10 Questions with ... Adam "B-Sox" Bowersox

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I started with the Des Moines Radio Group in the summer of 2003. I worked as a promotions intern for the summer, and then slowly worked my way onto Lazer 103.3 doing a few overnights a week and being a board op for our morning show at the time. I continued doing overnights for about three-and-a-half years and loved every bit of it. I was lucky enough to be live and do an actual show. Eventually, I was moved to our new morning show at the time. For about nine-and-a-half years, I co-hosted the Morning Moose Show. It was tough a process to help build a morning show from the ground up, but it turned out to be one of the best experiences I have ever had. Unfortunately, in March of 2017, that ride came to an end with the ever popular corporate budget cuts.

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

I actually got lucky and found a real world job about a month after I was let go. I started working for a motorcycle shop in Des Moines doing social media and marketing. It was a lot different than what I was used to, but I was able to use a lot of what we did at the station and apply it to our marketing and social media. It worked out pretty well. I'm not sure it's a forever job, but it's good for now.

2) 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.

It was tough at first. My full-time job had always been radio since I got out of college. It's not like you can really get away from radio, so I started listening differently than I had in the past. When you're in the business, you hear things a certain way. You listen for what your competitors are doing. It doesn't matter if it's good or bad radio, you just want to know what they are doing and how it might affect you. It was interesting to be able to listen and think "Wow, that was some good radio."

I wish there were more of those moments, but you can really tell how cookie-cutter things have become. Promote this, this band is doing that, coming up we've got this. I wish stations would allow a little more of the morning show-type thinking into the rest of their dayparts. I'm not talking about long talk breaks, but it feels like radio is missing the personality and fun it once had.

3) Do you plan on sticking with radio?

I'd like to go back some day. It's a tough industry. It's even tougher when you have a family to think about. I'm not sure I'd want to pick up and move our life unless the job was absolutely worth it. I guess the best way to say it is I'm open to it, but it would have to be the right job, and the right thing for my family.

4) What's the most unbelievable question you've ever been asked in an interview?

I'm not sure it counts as "unbelievable," but I was asked during one interview if it was okay to lie. During an interview, you want to be honest, but the first thing that came to mind was "Do I look fat in this dress?" I really wanted to be able to tell the guy that it is not acceptable to lie, but I couldn't. I actually brought up the "Do I look fat in this dress" question to him trying to explain my point, but I'm not sure he bought it!

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

Same old story, you make yourself as useful as possible. Find things that make you unique. Things being what they are nowadays, that's not even guarantee. It doesn't matter the industry; you just want to make yourself as valuable as possible, and hope for the best.

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

I listen when I'm on my way to work, but I don't go out of my way to listen. I listen to more podcasts than radio. I enjoy the story telling and the conversation. The bigger podcasts have that touch of radio with sponsors and a commercial here and there, but it's a chance to hear real conversations. Not all of them are great, but there is something for everyone out there.

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

The people. I was with the same group for almost 14 years. You develop friendships that go past just being co-workers. Funny enough, though, I think I talk to my old boss more now than when I was working there. The people you work with always make a place special or horrible. I miss the hours of show prep and coming up with ideas and kicking them around with other people in the building. I miss coming up with stuff you laugh so hard at, but no one else will ever understand. FFDS.

8) If you were offered a similar position to what you were doing for considerably less money, would you seriously consider taking the job just to stay in the biz?

This is a tough one to answer. Ten years ago, I probably would have said yes and worked the details out later. Now that I have a family, it's hard to just say yes, because I want to be on the radio. If I could figure out a way to still do a great job on-air, provide for my family, and still be there for my family, then I guess I would consider it. I think all the stars would have to align just right to make it work. There's a lot more to consider now, and a lot of it out weighs me just wanting a spot on the radio.

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

To have a backup plan. I don't mean to be a downer, but these days you need to have one. It's easy to tell someone to be good at production, be great on-air, or be good at this or that, but it's a tough industry to break into, and you never know when your last day might be. I have industry friends who are scared to death because they don't know what they would do without radio. Their only work experience IS radio. If you want to do radio, that's awesome, but be prepared. She's a cruel mistress. Other than that, don't be cooler than you know you are. People see through that in a heartbeat.

10) How will this experience change you when you get back to work?

While talking to former listeners, they don't remember the way you talked about the website, or introduced a song, they remember the stories you told. They remember the experiences you brought them. I'd want to focus on that side of things. Radio should be personal. People should feel like you're talking to them, not the crowd. It's easy to forget that when you've never been away. It's easy to forget that when the higher-ups ask you to work more for less. If I ever make it back, I'd want to do a show that people can connect with. I'd want to focus on the things that make radio such a great experience and try not to focus on all the little behind the scenes things that take the fun out of radio.

Your favorite new diversion is ...

Podcasting. A buddy of mine and I started a show a while back. We don't do it as much as we should, but it's enough to scratch the radio itch from time to time. It was a weird day when I walked down to my basement and realized I could do all the things I really love about radio without all the BS right from my home. I know it's something I'll never get rich from, but it's a lot of fun. For the people that may be missing radio, or have lost their love for radio, I suggest starting a show. It's not going to be a money maker, but if you're the type of person that loves radio, I think you'd find some enjoyment out of it.