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10 Questions with ... Mike Stevens
March 27, 2007
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NAME:Paul Szmal (on air name: Mike Stevens)LAST WITH:WVMX/CincinnatiPHONE:(513) 659-1663EMAIL:drwho941@yahoo.com
Please begin by giving us a brief career history ...
Mornings, WHEN/Syracuse, NY
Mornings, WKL-/WKRL-FM/Syracuse/Utica, NY
APD/Afternoons/Production Director, WRCK/Utica, NY
Mornings/Imaging, WMXW/Binghamton, NY
Overnights/Swing, WOTT-WTOJ/Watertown, NY
Mornings/Middays, WVMX/Cincinnati
Host, "Speedworld," WCKY-A/Cincinnati1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?
I think the biggest thing is to not worry about things and not to try too hard. Any time something negative happens in your career, it's a shot to your self confidence and your ego, but you have to kinda reset yourself and remember why it is that you do what you do.
2) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?
I'm fortunate to have a sideline career in motor sports, announcing Monster Jam shows for Live Nation...and I'll continue to announce other motor sports events during the year (as they fit into my schedule). I also produce a motor sports show at the Oakdale Mall in Johnson City, NY. This is the fourth year for the event. I've also become a part of the production team at the Heartland Wrestling Association (HWA) in Cincinnati, as a "coach" for the air talent and doing some work with the wrestlers on cutting promos (interviews). It's on a volunteer basis, but it's something that I've always had a passion for and it's a way for me to keep my skills sharp while I'm job hunting.
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 think you go through stages when you're out for a while -- there's the discouragement, the frustration, but then the desire and passion override those and you're dying to get back to work. I can look back on my most recent experience at WVMX and feel very positive about making it to a major market and having a solid run. And thanks to a very knowledgeable PD (Bobby D) and OM (Tommy Bodean) I learned a tremendous amount in a short time, and I think that's another important thing -- it doesn't matter how long or how well you do something, there's always more to learn and always room to improve, and you have to be aware of that and be willing to keep digging, scratching, clawing ... whatever it takes to continue on the road to being the best that you can be.
4) Do you plan on sticking with the music/radio industry?
Absolutely, it beats having a real job (LOL)! Just kidding -- I have a tremendous love for broadcasting. I started working in my high school's radio station (WCSQ/ Central Square, NY) the second day of my freshman year, and I haven't stopped since, nor do I intend to stop now.
5) What's the best way to get your foot in the door?
I think persistence without pestering is the key to that one -- and some good timing also helps. I can say that on more than one occasion in my career it took weeks and sometimes months of persistence to make something happen. But I never push to the point of being annoying or distracting to someone who's got a lot more on their plate than just deciding whether or not I'm the right guy for a job.
6) What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get a job?
That's a tough one...I think the craziest thing was the first job I ever had. I had been pestering my Dad to take me to a certain race track for a couple of months, and he finally gave in and we went there, a place called Empire Speedway in Brewerton, NY, where they raced ATV's and karts. We were sitting in the top row of the grandstands and the program started, but there was nobody announcing the race. After about 15 minutes, the promoter came up to the tower, which was nothing more than a stand right behind us, and said something like, "Well, this is such and such a class, does anybody wanna be the announcer?" I turned around and said, "I do! I work for the radio station at my high school." Mind you, I had NEVER announced a race in my life, but I'd been going to them since I was 5 years old. I jumped over the railing into the tower, grabbed the mic, and started announcing. A few of the fans in the stands thought I was a plant! At the end of the day, the promoter came up to me and said, "You did great. Would you like to have this job?" I was 16 and still in high school and you would have thought somebody had just given me a winning lottery ticket. I still find myself in those type of situations once in a while, where I'll go to a race or an event and wind up with a mic in my hand!
7) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?
One that pays the bills! (chuckle) Honestly, I'm not really picky, but I would love to do Rock or Alternative radio again. When I started the Total Request Morning Show at K-Rock (Syracuse/Utica, NY) in the late '90s, it was one of the most enjoyable and personally rewarding experiences I've ever had. And when I was at WMXW (Binghamton, NY) I would occasionally work a split shift day, doing my morning show with my partner, then staying around to cover afternoon drive on our Active Rock station WKGB. I've been tagged as a solid AC jock because of my voice quality, and I do enjoy doing the format, but being a person who's into things like motor sports and pro wrestling, I personally tend to fit the Rock/Alternative M.O. a bit more.
8) With consolidation there are definitely fewer jobs. How do you separate yourself from the pack?
I think "multitasking" is probably the most important, because consolidation has meant that a good number of people are wearing multiple hats under one roof, and I honestly don't like doing just one thing anyway! I also think my motor sports background (which includes several years of live and post-production TV work) gives me an edge, because it's sharpened my preparation skills and there's nothing like doing a live event to teach you how to ad-lib and work on the fly!
9) If you were offered a similar position to what you were doing for considerably less money, would you seriously consider taking the job just to stay in the biz?
I'm a firm believer in the "do what you love, the money will follow" philosophy -- and it's worked out well for me so far.
10) Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?
Happy and successful, wherever or whatever I'm doing!
Bonus Questions
Any books you can recommend to people who need something inspirational to read?
This is going to show what a wrestling mark I am, but I would suggest "Controversy Creates Cash," the story of Eric Bischoff, the former point man for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in its "Monday Night Wars" with WWE. A lot of the thought process and philosophy that Eric discusses in reference to wrestling has applications in any form of entertainment. He's dealt with plenty of adversity along his path, but has a lot of success to show for the sacrifices he's made.
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