10 Questions with ... Adam Rozanas

Email: asrozanas@gmail.com .
Mahoney's Email: soundcloud.com/adam-rozanas

Please begin by giving us a brief career synopsis…

2011-2015   DJ, Production, Music Programmer, Social Media at TWR Radio 155, South Africa.
2015-2016   Drive- and Night-time DJ, Assistant Production Manager, Social Media at KJTH/The House FM (CMM), Oklahoma.

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

I believe my passions, talents and aspirations are God-given, and I don’t believe God gives us something He doesn’t intend for us to use. It’s been a joy to pursue radio the past five years. I love every aspect of the industry. While I may not be in radio now, I believe this is just a season of new growth and opportunities. Working in a coffee shop, I’ve learned a lot about effective management, good social skills, hard labor and strong communication (not to mention making good coffee!). These are all things I can offer a future employer.

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

While I look for my next radio gig, the opening shift at Caribou Coffee is paying the bills. I’m currently engaged to Katie and planning our wedding for this July. In my spare time, I enjoy photography, reading, catching a movie at the discount theater (bills, man) and pretending to play the ukulele Katie gifted me on my birthday.

3) What’s the longest stretch you’ve had on the beach?

I think I managed to reach nine feet, seven inches, but that was with toes and fingers pointing in both directions.

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

Call me old-fashioned, but I really think there’s something to be said about a confident handshake. I’ve filled out all the online forms and sent countless e-mails to little or no avail. But my most fruitful experiences have come from making a phone call and asking for five minutes of a GM or PD’s time to swing by and introduce myself in person. So far, no one’s said no, and with each visit my network of contacts grows a little bigger.

5) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?

I’m a huge fan of Go Radio here in Minneapolis/St. Paul. They have two stations – 96.3 is Alternative and 95.3 is Hip-Hop. I love the music, the DJs, the contests, their website (GOMN.com), their facilities, their logo. Yes, I love their logo. After a meeting with the GM and tour of their facilities several months ago, I left convinced it was where I wanted to be working.

6) How are you finding the “courtesy level” at places you've applied? (Callbacks, e-mails, rejection letters, etc.)

It never ceases to amaze me how poorly we in the field of communications actually … well … communicate. Courtesy responses are rare, which can be both frustrating and disappointing to a hopeful candidate. Consider this – I might have applied for a position with your station because I actually want to work there! I’m impressed by the work you’re doing. I believe in your mission or values; you stand out and that working for you will make me better at my craft and therefore be beneficial to the both of us. Simply put, if I apply, I would hope for a response one way or another. At the very least, a polite declination allows me to re-gather myself and fully pursue another opportunity elsewhere.

7) With consolidation there are definitely fewer jobs. How do you separate yourself from the pack?

As a college student I dreamed of being a DJ. Or maybe a Production Manager. Certainly not both. Could you even do both? It wasn’t until leaving the safety of college radio that I realized filling more than one role at a time was the norm. My first radio job, I was overwhelmed. I didn’t think there was enough time in the day to manage on-air work, production, music programming, social media and website content, promotions and whatever else demanded my attention. It was stressful, but I learned how to wear several hats, how to prioritize and how to do my work with excellence still. To be able to do those things – anything and everything if necessary – and do them well, I think that’s what will make me stand out and desirable.

8) Are you spending as much time listening to radio as you used to?

Maybe more! The funny thing about working in radio is that we don’t listen to radio like everyone else does – we turn the music down and the “talking” up! I’m fascinated by DJs – their personalities, quirks, show prep (or lack thereof), professionalism (again, or lack thereof). There’s always something to be learned by listening to another radio DJ, and for it I’m always learning.

9) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?

While working with TWR in South Africa, I found that Hip-Hop and Rap were especially popular genres with the young people. I also noted that there was little to no comparable Christian Hip-Hop alternative. A pretty big fan of CHH myself, I saw an opportunity and -- with permission from leadership -- began a weekly one-hour program called the Urban Hour featuring hand-picked CHH artists, groups and songs. It initially aired on Friday nights from 11p to midnight, but as the program grew in listenership and feedback, it was moved to an earlier time on Saturdays and began simulcasting on FM networks throughout Africa.

On one visit to Swaziland, I met a young man who knew who I was though we’d never met before. Turns out he listened to TWR, was a big fan of the Urban Hour and was sharing the music with his friends. That one testimony made all of the work, time, risk and effort worthwhile.

10) What do you miss most about music/radio? The least?

I miss the listeners – regulars like Tiny back in Oklahoma who called me her “Yankee Baby.” Leroy, who would call from his tractor out in the fields to request a song. Becca, who would chime in on discussions to offer her high school-aged perspective. When you begin getting calls from the same listeners and can name them by their voice, then you know you’ve made a real connection.

Uh oh ... now you’re on your own for getting new music. If applicable, name your three most recent purchases since leaving the biz.

For Christmas, my parents just got me one of those portable vinyl record players that are back in (I know, I know … you were playing vinyl before it was even cool!), so I’ve been rocking some Charlie Brown Christmas, Frank Sinatra and Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.