10 Questions with ... Chris Anthony

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

DEMO:

I got started when I was 14 and won a radio station contest at WGRR/Cincinnati, which got me my own airshift for the day. I was hooked. Some of the call letters include WPFB/Middletown, WKFS/Milwaukee, WFDL/Fond du Lac and KFXY/Mesa. I currently live in Northeastern Florida, near Jacksonville!

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

I try to keep my mind in a creative state, like I'm always preparing for a show. Staying with it, whether it be keeping up with music or the industry, is very important to staying motivated.

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

I'm actually bilingual French/English, so I've been spending my time translating.

3) Do you plan on sticking with radio?

For sure. I can't ever seem to stay away. Yes, I do practice with song ramps in the car.

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

Keep it short, sweet, and do something that makes you stand out the first time you write your potential employer. Follow-up, ask questions, and show interest.

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

This website, of course. Staying in touch with friends in the industry helps as well. You never know who has a need!

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

I was about 14 and the local Oldies station was doing a food drive. An announcer randomly said (I was listening to my headphones on the way home from school) that the first person to bring 50 bags of food gets a radio show for the day. Since I worked part-time at a grocery store, I made it happen with their generosity and some of my own money! I ended up with a shift on WGRR/Cincinnati for the day!

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

I'd like a role voicetracking as I feel I can produce a high-quality shift from my home studio, with a local focus, or whatever the client may want.

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

I find that it has always been hard to get a message back, and I understand why. I can't even imagine how many applicants there are for open positions. That said, it says a lot about you if you follow-up reasonably and even ask what was missing in your profile that caused you not to get the job.

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

I have found that brevity is the spice of everything. Get to the point, be clear, and be concise when contacting an employer. A nice color on the resume and some embarrassing Instagram pics help too!

10) Having been through all you have dealt with in this biz, what advice would you give people trying to break in?

The same advice I would have given years ago: Work hard and be ready to wear many hats. Having a good mentor is important as well. I can't tell you how many times I've bounced aircheck audio off people in the industry. I would also suggest that people trying to break in branch out and learn about video, web, promotions, and even sales. The more you know!

Care to contribute a recipe for our "On The Beach" cookbook?

Don't eat the nut, but the candy is ok! From my home state!

Recipe: Ohio Buckeyes