10 Questions with ... DJ Steen

NAME:DJ Steen LAST WITH:WHOG PHONE:(256) 473 1117 EMAIL:dj-steen@hotmail.com WEB:www.myspace.com/djsteen

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

2001-Pirate Radio
2001 - 2005 Club DJ, Mixshow DJ
2005 - 2007 WHOG APD/Afternoon Drive

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

Trying to get a new mix show out to stations. It comes in three formats: Urban, Top 40 and Old School. If you're interested, please let me know! Also, I spend a good amount of time with my creative outlet in MYSPACE, myspace.com/DJSTEEN. I can't forget my main passion ... I am serving Jesus Christ as a youth minister. That takes up a lot of time.

2) 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 radio industry is going downhill. With all the other media outlets (TV, satellite, iPod, Internet streaming and everything else), radio is not doing what radio used to do. The radio promotions have gone down dramatically, it's going to voicetracking/syndicated shows ... and not playing requests? I remember when if you heard about a radio remote, it was like the biggest thing. Now, nobody shows up. You can call a radio station all day long and nobody will ever pick up the phone ('cause they're not there). Radio needs to get back in the game.

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

Pretty much work for little or nothing. That's the only way to get your foot in the door... BUT I have found out in life that whatever you get hired in as, that is what you will always be to them. Example, you get hired as a bathroom cleaner and make it to full-fledge morning drive ... they will always look at you as a bathroom cleaner.

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

Anything that I can do -- some on-air mixed with doing imaging and throw in a weekly mix show. To be honest, I would like to do imaging and promotions all week, and do a weekend air shift.

I would also enjoy doing a Sunday Morning Gospel Show, playing music like Kirk Franklin, Donnie, Yolanda ... I love that kind of music and it would also help my ministry.

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

I have a ton of variation. I can fill several shoes at one time. I will blow you away with my imaging skills; I can mix music with turntables with the best; I set up promotional events like no one else and am a never-ending fountain of creative ideas (however, most get shot down by the conservative PDs who are too lazy to do anything because they are satisfied where they are at).

6) 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?

Well, yes, I don't have to worry about the station calling me every time I have a day off telling me they need me to come fix this or find that, or the worst: TRANSMITTER PROBLEMS. I can enjoy my newlywed wife of almost four months. Annie, I love you babe.

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

You can have everything you want in life, but if you don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ, you will never be satisfied.

8) Is there anything specific that you regret doing while you were still working?

Not doing the Inetta da Mood Setta thing (I quit this ... on air). But, I couldn't do that and still call myself a Christian.

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?

As long as I could get some certain benefits ... free food, movie passes, tickets to big events ... maybe some free gas Friday!

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

In Birmingham, Tampa, Charlotte, New York, L.A., Miami or in Haiti (where my wife is from).

Any books you can recommend to people who need something inspirational to read?

The New King James Bible, The 5 Languages of Love and All Access' 10 questions.