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10 Questions with ... Christian Blood
January 24, 2012
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I started in the radio business in 1988 while still in high school. This was really just an accident, but I obviously fell in love with it rather quickly and radio became my life up until 2004. Over those 16 years, I spent most of my time in variations of AC and also News Talk. I served as Broadcast Coordinator for Texas Rangers baseball (before they were any good) and MD with KALZ/Fresno. I ended up a natural phone jock with strong management skills. I know how to keep people tuned in to me while also learning everything about my competition.
1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?
I've taken up bass guitar over the last year or so and know I've got some game here. Not much money in it but I really love doing it.
2) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?
Working on a family business project that's actually being featured on an Animal Planet reality show ... yes, really!
3) What's the best way to get your foot in the door?
Know that you're going to be good at broadcasting and then the door will go ahead and open for you.
4) What has been your best resource for finding out about job openings?
Check AllAccess.com most hours of the day and if you've worked in the business before, maintain lots of friendships. It's all about politics.
5) What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get a job?
I worked on the air naked once. Ha! Not really, but I made you read further ;)
6) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?
I would program an aggressive Hot AC format with an active playlist, or a visible Classic Hits station, and hopefully have a competitor to knock around.
7) With consolidation there are definitely fewer jobs. How do you separate yourself from the pack?
Fewer jobs certainly mean fewer opportunities and less talent. So if you have talent, it will stick out even more. I think it's great, actually.
8) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?
Joining a newer station with a new air staff in Fresno, CA (KALZ) and wiping out a crosstown competitor after having been almost dead, ratings-wise. My playlist won and so did my daypart, which was validating and gratifying in several ways.
9) What do you miss most about music/radio? The least?
What I miss most about radio is being on the air while competing. What I miss the least is the corporate sanitizing of an otherwise creative industry.
10) Having been through all you have dealt with in this biz, what advice would you give people trying to break in?
Honestly, be prepared to pay a lot of dues and make little money. I'm just being real here ...
Bonus Questions
Care to contribute a low-cost recipe to our "ON THE BEACH" cookbook?
Absolutely! Take three cans tomato soup (Campbell's obviously), one pound of ground turkey or beef, half of a yellow onion, 4-5 cloves of garlic and a can of kidney beans. Sautee the onions and garlic, then cook your meat and then add soup and beans. Finally, add about a tablespoon of cumin, a teaspoon of chili powder and black or cayenne pepper.
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