding promotion or activity your station has ever been involved with to benefit the community or a charity?

Our Volunteer Army is amazing. As a show we always try to get out in the community, so we developed a way for our listeners to join us in various charity projects. We do one or two projects a month. We E-mail our volunteer database and have everything ready when they arrive including lunch. We have heard from charities that our people are a force to be reckoned with. We have built playgrounds, habitat homes, thrown birthday parties for homeless kids, cleaned up animal shelters and more. It is a very rewarding experience to get dirty and really make a difference with your listeners. Plus, now I know how to install drywall and build a deck.

10) What's the closest you ever came to getting arrested for an on-air stunt? Or did you actually get arrested?

Arrested? Check! We did a stunt in New York that involved saran wrapping a half naked guy to a telephone pole on a busy street. He was the human billboard for our show after we tanned our names into his chest, I do remember the mug shot of our street guy was hysterical.

1) What was the craziest demand you've seen on an artist rider?

Nick Crater post Backstreet Boys fame. He was doing a show for us and I was designated babysitter. I walked back to his dressing room and was told his meditation suite was not as requested. I asked Nick, "Are you serious? What could you possibly have to mediate about?" He laughed and challenged me to an office chair race down the hall of the arena.

2) Favorite artist you have met?

Wow, I have been lucky enough to meet a ton of artists, but there's one who I still come across from time to time that goes out of his way to embarrass me. I have seen Tyler from the Barenaked Ladies over the years at different shows. He always gives me a huge hug and says to the people around us, "Has she ever told you about the Irish dive bar when we drank with the fishermen and took them back to my hotel room? That was a crazy night, I mooned half of Seattle!" (P.S. - That is the edited version of that story).

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

I say this with love and I have said it to their face, "My extended family is such a huge group of messed up people it's astonishing." They know how to have a good time, get arrested and gossip. I was surprised to learn two things in 2009. One is that I am expecting my first baby in May and the other is that my late uncle used to date a prostitute until she was killed by the Green River Killer back in the 80's. Seriously, my family should be a movie. I just can't decide if it would be a comedy or a horror flick!