10 Questions with ... Nicholas Wize

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I have been on the air in Market 251, Market 1, and a few in between. My latest stop was in Detroit at the the radio station I grew up listening to and interning for WKQI CHANNEL 955. I was once an intern, moved around, and got to come back as the APD/MD/PMD host and had the time of my life! This was the perfect opportunity I needed to further advance my skills as a programmer. I will leave Detroit with more tools than when I came and for that I send a thank you to that entire staff.

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

It is only day 1 and I am already answering these questions and have sent a few people my aircheck. I loved what I did and not getting to do it when I woke up today has been hard to accept. I like to occupy my time with G-Selector.

2) Do you plan on sticking with radio?

If someone reading this would allow me to, yes.

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

The longest time I ever spent on the beach was 2 months. I was literally on the beach in Panama City Beach before getting the call to go East on i10 to Jacksonville.

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

Record rep connections and former employees have been helping me out on who and where to send my stuff too.

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

I was trying to get nights about 4 years ago at FLZ in Tampa. I drove 6 hours to deliver Tommy Chuck a pizza and in pepperoni it said "TC I'm your guy." Tommy was walking out the door when I arrived so I managed 3 minutes with him that day. I didn't get the job, but he did pass my stuff over to Jacksonville which is how I got into iHeart and eventually promoted to Detroit. I drove a total of 12 hours that day and I would say it was worth it for that 3 minutes of facetime.

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

I just spent 2 years working under one of the best Programmers in Tony Travatto and learned so much from him. Because of that experience I am ready to become a PD. I also have mornings experience and the idea of that route really interests me too. I also mentioned above I love passing by the time with G-Selector. I wouldn't mind having the same position I just had at WKQI with the right fit.

7) What's the most unbelievable on air bit you were allowed to do?

I did nights in Panama City Beach. I was the only live jock in that time slot in the market. I had listeners call in and tell me what station they wanted me to call and if that station picked up the phone, the listener won $100. If the station didn't pick up the phone, that station cost that listener 100 bucks! Shout out to Neil Novotney. That man would let me do ANYTHING on the air.

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

This is a tricky question. I am coming off a job where I wore many hats and still fell victim to consolidation. There is no way around it, I like to think my skills, creativity, big market experience, and having almost every title throughout my career will help me land the next great opportunity for myself.

9) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?

Becoming the APD/MD and doing afternoons on the station I started at as an intern and listened to as a kid was a dream come true...it is rare for that to happen in this business, it was a goal of mine and I accomplished it and now have bigger goals to strive for.

10) Is there anything specific that you regret doing while you were still working?

I just had the great opportunity to work in my hometown and I wish I would have visited my parents more. I never really took a break from work and took advantage of living so close. I obviously saw them more than I ever had when I lived out of town, but I do wish I would have made more time for them. I didn't think my stay here was going to be this short.

What's your handicap now that you've had time to practice?

I got let go at the worst time because this is how I would typically spend my unemployment time. With it being cold in Detroit I need to hit up an indoor driving range ASAP.