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"Frogmen in the Morning" - KFRG-FM & KXFG-FM - Riverside/San Bernardino
June 22, 2011
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. Mike Marino interviews on-air Morning Show talent.
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CREATE THE SCENE:
We've been at this radio thing for a while now. What's been the biggest change you've witnessed over the last 10 years? (For better, or worse).
TOMMY: The ability to take the features of a $30,000 digital editing machine and do it all on a 300 dollar laptop. Technology rocks, not only for production but for music deleivery! I started digital editing on one of the prototypes of the Orban DSE-7000. Now I used Adobe audition to do the same.
SCOTT: The PPM-it's a game changer, folks. You are a fool if you don't believe that.
What's been your biggest challenge, adjusting? (Corporate changes? Arbitron? Format? Competition?)
TOMMY: Learning to not be a mindless corporate managment goon wearing 3 hats.(I was a PD fr 1998-2005). Now I am a mindless morning show goon wearing silly hats.
SCOTT: Finding balance between the show and the off-air duties.
You've been 'married with mics' for a while. Describe how you make it last...
TOMMY: We cuddle and spoon after each show. I should mention that we have a hot female producer now, so it's more comfy. Before we had a large man from El Monte (Ca) and that was like a scene from "prison break".
SCOTT: Weekly date nights are a must!
Prep 101
PREP: How have you tweaked your daily show prep, over the years? What types of information do you find have worked the best over the years (i.e. lifestyle, health, news).
TOMMY: For one, newspapers are gone, so that's the biggest change. You have to develop a routine for searching certain websites for info that fits what you do on the show. We're all media addicts these days and it's hard to disconnect from the internet when you depend on it for so much. Sometimes though, you do see that many sites just regurgitate the same stories or idea, over and over again...
SCOTT: Living in the PPM world means you must be more streamlined and audience-focused, so I try not to waste time with info/prep that I know we'll never use.
'America's Finest City': How do you like your city? (Explain.)
TOMMY: We cover so many cities in The IE, so it's hard to pinpoint one thing I love. You can be in desert to beach to mountains in less than an hour in many cases where we live... and Disneyland too!
SCOTT: I live in Yucaipa and work in Colton. All things considered, I like Yucaipa!
PRESS
Has the challenge of getting TV coverage gotten any easier (worse) over the years? What tips can you give other adult music stations?
TOMMY: We're kinda biased there, because we had a monring TV segment fall into our laps for over a year and a half. We did a live local segment every morning on the Los Angeles NBC station. We have moved on since then. The challenge is easier if you get involved with charity events that TV stations are already involved with. In this market, it's next to impossible to get TV attention with anything short of a high speed chase.
SCOTT: We work in an odd market-Riverside/San Bernardino is a shadow market of L.A., so we don't have much in the way of truly local TV coverage. That being said, it is a bit more difficult for us to get any TV coverage of events or stunts, but it has happened occasionally. If you'd like to see the L.A. TV stations give you their undivided attention, impregnate the housekeeper of the former governor. That seems to work.
NAME DROPPER
CELEB interview? Anybody care, anymore?
TOMMY: We have the privilidge of interviewing so many big names in our industry and the occasional celeb outside of music. It all comes down to the approach. We try and have a very casual and fun attitude with our interviews. If our guest (and audience) hear the typical questions, they tune out. You have to set a tone as if you know these people fairly well. It also helps to have an "anchor point" that some celebs remember when you talk to them. Like the time my partner interviewed Jason Aldean in a bathroom!
SCOTT: My favorite part of that Jason Aldean bathroom interview? His guitarist was in the stall taking care of business while we were recording. How come I'm not in the Country Broadcasters Hall of Fame yet???
Quick Word Association
We'll quickly mention topical characters, from politics to entertainment, sports to music, you tell us your thoughts
Illegal Immigration
TOMMY: major population in California. You can't spew redneck politics here like my homestate (AZ) does. There has to be some work done to compromise and help this group of people become honest taxpaying citizens.
SCOTT: my great grandfather was an illegal immigrant (from Norway) so I'll stay out of this one.
Wiener
TOMMY: I would love to see a female with such a silly name do the same. What would her name be???
SCOTT: "Weiner"
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
TOMMY: Weiner!
SCOTT: Keep Cool With Coolidge! (???)
Favorite Country Tunes
TOMMY: Just about anything from Sara Evans does me good, But "A Little bit stronger" really works for me.
SCOTT: Keith Urban is wildly talented and entertaining. Even if you're outside of the format, you just might enjoy a Keith Urban show.
Annoying Hollywood celeb(s)
TOMMY: If you can't say anything nice then don't say anything that sounds like Norm McDonald.
SCOTT: anyone named Kardashian
X-tra Pointers
INSIDE INFO: Throw us a freakin' bone. Tell us one thing about yourself that most people don't know. Be honest.
TOMMY: I am 100% Mexican by blood. Both my parents came from Mexico and both became American citizens. I am a proud American with a great Mexican heritage.
SCOTT: I actually enjoy the game of soccer. Long story....I can explain if you're interested....
TWO CENTS: If there was one piece of advice you could give, what would it be?
TOMMY: Be ready to do anything in this business to keep or get a job. It goes back to something a professor of mine said in college. The way to keep a job is to say: "sure, I can do that!"
SCOTT: I agree with Tommy. There should be no job that is beneath you, big shot......
IT'S Oh-VAH! Thanks for your help, and we'll make you look like the superstar that you are!
BitXChange THANKS to "Frogmen in the Morning" - Tommy & Scott
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