10 Questions with ... Eric Ashmont 'Shmonty'

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Shmonty was born in Farmington, CT. Then some stuff happened and Shmonty got into radio. Shmonty's adventures in radio include:

• WCCC/Hartford, CT
• 2GB/Sydney, AU
• WRRV/Poughkeepsie, NY
• KDKB/Phoenix
• KFMA/Tucson, AZ

Shmonty currently lives in Rockville, MD and often writes about himself in the third person.

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

I don't like downtime. So I try to fill my day with as much busy work and as many errands as I can. This household is running like such a well-oiled machine that my wife is going to hate it when I get hired.

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

In addition to the job hunting and the aforementioned busy work/errands, I blog and have some fun with podcasting (both of which can be found on my website at ShmontyOfficial.com).

3. What's the best way to get your foot in the door?

Networking, networking and did I mention networking? Hands down the best way. (PS: A big thank you to those that have reached out and offered help; you know who you are.)

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

You mean aside from All Access? If a radio station/company has a careers page, it's in my bookmarks.

5. What is the next job you'd like to obtain?

Any position that will allow me to flex my creative muscles. On-air, PD, Promotions Dir., producer ... bring it on.

6. What's the most unbelievable on-air bit you were allowed to do?

Not so much a bit as it was the unbelievable opportunity I was given to continue to broadcast my former morning show to Tucson, AZ from a home studio in Rockville, MD.

7. What has been your biggest career accomplishment?

Working to get where I am today. I can remember being a promotions intern at WCCC/Hartford, looking up to/idolizing that air staff (I still do) and wanting to do what they did. After years of hard work, dedication and listening to the advice of some great mentors, I had my own successful morning show on KFMA. We increased ratings, we strengthened the brand and most importantly, we made an impact in our community. I'm excited for what challenges and opportunities the future holds.

8. What do you miss most about music/radio? The least?

The most: The people. From listeners to coworkers to artists, I have met a ton of amazing individuals and have been lucky enough to not only call some of them friends, but to have them acknowledge me as one as well.

The least: The morning show sleep schedule. Going to sleep at 7p and waking up at 2a isn't the best schedule for your social life or sanity at times, but I'd do it again in a heartbeat. (Also, thank god for coffee.)

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

Get ready to make sacrifices and put in the work because nothing in this industry will be handed to you. Every minute you are in that radio station is an opportunity to learn from your co-workers and supervisors. Every time you crack the mic is an opportunity to deliver your best break yet, although many will suck. Learn from those breaks and strive to be better. A great mentor once told me, "It's not 'if' you screw up, because you will, it's 'how' you recover when you do." Be ready for anything and when you see an opportunity, take it.

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

This experience will motivate me to push my creative limits further and raise the bar higher. Also I'll have to start wearing more than just underwear again ... where did I put my pants?

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

Shmonty's 'Going Bananas Not Doing Radio' Banana Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 large egg (beaten)
• 4 ripe bananas (mashed)
• 1 & 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 2 & 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 4 tablespoons brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 1/4 cup fat free milk

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees (Fahrenheit) and spray 8" x 4" loaf pan with cooking spray.
2. Step 2: In bowl 1: Combine flour, 3 tablespoons of brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, walnuts and protein powder.
3. In bowl 2: Combine the beaten egg, mashed bananas and milk.
4. Step 3: Pour bowl 2 into bowl 1 and stir until blended.
5. Step 4: Transfer mixture to pan. Sprinkle remaining tablespoon of brown sugar on top. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. (Roughly 50 minutes) Remove from oven, let cool and enjoy!

(PS: When hired, I'll bring this in to share with my new co-workers my first day on the job!)