10 Questions with ... Greg Williams

NAME:Greg Williams LAST WITH:Tom Kent's Hall of Fame Coast to Coast/Into the '70s PHONE:(865)661-0532 EMAIL:gregwilliamslighthouse@yahoo.com WEB:www.lighthouseprod.net FREELANCERS UNITED:www.creativeproducers.blogspot.com

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

My first time on the air was as Zonker at Memphis City Schools' WQOX-88 in 1979. I jumped around part-timing in Memphis and doing full-time nights in Tupelo. The "big break" came at WHHY-102 Montgomery, AL in '82 with Larry Stevens. I went to Knoxville in'84, then back to Montgomery for full-time production. Next I worked in Birmingham and Virginia Beach before returning to Memphis in 1992, working for WMC (FM 100) for the longest stretch of my career. Family brought me back to Knoxville in '98 with South Central's cluster. I set up my freelancing as The Lighthouse Group in 2000, with a short stint in morning drive at Contemporary Christian WYLV.

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

Faith, faith and faith. Faith in my God to provide, the faith that my family has in me, and the faith I have in my own abilities.

2. Do you plan on sticking with the radio industry?

Yes, especially with the Internet as it is. Tom Kent employed me as his producer for a stretch and we worked together online the whole way. With stations clustering and the Herculean burdens placed upon production departments, I believe there are plenty of opportunities to make it in this business.

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

AllAccess is tops and not just the Jobs page. I'll go through Net News to read up on format changes and find names I used to work with ...Hi, Paco!

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

Back in a sweet production suite, working with salespeople and PDs to create great radio. Whether that suite is in my home or at a station, I sincerely miss the interaction.

5. What's the most unbelievable question you've ever been asked in an interview?

When I get interviewed, I'll let you know.

6. Are you spending as much time listening to radio as you used to?

More so than ever. Sometimes it feels a bit masochistic, like a diabetic gazing into a Dunkin' Donuts. But I'm keeping up with what's hot in imaging, and when the opportunity to cook up some ear candy does come around, I'll incorporate what I've heard.

7. What has been your biggest career accomplishment?

Having my work heard from coast to coast on Tom Kent's Classic Top 40 nationally syndicated shows: "Hall of Fame Coast to Coast" and "Into the '70s."

8. What do you miss most/least about radio?

The steady paycheck ... and the late hours away from home.

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

Get your degree first -- any degree. More and more I'm finding the lack of a college experience a handicap, especially when you find yourself outside the loop, trying to get a position with a marketing or advertising agency.

10. Where do you see yourself in five years? 10 years?

I want to be "That Production Guy" who's always being called upon, or been at W-blank-blank-blank, reliable and "wowing" the listeners every time.

BONUS QUESTION: Oprah or Dr. Phil?

Dr. Phil. He's a "get mad then get over it" kinda guy.