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10 Questions with ... "Marissa Ontheradio" Lanchak
August 15, 2017
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
DEMO:
Website:
I started in 2004 at WFLY/Albany, NY doing overnights a month into broadcast school. 2006 I left to do MD/middays at KQKQ/Omaha, NE. I came home due to family issues in 2007 and landed in APD/MD/afternoons at WFLY while I was the main fill-in for them as well as WAJZ. I was a budget cut at the beginning of 2016 and was picked up for middays with WGNA/Albany, NY where I doubled my ratings within a year. I'm currently hosting a podcast entitled "Pretty In POP!" that debuted in April while I search for the next opportunity.
1) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?
It's important to remember why we all get in this crazy business in the first place, so I'm having fun and keeping up with my on-air, audio and video editing skills with a podcast I started back in April with my partner-in-crime, Bethany Linderman called Pretty In POP! It's a pop culture/lifestyle based podcast and utilizes what we've learned throughout our radio careers, implemented in an unregulated format. The feedback has been fantastic!
2) What's the longest stretch you've had on the beach?
Twenty-eight days (not to be confused with the movie of the same name).
3) What has been your best resource for finding out about job openings?
Word of mouth. I've allowed my talent, personality, relationships and determination to succeed to speak for itself over the years and it's amazing the people I've been able to surround myself with who want to help.
4) What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get a job?
I put together a box of bagels and one donut for a gig. Labeled it "Six of one, half-dozen of the other, but one show that stands out above the rest." Each bagel had toothpick flags with feedback from programmers across the country.
5) Are you finding salaries/benefits lower than you ever thought, about the same, or have you seen some pleasant surprises?
Honestly, I've been pretty shocked about how low some of these budgets seem to be ... who can move across the country to be an OM on $40k? Let's be serious. In a lot of cases, you're going to get what you pay for. Do you want a quality product that will deliver? Or is someone green, with no experience going to be right for your morning show at minimum wage? That doesn't help the business we love, does it?
6) What's the most unbelievable on-air bit you were allowed to do?
I had so much fun doing a fake live broadcast of me sneaking around backstage trying to find Justin Bieber when he was in town in 2009. I recorded it all in my home closet and made it sound like I was hiding behind garbage cans, running to not get caught, talking to his bus driver, etc. People still bring it up to me and believe I did it.
7) Are you able to slow down and enjoy free time doing things with your family and friends that you probably did not have time to do while you were working?
The first time I was a budget cut, it honestly made me sick. I'm still recovering from that almost two years later. This time, I vowed to myself to not worry so much. I'm keeping faith in my talent, my following, my relationships and my reputation to lead me to where I am meant to be. I was the busiest I had ever been in radio at WGNA. I was never home, there are friends I've seen only a couple of times in the last two years because of it, I haven't been able to get to the gym or do the things I love that are an outlet for me and now, I can.
8) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?
As APD/MD/afternoon drive for FLY92.3 for almost nine years, the book right before I was a part of a budget cut in '16 was the biggest book in 18 years - we reached #1 12+ and across all dayparts in many demos. Knowing I had such a large hand in accomplishing that still makes me feel so good inside.
9) Having been through all you have dealt with in this biz, what advice would you give people trying to break in?
You've got to really want it. Do you want to get knocked down a million times? Are you okay with that? Because it won't feel good, but you have to have the confidence in your abilities and know that you CAN do it and not give up and WORK for it. So many people want things just handed to them - that will never, ever happen in this business.
10) Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?
I see myself happy. Happy is the most important thing if you're going to be in this business. It consumes so much of you, it's the one thing that matters the most. I would love to be with a station that I feel good about in my soul, working with people that make me feel the same way and being respected for all of the skills I bring with me along for the ride. As for specifics, we can always say where we see ourselves - but me? I'm open to opportunity and I'm letting the cards fall where they're meant to land.
Bonus Questions
Seen any great movies?
You need to see Girls Trip. Like, now. Go do it. Stop reading. Go! I've never belly-laughed so hard in my life! (Seriously, stop reading and get in your car.)
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