10 Questions with ... "Reggie" L. McDonald

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

Meditate, read, exercise, talk to a dear friend (not giving her name).

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

Heavily involved in community outreach and consulting various new upcoming music talent.

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.

Those who love the art and veterans of the business are often overlooked or disrespected by companies hiring these celebrities who can fake the art. Radio programming as a whole is not as competitive like in the old days. Even with the explosion of Internet radio, you will still find that conventional radio is still in demand and Internet radio needs the frequencies for greater reach and marketplace access. (All access!)

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

I was not on the beach, but out of the business from 2005-2011.

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

In the old days you used to be able to hang out at the radio station and get to know the jocks. I'm not sure about today because the jocks don't have that community touch and stations are not as accessible. Blame it on 9/11?

6) What has been your best resource for finding out about job openings?

All Access or the various company websites. No lie.

7) What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get a job?

Fortunately, I just knew the right people or was in the right place at the right time and did not have to do anything out of the way crazy.

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

Working back in major-market radio. For 10 years I did radio in Chicago. Also three years of television.

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

I'm very versatile in formats. Talk, R&B, Jazz, Gospel, CCM, AC.

10) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?

I was promoted to the PD position twice in my career, and took the station to gain its highest rating points in the station's history as a small independent AM station. I remember we were doing so well in the ratings trend until we got a visit from an Arbitron sales rep. We were not subscribers at the time.

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

I buy old used CDs from a record store. Can't remember ... probably something from Sting.