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10 Questions with ... John Marcus
August 22, 2006
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NAME:John MarcusLAST WITH:WRBV 101.7/Macon, GAPHONE:478 320-2134
Please begin by giving us a brief career history ...
1984 - 1985: Columbia School of Broadcasting, Sacramento, CA.
1985 - 1985: First radio gig. KYDS, Community Radio, Sacramento, CA.
1991 - 1997: Club DJ (Outside U.S.) Nitelife Entertainment
1999 - 2000: Armed Forces Radio. Host of the After Six Mix.
2001 - 2004: Afternoons, APD, LOVE 102.5, Smooth Jazz., Clear Channel, Macon, GA
2004 - 2005: Jazz Music Director, WRBV 101.7 Urban/AC Clear Channel, Macon, GA.
Spring/Summer 2005: Radio Consultant, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA.
2004 - Present: PD/Webmaster, Smooth Soul Online.1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?
I stay busy and active. I constantly look for ways to improve. I'm getting plenty of rest. That's pretty cool.
2) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?
I'm operating an online radio station and website to play around with various programming techniques. I write. I'm working on a collection of poetry that I hope to get published by the end of the year. I've also been catching up on my reading.
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.
If you're not focused, I suppose you could become discouraged. This industry is no longer about what you can do, but what else you can do. Since I'm "on the beach," I've decided to put the time to good use. I pick up something new just about every day, and add it to my repertoire. Eventually, somebody will bite. I want to be ready to bite back.
4) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?
I just want something challenging. I would like to be a Music Director, Production Director, or Program Director, in addition to holding down an air shift. I like to wear multiple hats.
5) How are you finding the "courtesy level" at places you've applied? (Callbacks, emails, rejection letters, etc.)
There hasn't been much in terms of callbacks, but I wouldn't necessarily attribute that to courtesy. It's probably more of a workload issue. I know that some stations accept materials via email. This way, they can at least provide an automated response to let applicants know their packages have been received.
6) With consolidation there are definitely fewer jobs. How do you separate yourself from the pack?
At some point, I learned to truly be myself. That is the one thing that cannot be duplicated. Add to that: versatility. In addition to being the only one of me (which separates me from the pack by default), I'm a bona-fide multi-tasker. This goes back to question #3. What else can you do? I specialize in "what else."
7) Are you spending as much time listening to radio as you used to?
Not really. I listen when I can, but stations are beginning to sound more and more the same. It seems they've lost the "personal" touch.
8) What do you miss most about radio? The least? The most?
I miss the LIVE interaction, phone lines, requests, dedications, shout-outs, bad jokes, unscheduled interviews, breaking news, giveaways, sexy female callers, concerts, remotes, van-hits, uncontrollable laughter, contests, and even the staff meetings. What I miss the least is all the BIG EGOs.
9) What have you learned about yourself, others, or life in general in your downtime?
This is a quote I'm borrowing from Bill Cosby. "You can't satisfy everyone all the time." You'll go crazy trying, and others will not try to stop you.
10) Having been through all you have dealt with in this biz, what advice would you give people trying to break in?
Be yourself. Work hard, and always exceed the standard. Never stop learning. Make friends, especially with your enemies. Rinse and repeat.
Bonus Questions
Any books you can recommend to people who need something inspirational to read?
The Miles Davis Autobiography. It is a bona-fide page-turner, and it's about much more than just Jazz. Check it out.
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