10 Questions with ... Keith Abrams

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I was fortunate enough to be ‘the GM’s kid’ growing up in small town Pennsylvania. This allowed me to be on the air as soon as my voice was lower than my mom’s at 13! I was a jock in New Castle and Pittsburgh through high school and college and have programmed/managed in Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Memphis, Seattle, Salt Lake, Denver and Cleveland over the last 35 years. I have been very fortunate in my career to work for and with some great folks over the years!

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

Radio is in my blood (the proverbial ‘never worked a day in my life’), so the motivation part is easy. The maintaining a positive attitude takes more effort, but is certainly the best way to go through life and tied to the motivation part. The instant it’s no longer fun is my last day in this industry. Surrounding yourself with the right team is also a critical part of maintaining a positive mental attitude and staying motivated!!

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

Revisiting the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame took up two days, but in all seriousness, that is the hardest part. Filling up the days’ schedule can be a challenge, especially when you come from not having enough hours in the day. I have been enjoying my family and have gone back to playing a baseball board game with cards that I used to play when I was a teenager. Also, going through my albums (about 2k) and CD’s (2.5k) one-by-one in an effort to downsize and keep what I want has taken up a good chunk of time! And golf season is here too!

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.

I am encouraged sitting on the sidelines. It’s been refreshing to consume brands with a different perspective during this time (as strange as it is with COVID). It can be easy at times to get caught up in all the negativity when you are on the inside and it can be a great reminder of the role the radio brand can play in the average persons life when you look at it from the outside!

4. Do you plan on sticking with radio?

Simply put…yes. It’s all I know.

5. What’s it been like to spend your time searching for the next job while navigating the COVID era?

While opportunities are certainly slow (hopefully more companies will hire in Q2 and Q3), I have found it to be fine to this point. Zoom calls can have benefits for sure. I am also pretty sure the transition to a new opportunity will be very different. Some buildings have no talent in them while others are just closed to the public and limited to other staffers.

6. You’ve hired many people over the years, any great advice to share about getting your foot in the door?

The talent pool has been shrinking for years as terrestrial radio has been eliminating more and more positions. What is exciting to see is how podcasting and social media have created opportunities for folks in recent years in terrestrial radio. So, the advice is that there are two ways. First, the ‘ol doing anything and everything when you are just starting or getting your foot in the door still has its place (while tougher now than before). But the new ways of getting noticed also can work. Either way, it’s all about being noticed and creating some kind of value.

7. What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get a job?

I wish I had THAT story of something crazy I did to get a job, but I just do not. If crazy stuff I was involved with hiring someone, picking up Scott Paulsen from Knoxville at the airport gate in Pittsburgh back in the 80’s when he dressed as Elvis (complete with the jumpsuit!) certainly got my attention…and him the job!

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

Word of mouth has been my primary source. Networking over the years has come in handy!

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

What matters to me now at this point in my career is different than it was when I was younger. What really matters is who I am working for and with and where that is, as opposed to market size, compensation and responsibilities (although I want the next opportunity to challenge me!).

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

Compensation has been pretty much as I expected. You certainly aren’t going to be overpaid in this day and age, but I have found salaries to be pretty much commensurate to revenue and the value of the position.