10 Questions with ... Arthur Wyman

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I have worked in many different formats, and have programmed both AC and Country stations. I have had ratings success in a Top-100 market, and have also won many awards for my radio work. Town to town and up and down the dial ... that has been my career. After college in Vincennes, IN and Portales, NM, I started my professional career as a part-timer at WHEB/Portsmouth. I then added part-time at WPOR/Portland before getting my first full-time shot at a small station in northern New Hampshire. Later, I returned to WPOR to work full-time, where I had great ratings success, before moving on to the Bangor, ME market, working as an announcer at WKSQ/Ellsworth and also as the News Dir. at then WLKE/Bar Harbor. Most recently, I wore many job titles at WRMO/Bar Harbor and WBAN-WCYR-WGUY /Bangor, including Operations, News Dir., PD and MD. While at WRMO, I received 15 Maine Association of Broadcasters News and Creative Awards for my On-Air, News and Public Service, and website work.

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

It has been tough, as shortly before going "On the Beach" I lost my mother-in-law, and then just a couple of weeks after getting "On the Beach" I lost my Dad to cancer. Together, those were a gut-punch wake-up call that I had to deal with. Honestly, my personal motivation and mental attitude took a back seat for a while. But after dealing with everything, I know that I am now a better person, ready, willing and able to take on my next great radio adventure!

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

I have grandkids now. I've been able to recharge myself and get reacquainted with the wonder of things around me as I viewed life through their eyes.

3) 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.

Radio is magic, but only if you use that magic and creativity that is inside of you. When you get complacent, you lose that spark, and eventually you sound like you are just phoning it in. Radio is not just a job. If you are lost, find that magic and help make radio great again!

4) Do you plan on sticking with radio?

Yes, that is my plan. I knew it was what I wanted to do since I was a kid.

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

Nineteen years! I had started my own business a year earlier and it just took off. My wife and I also started our family during this time. I got back into radio four years before finally closing that business.

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

Sometimes, it is who you know. Other times, it's being in the right place at the right time. And occasionally you just keep showing up at the door and try to push your foot through. All three have worked for me in the past.

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

All Access, of course! I also will search on Indeed, but it takes several different search terms to find some of the jobs listed there (and many jobs that aren't radio jobs but have the word "radio" in their ad).

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

I once offered to work for free for a week to let the station see how I would work out for them. They didn't take me up on my offer...

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

I've programmed several stations now, and would love to do so again, but any position at a station where I can learn how to do things better would be great! You can never stop learning.

10) Are you finding salaries/benefits lower than you ever thought, about the same, or have you seen some pleasant surprises?

'm finding a mixture of good and bad. It all depends on the station/company and where they are located.

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

I would have to check with my wife to see if she would give one of her family's recipes. She does all the real cooking. I can manage the occasional frozen pizza!