10 Questions with ... Rick Roddam

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• KILO/Colorado Springs - nights
• KRZR/Fresno - APD/MD/PM drive
• (Syndicated CC talent: KMRQ/Modesto, KURQ/San Luis Obispo, KIXA/Victor Valley)
• KWYE/Fresno - mornings
• KLLY/Bakersfield - mornings
• KKBZ/Fresno - mornings
• KKBZ and KHIT/Fresno - Program Director

1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?

I do everything I can to stay busy and creative.

2) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?

I've been dabbling in stand-up comedy for years. The break has given me time to release my debut comedy DVD, "Stay Classy Fresno," on FadeawayJ Films. I'm also doing play-by-play for a local professional wrestling company called "Piledriver Pro Wrestling." I write freelance articles and columns for a local magazine and I'm making a documentary film about the late-great KRZR called "Long Live The Wild Hare."

3) Do you plan on sticking with radio?

I hope so. Radio is my first love. To me, it's not a job, it's a calling.

4) What's the longest stretch you've had on the beach?

This is it, 10 months and counting.

5) What's the best way to get your foot in the door?

In this day and age, it's very hard to stand out unless you know the right people.

6) What's the next job you'd like to obtain?

I'm more concerned about finding the right place than titles, money or market size. I want to make good radio and work with good people.

7) How are you finding the "courtesy level" at places you've applied?

I know what it's like to sort through 350 tapes and resumes for one job opening. There's just not enough time to reply to everyone. Now that I'm on the other side of the fence, I've noticed that the really good, veteran programmers are usually the most likely to respond.

8) What has been your biggest career achievement?

I was lucky enough to work for two legendary heritage Rock stations. Watching those stations hit record ratings was great, but nothing beats starting a new station and watching it grow. When I started out at KKBZ, we didn't have a logo or a station vehicle, and we had a very small staff. We scratched and clawed our way up from the bottom and gave our heritage competitors some serious headaches.

9) Is there anything specific you regret doing while you were still working?

Sometimes, this business is more about perception than reality. I was always the guy in the Tool T-shirt, wearing shorts and flip-flops. I didn't always look or act "managerial." I have learned that if you want to be the man, you have the dress and act the part.

10) How will this experience change you when you get back to work?

The strongest steel is forged by the hottest fire. I have the talent, the hunger, the energy and the experience to make great radio. I will continue to learn and grow every day.

My favorite new diversion is....

Film-making is something I had never tried until recently. I've been bitten by the bug and I hope to continue making comedy films and documentary movies for a long time.