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10 Questions with ... Brian 'Hammer' Panerali
July 30, 2019
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
- 06/13-06/19 KVGS (Star 107.9)/ Las Vegas, APD/MD/afternoon host
- 02/12-06/13 KPKX (98.7 The Peak)/Phoenix, weekend host/fill-in
- 01/12-06/13 Total Traffic/Phoenix, on-air reporter/producer
- 03/10-01/12 X103.9/Phoenix, night host/producer
- 05/08-03/10 KDKB/Phoenix, afternoon host/producer
- 11/06-05/08 KCVI (KBEAR 101)/Idaho Falls, ID APD/MD/afternoon host
- 05/05-11/06 KRAB/Bakersfield, CA, host/primary fill-in, Asst. Production Dir.
- 08/03-05/05 KKXX (Real Rock 93.1)/Bakersfield, CA, night host
- 06/99-08/03 WBAB/Long Island, NY, weekend/swing personality
- 05/99-08/03 WDHA/Cedar Knolls, NJ, Promotions Coordinator
- 10/96-05/99 WXRK (92.3 KROCK)/New York, Promotions Assistant
1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and to stay motivated?
I've been in this situation once before and what I learned was to be persistent and believe that this will pass, and a greater opportunity will eventually present itself. Let's just hope that it comes presenting before unemployment runs out!
2) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?
By the time this is published, my wife and I will have had our first child, so I've been using this beaching to prepare for his arrival. I truly never realized how much stuff has to be put in place for a little one! Between that and reaching out to contacts in search of a job and continuing to work on building my voiceover business, my days have been very full.
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.
One thing that hasn't changed is the people who reach out offering their help in any way they can, then doing what they can when you call upon them. That's the one thing I've always said about our business; it really just boils down to one huge family ... we should all be looking out for one another as much as we can. On the flip side of that, another thing that hasn't changed is the old 'Hey, we're looking for this and that on our station, you'd be perfect ... let's talk, e-mail ... then, after responding, total radio silence. Seriously, if you're going to dangle an opportunity in front of somebody who's in this sort situation, have the decency to let them know where you stand in the very least.
4) Do you plan on sticking with radio?
Absolutely! It's broken my heart a few times but I still love it deeply.
5) What's the longest stretch you've had on the beach?
After X103.9 (KEXX) in Phoenix flipped formats I was out for just about seven months until Beasley Media in Vegas came calling.
6) What's the best way to get your foot in the door?
Use every single tool in the shed ... from friends in the industry to colleagues who you've met through the years, to job postings on AllAccess, to good old-fashioned cold calling/e-mailing PDs and OMs to inquire about potential opportunities.
7) What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get a job?
Back in the good old days of actually sending out 'packages' in regards to an opening, I stuck a hammer in a box with my resume and aircheck, with instructions to use the enclosed tool to smash the CD if they didn't like. Then proceeded to follow up on a weekly basis by sending them another hammer with my name and phone number attached to it.
8) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?
I'd love to remain in programming with an air shift. Figure I've spent the last 23 years honing my craft so I have the skillset to do everything and I might as well do it!
9) Are you finding salaries/benefits lower than you ever thought, about the same, or have you seen some pleasant surprises?
I've been exploring some different opportunities -- voicetracking from my home studio, for instance, so I'm learning a lot about rates and whatnot. But from what I understand, most of the numbers that have been thrown at me are average. As far as salaries/benefits and that sort of thing ...if somebody wouldn't mind shooting an offer here bpanvoice@gmail.com I'd be happy to circle back around and answer that ;)
Bonus Questions
Care to contribute a recipe for our "On The Beach" cookbook
I'd love to! Here's one of the most satisfying recipes I've ever had in seven easy steps:
- Gather all the takeout menus you own
- Close your eyes and thrown them all up in the air
- Then, with eyes still closed, walk in the general direction that you threw said menus till you step on one
- Open eyes, bend over, pick up menu and there's your next meal
- Ask wife for debit card before she realizes what a nutbag you are
- Call take out establishment, order food, pay for it with newly acquired debit card.
- Sit down wait for food to get there
I'm telling you this is DELICIOUS, I never complain when this is what we're having for dinner! :D
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