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10 Questions with ... Dave Elliott
October 31, 2006
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NAME:Dave ElliottTITLE:Host, The Dave Elliott ShowSTATION:WGUF-FMMARKET:Naples, FLCOMPANY:Renda BroadcastingBORN:Jan. 2, 1952RAISED:Flint, Alpena, Traverse City, MI
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
First radio job: WHSB-FM, Alpena, MI, August, 1969 at age 17 during high school. Moved to WATZ, Alpena, MI and stayed until leaving the business to tour with the Young Americans as national tour orchestra conductor for "West Side Story".
Back to radio in '79 at WTCM, Traverse City, MI, as morning country jock and salesperson then to Production Manager at WGTU-TV, same market, where I also did local
news inserts in "Good Morning America" locally. Back to radio for a year, then off to other things, including marketing manager
at a now-defunct computer software company, then to Southern California, where I created an ad sales department for a cable company in
Victorville during the first Gulf War. To Naples, FL in 1994, taking over a small static ad channel and created the first WB
Network cable affiliate in the country. Stayed through 6 owners in 8 years, finally getting the axe in 2001 and starting my own business,
Voxnow Studios, a voiceover, video and audio production company. Took the morning host job at WINK-WNOG AM in 2005 for a year, leaving to launch the market's only FM Talk station at WGUF, where I am today. I run my small studio today while doing duties as morning host on WGUF. Hope that's brief enough!1. How did you get your start in radio?
I walked into WHSB Radio, Alpena, MI in August of 1969 hoping for anything on the air. I auditioned for the owner, reading a grisly story from the AP Wire. He hired me on the spot. I learned everything on the job, which I think is the best way to learn. As a kid, I would listen to AM radio late into the evenings on my old tube radio, guys like Larry Glick on WBZ, Boston. I knew from an early age that this is what I would do, often visiting my favorite AM station in Flint, MI, standing outside the studio and watching the jocks work.
2. What are you passionate about?
Passion is an interesting word. It is what drives me. I am passionate about excellence, competence, and humor. I believe that any job worth doing is worth doing not just well, but to the highest level possible. Incompetence does not belong in any public position, whether it's radio or politics. And humor: without it, we'd all be in the looney bin. I try to start and end every show with something funny, at least to me. I am passionate about personal and professional accountability. No room for victim mentality in my life.
3. You've done an incredibly wide range of jobs, from TV management and cable ad sales to conducting orchestras and choirs and, of course, lots of radio. How does the diversity of your experience affect your radio hosting ability- does having "done it all" make a difference in how you approach hosting a show?
I think so. I am never at a loss for something to talk about. I like to be able to relate to people on their level, even though sometimes that level is far above my head. Whether it's music, cultural items like growth, which is big here in Southwest Florida, aging, traffic, or local politics, even such mundane but important issues as local school issues, I am comfortable having those conversations. I like to talk about music, art, and sports, although I am not a sports fanatic. I often relate my TV and radio sales experience to how we interact with each other regularly. It can apply to the concepts of being both a good boss and an employee, of being a pain-in-the-ass customer, or of being a new father (at age 54 I am the giddy dad of a 9-month old whom we adopted in January). I believe the parapatetic career I've had gives me a chance to build credibility with my audience and they seem to respond. I am very open about my successes and failures in career and life, and listeners are relating.
4. In an industry where syndication has eliminated a lot of local opportunities, you're doing a strong local show. What are some examples of the kind of things you do to make your show unique, local, something that can't be gotten elsewhere?
First, I think you have to build relationships with the 'key publics' in your listening area. Knowing them and gaining their trust is important. We talk local politics and lifestyle issues a lot. I try to be 'micro' about topics which are really personal to our permanent and seasonal listeners, like growth, road overcrowding, beaches, where the best places to eat are, and even hot-button items like illegal immigration and affordable housing. We target one very upscale county here of about 400,000 people who are here primarily because of the lifestyle, and I have made lifestyle my number one mission. Additionally, I do my show once a week from the local Hilton Hotel, where we meet listeners and talk to key newsmakers. Probably my favorite part of the week, getting out there and being where people are. I am out and around the area all the time, taking different routes to destinations, trying to be observant. And, I take points of view regularly on what I see or hear, always trying to adhere to our tongue-in-cheek slogan of 'the atomic bomb of reason'. Mostly, I try to react viscerally to things, the way I think our listeners do, and to try to put a funny or cynical spin on things when I can.
5. Of all the jobs you've done outside radio and voicework, what was the most fun? The most rewarding? The worst?
I would have to say being an orchestra conductor was both the most fun and the worst. The most fun, because it was something I always wanted to do. It was probably a power thing, I would guess. The worst, because I was away from my young family at the time and I hated that; that and sleeping in a bus for 8 hours a day travelling from one venue to another.
The most rewarding? Hmmm. Maybe doing what I do when I get off the air every day: building from scratch and running my studio, working with one of the top voice talents in the country (Peter Thomas, 82-years young and still going strong) and learning from him. The creative and technical parts of that process are addictive.
6. Who are your influences and/or mentors?
Someone who taught me a lot was Kenn Venit, formerly with Primo Newservice, now on his own as a consultant. He showed me how to be constructive, kind, and firm about teaching; how to be a compassionate critic and getting the most from his clients; and he taught me about the concept of 'hyper-local': The idea that every person is the central character in his or her own story, and they want to hear about things that relate to them. Someone I consider a mentor is my friend, Peter Thomas, with whom I work on an almost daily basis. In the business for over 60 years, a decorated Purple Heart veteran who fought at the Battle of the Bulge, his life is an example for me: over 60 years of marriage to the same woman, kindness, competence, patience, and good humor.
7. Of what are you most proud?
That's easy: my 9-month old, Maggie Rose. Raising kids is wasted on the young.
8. What do you do for fun?
Play with my computer, woodworking (at which I am mediocre but am trying to improve), and emceeing community events.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _____________.
...my cellphone.
10. What's the best advice you've ever gotten? The worst?
Best Advice: Learn to listen.
Worst Advice: Don't worry; the cops never show up for speeding tickets.
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