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10 Questions with ... Stone
April 25, 2006
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NAME:StoneLAST WITH:WIHN/Bloomington, ILPHONE:(309) 310-3895EMAIL:stone@stoneageradio.com
Please begin by giving us a brief career history ...
My first professional gig was at WLSR, The Laser, in my hometown of Galesburg, IL in 1997. I did nights while running Cardinals games on our AM sister station WGIL. I started doing weekends and swing at KORB/Quad Cities, where there was a tattooing incident that got a lot of press. I also did weekends at WWCT/Peoria when it was still Rock 106 before being hired by AAA Entertainment as MD/Afternoons for WIHN in Bloomington, IL. I was promoted to APD, then co-PD before stepping down to concentrate on syndicating my afternoon show on sister station WWCT Rock 96.5 in Peoria.
1) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?
I'm working on my website and podcasting at www.StoneAgeRadio.com
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.
It's frightening how similar everything sounds. Same music, same jocks, same jokes. Everything is so predictable. Dear God, please give me something different!
3) Do you plan on sticking with the music/radio industry?
I hope so. Where else can you get paid for being a smartass?
4) So far what has been your best resource for finding out about job openings?
Aside from AllAccess, I've been really overwhelmed with tips from friends and collogues in the business. It's nice to know someone's watching your back.
5) What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get a job?
Before I was hired at WIHN I was doing part-time work on 3 different stations in 3 different markets at the same time. Not fun... but still better than government cheese.
6) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?
I'm looking for a chance to do mornings, but any time slot that will allow me to do a "show" instead of reading cards for a "shift" would be great. I also really miss the PD/MD side of things much more than I thought I would. I love doing music, building promotions and working with the air-talent on their shows.
7) How are you finding the "courtesy level" at places you've applied? (Callbacks, emails, rejection letters, etc.)
Unfortunately with the nature of the business today everyone has so much on their plates that things like callbacks, e-mails and rejection letters often get overlooked. That's why I always use FedEx or a service that can track your package, so at least you know it arrived. Sending out packages today can feel like you're throwing them away, but you can't beat the "lotto high" of actually getting a reply!
8) 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?
It's more like catching up on everything that hasn't gotten done already. I still haven't encountered much of this fabled "free time" that everyone talks about.
9) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?
Besides making international press for tattooing listeners? Seeing my local afternoon show outperform Bob & Tom 12+ on WIHN was one of the best. It's not exactly a fair comparison, but what better way to judge success than against one of the most dominant shows in radio? The other big highlight was getting to share the stage with Mancow during a live broadcast in Peoria. The man's a Genius.
10 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 said "no" once already and that might have been a mistake. But when else do you ever get a chance to devote this much time to finding the job that you REALLY want?
Bonus Questions
Oprah or Dr. Phil?
They both must burn! Every time my wife watches either one I get lectured!
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