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10 Questions with ... Raven Rush
June 3, 2008
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NAME:Raven RushLAST WITH:Bonneville-WMVN/St. LouisPHONE:240-449-0087EMAIL:ravenrush@gmail.com
Please begin by giving us a brief career history ...
I got my start as a scruffy college student who got an internship at WUSL (Power 99) in Philadelphia. MC Spice was the imaging director at the time, and he began using my voice for spots and promos. That caught the attention of Helen Little, who let me be the sidekick on Colby Colb's night show. After graduation, I went back home to the DC area and was part of the last incarnation of the Live Squad night show on WKYS. There was a weekend specialty show that I hosted and programmed called "Chocolate City Soul," which Darryl Huckaby turned into the late-night show, and I segued to that. After stepping away from the game for over a year, I returned to WKYS and was the go-to swing jock who filled in every daypart, except mornings. Being full-time was my goal and Jerry Boulding recommended that I go to KJMM in Tulsa, instead of riding the bench. That was quite a leap, but worth it. My ratings at night were the highest on the station, and then the opportunity came to go to Movin'101.1 in St. Louis, which was a format I'd never done before. My tenure there lasted a little over a year before my position was eliminated because of budget cuts.
1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?
My future is in God's hands, so it has been easy to remain positive because my situation could be so much worse! This has been the most cordial firing I've experienced, and when your former employer shows class in the situation, it makes the transition much, much smoother.
2) Do you plan on sticking with the radio industry?
Ideally, I'd like to. However, with economic conditions being what they are and the enormous amount of shrinkage in radio, I'm looking for the best opportunity for me to be creative, display all of my talents, and pursue my passion for media in all forms.
3) What's the longest stretch you've had on the beach?
I took a semi-self-imposed hiatus from radio for about a year-and-a-half. I got canned and was so disgusted that I decided to get a "civilian" job. Trust me, sitting behind a desk doing spreadsheets was NOT cool! The funny part is, the same PD who fired me ended up hiring me back at the same station.
4) What has been your best resource for finding out about job openings?
Of course, I check All Access daily! Word of mouth and recommendations are still the quickest and most direct ways to get plugged in.
5) How are you finding the "courtesy level" at places you've applied? (Callbacks, emails, rejection letters, etc.)
The OMs, PDs and consultants who I've spoken to have been very good about following up with me, offering both feedback and leads. People have been very upfront about what they have and don't have available. It has been a pleasant surprise.
6) Are you spending as much time listening to radio as you used to?
My listening habits don't change, whether I'm working or not. My format tastes are varied; anything from Alternative Rock, Talk, Urban or NPR. If I'm in the car, I scan until I land on something that grabs me. Sometimes I listen with a critical ear, but that's not very entertaining!
7) Are you able to slow down and enjoy free time doing things with your family and friends that you probably did not have time to do while you were working?
Absolutely! I'm going to Little Rock next week to visit my Granny, then I'm headed home to Maryland to see my Mama. My best friend got suite seats to the Jay-Z/Mary J. Blige show in DC, so I am going to thoroughly enjoy my vacation.
8) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?
The first time that I went #1 in Tulsa was one of the happiest days of my career. I still have the numbers framed on my wall.
9) What have you learned about yourself, others, or life in general in your downtime?
Life is cyclical. If you look around, you'll notice that the world we live in right now is in flux. Things to which we've been accustomed to are undergoing a metamorphosis, and we see that very clearly within our own industry. As people have reached out to me, they are very empathetic to my situation, and I tell them that I am good! It's unknown to me now, but I feel I am on the brink of something great.
10) Having been through all you have dealt with in this biz, what advice would you give people trying to break in?
Know what you're getting into. I'll never be the one to discourage anyone from pursuing their dreams, yet if the radio biz is where you want to be, enter at your own risk. The old advice of being indispensible (assuming multiple jobs) is becoming less relevant because veterans who can do it all, are also losing positions. Things may shake out in the future, but right now? It's a crapshoot.
Bonus Questions
Oprah or Dr. Phil?
I am an Oprah disciple and Dr. Phil is her employee, so I roll with the boss!
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