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10 Questions with ... Chris Anthony
September 18, 2012
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I got started when I was 14 volunteering at a nursing home radio station. I answered phones and longed to be on the air. My first paying gig came around near when I was 20 and I was hooked. Since then, I've anchored news/traffic, done air shifts, promotions and production. All of this was in Ohio until I moved to Wisconsin and worked for the largest FM signal in the state. Cincinnati had me back for a while at the legendary WUBE. Now I'm looking for my next great break.
1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?
I keep learning however I can, and I keep in touch with friends in the business to stay connected. Listening to radio and practicing (in the car sometimes) keeps me fresh as well. Doing all this keeps me part of the radio world and once I find my new home, I feel like I never left!
2) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?
I just moved into a new apartment so I've been organizing that. Practicing my French has been fun too, along with hanging out with friends and enjoying the end of summer.
3) Some people get discouraged or enlightened with the business when they actually step out of it for a while. Tell us your observations from the outside.
My observation from the outside is that radio is alive more than ever these days. I see my friends' reactions to what happens in their radio markets and it's refreshing to know that they still care about their favorite DJ. I see myself in the audience rather than backstage for the theater of the mind that radio is. I don't mind it because I first fell in love with the business by being a listener.
4) Do you plan on sticking with radio?
I'm 30 now and got started at 14. I haven't been able to get her to leave yet!
5) What's the best way to get your foot in the door?
The best way I have found recently is timing. I landed my last gig because I happened to fit their exact needs. Aside from that, being willing to learn and accept criticism even if you don't get the gig helps you grow and leads to bigger things. Knowing people can't hurt either.
6) What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get a job?
I was 14 or 15 and the Oldies station in Cincinnati did a totally spontaneous promotion at a food drive. The jock got on the air and told listeners that the first person to bring 50 bags of food to donate would get their own on air shift for a day at the station. I could tell he just made it up on the fly, so I went to the grocery store where I worked and got my manager to donate lots of cans. I also bought a lot of 39-cent chicken broth.
7) How are you finding the "courtesy level" at places you've applied? (Callbacks, e-mails, rejection letters, etc.)
I'd say that I get one e-mail back out of every 20 I send. The people who do get back to me are very nice however and know what it's like to hear nothing.
8) Are you spending as much time listening to radio as you used to?
Probably more, since I am not surrounded by the music as much and I want to keep myself immersed in the business.
9) What do you miss most about music/radio? The least?
I miss interacting with the audience and talking to people with a mutual love for the format. I don't miss the egos. No matter how positive I was, there were still some egos that were prevalent.
10) Is there anything specific that you regret doing while you were still working?
I always feel like there's more I could have learned about different departments, but then you can say that about any past job. Hindsight is 20/20. During the last position, I learned about promotions and loved it.
Bonus Questions
Any books you can recommend to people who need something inspirational to read?
"No Opportunity Wasted: Creating a List for Life" by Phil Keoghan. Get a pen and read. You'll follow your life path after reading this one.
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