10 Questions with ... Brian R. Kovacs

NAME:Brian R. Kovacs LAST WITH:TRN-FM - Mancow's Morning Madhouse PHONE:(630) 885-0065 EMAIL:briankovacs@gmail.com

Please begin by giving us a brief career history ...

Production Director/Imaging Director/On-Air Talent for WERV "The River" in Aurora, IL.
Production Director/On-Air Talent for WZFS "The Fish" in Chicago.
Production Director/Imaging Director for WYLL in Chicago.
Program Director/Imaging Director for WIND in Chicago.
Network Producer/Executive Producer/Operations Manager for TRN-FM (Mancow's Morning Madhouse).

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

Spending time with my wife and kids, which is great. I've also been playing and recording some music. I'm a bass player/guitarist/singer.

2) Do you plan on sticking with the music/radio industry?

Absolutely! I found a creative outlet that I get paid for. What's better than that?

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

Cut my hair -- to get the job with Mancow. Who would have thought that I could be a PD with long hair and nobody thought twice, but Mancow would have a problem with it.

4) With consolidation there are definitely fewer jobs. How do you separate yourself from the pack?

Everybody who works in radio has to wear multiple hats today. Typically, in order to constitute your salary, you have three titles and 14 jobs within those titles. I've done every job at a radio station. I can give you step-by-step instructions on how to accomplish the task while juggling the five other items that I have on my plate at any given moment. That's just what you have to do.

5) 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?

Definitely! Working for the Mancow show was a 15-hour-a-day job. I would get done working, have about a half-hour with my baby boy, go to sleep, and do it again the next day. I'm really loving the time that I'm actually being able to truly be a father.

6) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?

Earning the respect of my peers. I've been bombarded with well wishes and offers of help from past managers, co-workers, and employees. It's great to know that the people who were in the trenches with you every day respect you and would like to work with you again or see you in a good place.

7) What do you miss most about radio? The least?

I miss the rush of the job. No matter what you're doing, there's pressure to get it done and a creative outlet for you to exercise your brain. I don't miss the internal politics that can go on in a radio station. I've seen some healthy team environments and some very UN-healthy work environments. Nothing can kill a station quicker.

8) What have you learned about yourself, others, or life in general in your downtime?

I'm not the same person I was when I started this last job -- or even the same person I was six months ago. Every job or title that I've had has helped me to evolve as a broadcaster, businessman, and a person. I know that there are people who worked with me several years ago who have a completely different notion of who I am today. At the same time, there are those folks who simply know that I have good intentions, and that's all they really need to know. Those are the co-workers who become friends.

9) Having been through all you have dealt with in this biz, what advice would you give people trying to break in?

I spoke to a class of broadcasting students a few months ago. If you are trying to break in, you have a golden opportunity with your internship. In all of the jobs that I've held in the past, I've always been the internship coordinator. If you worked hard for me, I worked hard for you. Once when I left a job, I had two of my interns trained so well, that they were hired to replace me. The best way to prove to somebody that you are the best for a job is to show them, not sell them. We're in broadcasting -- we're used to hearing people try to sell something all day. Pick up the reins without being asked. You will be noticed.

10) How will this experience change you when you get back to work?

I definitely learned quite a bit about management styles and people skills (or lack thereof) in other people and how to take a look at myself and not make the same mistakes that I've been the victim of.

1) My favorite new diversion is ...

EBAY! I'm selling everything I own. My wife is nailing down anything that she wants to keep!