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10 Questions with ... Joe Thomas
February 6, 2007
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NAME:Joe ThomasLAST WITH:WCOJ/West Chester, PAPHONE:(717) 799-1420EMAIL:kylorgan@verizon.net
Please begin by giving us a brief career history ...
Before WCOJ I was at WLAN-F/Lancaster, PA, where my show was #1 12-44. I came there from Buffalo, NY's WTSS with time at WNEW-F/New York; WALK/Long Island; WLFX/Ocean City-Salisbury, MD (now WQJZ); WKOJ/Middletown/Newburgh, NY (now WRRV); and WRCN/Long Island.
1) 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.
The average listener has precious little attention to spare for us, and we need to be more appreciative of their time.
2) What's the best way to get your foot in the door?
Well-tended friendships. Seriously, you never know which seemingly inconsequential, acquaintance will pop up and help you get in the PD's office. (Trust me, I was that PD for a while!)
3) What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get a job?
We only have one car, so I spent 20 hours on Greyhound busses to get from Buffalo to Binghamton and back to meet with Clear Channel's Mike McCoy. (Luckily he hired me for WLAN.)
4) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?
I would like to keep doing Talk radio for the flexibility it affords me in show planning, but a Rock or Hot AC morning gig with the same flexibility would be epic as well.
5) Are you finding salaries/benefits lower than you ever thought, about the same, or have you seen some pleasant surprises?
It's early in my job hunt, but it's getting hard because with all the Clear Channel and CBS cuts, it's become quite a "buyers' market." That also leads to stations becoming less likely to consider talent from outside their area since there are, generally speaking, pretty good "pickings" right there in town.
6) What's the most unbelievable question you've ever been asked in an interview?
My hairstyle is a bit, say, unconventional -- especially for a talk show host. A GM once asked if I'd cut off my ponytail for the job because he felt that I'd be mistaken for a Civil War Re-Enactor. (A major industry in that particular town.)
7) With consolidation there are definitely fewer jobs. How do you separate yourself from the pack?
I'm a believer that the demo has to do it. You have to first decide what your show is and then create a demo that sums that up in the first couple of minutes. Being interviewed on All Access helps, too.
8) 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?
I'm pretty militant about making time for that around my show, but it's easier to arrange now.
9) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?
I'm a believer that you are only as good as your last show, and it was great. But since this was my first PD gig and the station was able to make more money than any time in its 58-year history, that feels good.
10) Having been through all you have dealt with in this biz, what advice would you give people trying to break in?
Talking isn't our job, listening is.
Bonus Questions
1) Any books you can recommend to people who need something inspirational to read?
"A Child Called 'it'" by David Pelzer.
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