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10 Questions with ... Jay Anderson
January 27, 2009
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NAME:Jay AndersonTITLE:Talk Show Host-Producer-Assistant Program DirectorSTATION:WSKY 97.3 FMMARKET:Gainesville-Ocala, FLCOMPANY:EntercomBORN:5/31/1973RAISED:Philadelphia 'burbsBRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
College radio in Ithaca, followed by a stint at WQNY 103.7FM Ithaca, then to WXPN in Philadelphia, WPHT in Philly, WTMG Gainesville, FL in 1998; In 2003, moved crosstown to WSKY. In the beginning of 2006, had a short 3 month run at KTRS in St. Louis, then back at WSKY in Gainesville, April 2006 - present.
1. How did you get into radio? Why radio?
I've always been a fan. I remember being a kid in Philadelphia, listening to Gene Hart and Bobby Taylor call Flyers hockey games, putting the radio under my pillow so I could listen to the broadcasts from the west coast while I was supposed to be sleeping. I've pretty much always known I wanted to be in the industry.
2. About what are you most passionate these days?
Two things -- for the time being, trying to keep listeners cautiously optimistic about the incoming administration (a lot of them weren't Obama supporters). And a general topic that riles my passions -- stupidity. Why do we put drug offenders in jail to serve out their terms, but we print a catalogue of all of the sexual predators living in the area???? Can we ever prioritize????
3. How do your style and material differ from the average talk show? What prompted you to bring the snark?
I rarely if ever toe the standard right wing talk show host line. I'm not a wild leftist by any stretch of the imagination, but my problem with talk radio has always been a little too much of "preaching to the choir." I like tipping the occasional sacred cow. But I think the listeners deal with such things because I'm generally being honest with them and I have their respect, even if they disagree with me. The "snark" idea actually came from an old boss who used the word to describe my general attitude (both on & off the air). I think everybody acted like this where I grew up (Philly) so I don't notice it.Oh, yeah, and you can put the word "snark" on the webpage -- you can't put what a lot of people would like to call me on websites!!!
4. You've worked in large (Philly, St. Louis) and smaller (Gainesville) markets -- what, if any, differences are there in doing radio in big cities vs. smaller markets? Does Gainesville's status as a college town make a difference in doing talk radio there, or in the kind of callers or audience you get?
I love Philly, but was more behind the scenes there -- St. Louis was fun, albeit short (and for some reason I now have a deep seeded hate for the Cardinals baseball team). Biggest difference is, you have more potential listeners to pull from in the bigger markets. Gainesville is a great place to work in talk radio because you have a strong liberal influence in the city of Gainesville & Alachua County, but the rest of the surrounding counties in the 15 or so we serve are very conservative. So there's already that tension between the sides. It also allows for a lot of variation in opinion when it comes to local issues. The hardest thing about a market like Gainesville/Ocala, FL is that they really can be different audiences with vastly different interests. If you're in New York radio, everybody's got to deal with the Holland Tunnel or the GW Bridge, and everybody can relate. Occasionally, you'll get local issues that really are unique to Ocala & not Gainesville or vice versa. Plus the University of Florida's brought home 4 college titles in 3 years!!!
5. You produced and board-opped at WPHT before heading to Gainesville and doing your own show; does that experience give you a different perspective on the value of a good producer?
I'm not sure. I think the most important thing is a good relationship between Talent & Producer. I produce & semi-co-host (is that a word) the Bob Rose Show in Gainesville -- we've worked together for about 4 1/2 years now & are comfortable with eachothers styles. At other stations I've been at, there is no relationship between talent & producers. Once the two players get to know each other -- more comfort -- more familiarity -- better radio product. You can put A+ talent in a room to do a show produced by an A+ producer, but if the two don't develop a relationship - it'll come through on the air.
6. How did the economic downturn change what you talk about -- do you perceive a change in people's interests or what they're looking for in a talk show?
I try to keep it positive. Sometimes I try to kid the listeners and say we'll all be dead in 2012 after the Mayan Calendar thing. But seriously, I try to explain how very local the economy is. After getting dumped in St. Louis and before rejoining WSKY in April of 2006 -- the Dow was higher than it is now. Gas prices were similar to where they are now (only we had not seen $4 a gallon 3 years ago). The point is, the overall economy was fine in 2006 -- but terrible for me because I was out of work. I tell people if they have a job, bust hump & try to make sure you keep it -- if you lose your gig, try to find another job. Yes, you may have made 8 zillion dollars a year working whereever you were -- and you may think $8 an hour flipping burgers is beneath you -- but a gig is a gig these days.I also try to put things in perspective. We seem to overdramatize our current era. We look back at history & think Washington beat the Brits & we won the Revolutionary War. Lincoln freed the slaves & the Civil War ended. Stock market dropped in 1929 - and we got better.
But today - $4 a gallon gas AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!
Honestly, in the grand scheme of things, we still don't have it that terribly bad. Besides, I work in radio -- we've always lived on Ramen Noodles, what do we care???
7. Who are your mentors and inspirations in the business?
Idols & Influences.....(in no particular order): Gene Hart, Bobby Taylor, Pierre Robert, Michael Smerconish, Bob Rose, Andrew Lee.
8. What do you do for fun?
Loiter, go to Florida Gator sporting events, hang with friends, go to the beach (the real one -- not the "I've been fired" one!)
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ____________.
...wasting at least a couple of hours on the internet.
10. What's the best advice you ever got? The worst?
Best Advice - Think about a radio topic before you do it. Sometimes I'll see a headline that interests me & I'll have a snide or snarky comment for it. A friend in the industry advised me to "do the bit" in my head first before going out loud with it. Nothing like a 2 second passing comment that can derail an entire show!Worst Advice - No, don't worry, that fish looks good!!!!