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10 Questions with ... Manny Haley
April 29, 2014
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I started my time in radio at KXEO in Mexico, MO. This is what I call a big station in a little town. The AM was a 1,000-watt Soft Rock station while the FM side was a 100,000-watt Country station. It was here that I did a little bit of everything ... news, sports, weather and high school sports play-by-play, to name a few of my duties. I also had a seven-hour on-air music shift once a week along with some fill-in from time to time. I was also able to cover the University of Missouri athletic programs by reporting and covering games. The state's biggest Country station had a tremendous following across Central and Northeast Missouri.
From there I moved on to the Zimmer Radio Group in Columbia. I was the News Director for eight stations along with being the PD for an FM News/Talk station. It was here that I also spent time as an intern advisor for students at the University of Missouri and other universities around Central Missouri.
My last stop was at KRMS in the Lake of the Ozarks. I took over the news department along with producing and hosting a live two-hour News/Talk show. I loved talking with the listeners each day but was told on December 31st, 2013 that because of the station's economic situation, my services would no longer be needed.
1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?
Right now I am very focused on finding a new position. Since the competition is fierce and the jobs are few, this is what I use to push myself to keep sending out resumes and sound checks. It can be frustrating, but I look at it like the 80/20 rule in sales.
2) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?
Besides the job search, I am spending time keeping up to date on current events in news and sports. I see it as doing show prep for a show that I do not have but I need to be ready in case the phone rings!
3) Do you plan on sticking with radio?
Despite what a lot of people have told me, I do plan to stay in radio. There are a lot of negative detractors out there, but I love radio and I love working in radio. I could not really see myself being happy working anyplace else.
4) What's the longest stretch you've had on the beach?
This is actually my first stop here. I was able to dodge the economic downturn in 2006 and 2007, but not so fortunate this time around.
5) What has been your best resource for finding out about job openings?
So far, the best resource has been All Access. It seems like the site is kept up to date with job postings along with also having accurate contact information.
6) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?
The next job that I would like to get would be working in radio in the Chicago market. I'm now living in Chicago, so I can work part-time or full-time ... it really does not matter, as long as it is in the Windy City.
7) How are you finding the "courtesy level" at places you've applied? (Callbacks, e-mails, rejection letters, etc.)
Some places are better than others. Most of the time you will at least get an e-mail, but sometimes you hear absolutely nothing back and when you try to contact them to find out an answer, you also do not get a response.
8) With consolidation, there are definitely fewer jobs. How do you separate yourself from the pack?
I separate myself with the body of work that I have put in over the last seven years. I talk about being a utility player being able to work in almost any format. There really is not much I do not have experience with in radio which I think makes me very unique.
9) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?
For me it was getting to cover the President in 2009. It was a very long day that started early in the morning, but it is something that I will never forget.
10) What do you miss most about music/radio? The least?
I miss the routine and the schedule. I miss putting the show together on a daily basis along with the news. I do not think there is anything I do not miss about radio right now.
Bonus Questions
Uh oh ... now you're on your own for getting new music. If applicable, name your three most recent purchases since leaving the biz.
- Aloe Blacc - The Man
- Pharrell Williams - Happy
- A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera - Say Something
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