10 Questions with ... Big Sauce (Dean Douglas)

NAME:Big Sauce (Dean Douglas) LAST WITH:Self-employed commercial writer, editor and producer (2001) PHONE:786-312-0963 EMAIL:dean@bigsauceradio.com

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

I got my start writing, voicing and producing commercials on 1240 WWCO-A/Waterbury, CT in 1983. During the '80s and '90s, I worked in various nightclubs, at private parties and emcee'd numerous events in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York. I was a resident remix artist for SuperMix and Kiss 95.7 in Hartford from 1988 to 1995. I also wrote, produced and voiced numerous commercials that ran on WKCI (101.3), WTIC (96.5) and WZMX (93.7), among many other stations. After many years in Connecticut, I moved to Miami and recently I've been producing a podcast talk show hosted on podshowcreator.com entitled The Big Sauce Radio Show.

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

I believe in myself, my talent and abilities -- and I keep producing podcasts that I distribute on the PodshowCreator.com network.

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

I work full time for a large retailer, managing a technology group and produce regular podcasts.

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 am often discouraged - if you are not a well-known, named talent with an established following in the market, PDs don't give you even the respect of talking with you. They talk at you and don't really care to know you. Trying to find a broadcasting job again after being out of the business is quite difficult.

4) What's the best way to get your foot in the door?

Airchecks and resumes rarely get past the mailman or e-mail Inbox. I do my best to meet people who know others who can personally hand my materials to a PD. Additionally, I find that befriending salespeople as a first step is helpful in learning names and meeting folks at the stations.

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

I haven't done anything crazy ... yet!

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

"Are you willing to work for free?"

7) Are you spending as much time listening to radio as you used to?

I still spend a great deal of time listening to radio, but I admit my iPod has cut into a significant portion of my radio listening time.

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

I would say I've internalized the fact that I will never please everyone, no matter how hard I try. I've just got to please the advertisers -- and that domino effect will please the management, the co-workers and the listeners (whether they realize now that they like it or not! LOL!)

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

Remember what the bottom line is. Know what you are doing and why you are doing it, and stay focused. Take highly calculated risks, not foolish ones.

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

I'll be more aggressive/assertive in aligning my goals with the station management.

Care to contribute a low-cost recipe to our "ON THE BEACH" cookbook?

2 Tbsp freshly squeezed organic lemon
2 Tbsp Grade B Spring Tree Organic Maple Syrup
10oz distilled water
1 pinch of cayenne pepper

Drink 60-100oz. a day for 10 days and you will have an emotional, physical, mental and psychological epiphany.