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10 Questions with ... Dana
June 21, 2005
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NAME:DanaLAST WITH:93.3 FLZ Tampa -- MiddaysPHONE:727-692-0779 or 508-251-2007EMAIL:danasdirt@danasdirt.comWEBSITE:www.danasdirt.com
Please begin by giving us a brief career history:
Weekends, WJBQ/Portland, ME; Nights WDAQ/Danbury, CT; Weekends/Fill-ins, WBMX/Boston; Middays, WFLZ/Tampa; Voicetracking, KYSR/Los Angeles; Middays, WRVW/Nashville; Middays, WDBT/Jackson, Mississippi; Middays, WKXJ/Chattanooga.
1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?
I do yoga and stand on my head meditating for 7 hours a day ... um, no. I'm motivated by my love for radio. I listen to stations locally and online all the time and keep in touch with my friends in radio, but there's nothing really specific I have to do to KEEP me motivated. I need to be back on the air, and that keeps me motivated.
2) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?
I've been doing my website and putting my time and creative energy into that. I've also been keeping a journal of ideas; things I can't do now because I'm not on the air, but stuff I hope to bring to a new station. And I'm doing some weekends at Mix 98.5 in Boston. It's such a great feeling to be "invited" back on the air at such an awesome station and I truly appreciate my friends there!
3) What is your best way to get your foot in the door?
Kick it in and demand someone listen to your tape NOW, or else. Kidding ... but I did get my first radio job by showing up at radio stations asking to speak to the program director!
4) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?
I'd love to do middays again or be part of a morning show, or I'd love to try afternoons and have a little more freedom to let my personality shine. I was also trained to be the MD at FLZ so I would love to put those skills to work at my next job, as well, either as MD or AMD..
5) What's the most unbelievable question you've ever been asked in an interview?
OK, this happened after the interview, but it's worth mentioning. I had 2 offers, and the PD of one station pretty much knew I was going to turn down his offer (the other was just all-around a better opportunity). So he emailed me, thanked me for coming in to meet with him, offered me the job, and then said, "but if you don't want to come work for me, I'd love to take you out sometime." I'm sure glad I DID have another offer!!!
6) With consolidation there are definitely fewer jobs. How do you separate yourself from the pack?
Is this where I get to shamelessly plug myself to GM's, OM's & PD's who might be reading and are looking for a very talented female personality?
OK GOOD...
I make EVERY break count. Even when a break isn't a "personality" break -- it is to me. If we're giving away a trip to Vegas, it's not just a generic "chance to go to Vegas," it's a "chance to go to Vegas and maybe you'll run into Ben Affleck at the craps table!" I always add excitement, something witty, something a little extra so I/the station stands out. I also took voicetracking very seriously and always made the effort to sound local and give as much personality and prep to my voicetracked stations as I did to FLZ.
TSL BABY! I learned a lot about the value of TSL at FLZ ... appointment listening, knowing just the right way to get people to hang on for 15 more minutes ... It's all about being a tease!
I say what I think, not what I think I should say. People relate to honesty. If I think something, chances are a lot of other women feel or think the same way. Rather than "trying" to be "real" by putting up a "hip" front, I am honest. I share my "Bridget Jones" moments on the air.
I DISCUSS celebrity gossip with listeners, I don't just report it. Women cannot get enough of celebrity gossip. It's ridiculous. They love it even more when they can express their disgust at Britney's bad hygiene or Lindsay's latest outburst. I put them on the air, make them the "star," let them talk. They love it.
Listeners are my friends. I answer my emails, talk to people on the request lines, buy them drinks at club gigs. I hate the "just a listener" attitude. I involve listeners in my show, make friends with them, etc. I've met some great people who were "just listeners" and have become true friends. I'm not embarrassed to admit that.
My Website (www.danasdirt.com) Rules. I'd bring this (minus the occasional uncensored nipple shot) to any station's website. The web is a powerful tool, and having an updated, interactive site keeps the station logo in front of people's faces, puts a visual with what they hear on the air, and makes them feel like a real part of the radio station.
I flawlessly execute the basics. Board work, being tight, hitting posts, selling the station, etc. I do all of this, too.
7) 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?
Absolutely. I was 1200 miles away from my family when I was working, so it's definitely nice to be here. I'm pretty hopeful I'll be moving away again soon for a gig, so I'm spending a ton of time with family and friends while I am around.
8) In your opinion, what has been your biggest career accomplishment in the industry?
Working at FLZ, learning from the best people in the industry, taking what they taught me and running with it, having a loyal following of listeners ... oh, and the bonus checks were nice too!
9) What do you miss most about music/radio? The least?
I miss a LOT of things. I'll hear about something crazy -- like the guy who had 14 surgeries to LOOK LIKE Michael Jackson -- and it drives me nuts that I can't talk about it on the air. When Jen & Brad broke up, I was just crushed and couldn't talk about it on the air. Stuff like that. I also miss being around music and passionate people every day.
What don't I miss? The visits from Hooters girls, Winghouse girls, Bucs Cheerleaders, etc ... No matter how cute I thought I looked at work that day, they'd come in and ruin it for me LOL :
10) What have you learned about yourself, others, or life in general in your downtime?
Not that I ever took radio for granted, but I definitely now realize just what an amazing career I have chosen, and how lucky I am to be able to do it. As far as what I've learned about others, there are some truly WONDERFUL people in this business and I'm finding I have true friends in a lot more people than I may have thought. I'm so grateful to everyone who has been supportive over the last few months!
Bonus Questions
Having been through all you have dealt with in this biz, what advice would you give people trying to break in?
BE ORIGINAL. Be creative. I haven't really "been through" anything regarding this (I've always tried to do my own thing), but I think it's important for "baby DJ's" to be taught the importance of originality and creativity.
Of course we all learn from others, but one of my pet peeves about radio is the amount of imitation that goes on. I guess maybe it's because people are so busy wearing 5 different hats in the building they "don't have time" to be creative, but creativity is really what makes radio so fun and exciting, and it's the creative individuals who get noticed and make it!
Make time to brainstorm, don't just copy what someone else in a bigger market is doing. If someone has a great idea and you want to use it, build off it, twist it your own way, and think of the concept behind it, but be creative!
It's been said that "everything in radio is copied, there are no new ideas," but I disagree. A LOT of things in radio are copied, but the challenge is to be the one re-inventing things or coming up with something new.
So my advice in a nutshell: "Creativity and originality will make you stand out!"
Oprah or Dr. Phil?
OPRAH. You never know what you're going to see on Oprah, and most of the time she's a lot less depressing than Dr. Phil. Today while watching Oprah, I learned that vaginal cream and Preparation-H can be used as FACIAL CREAMS to keep skin looking young and fresh. No, I will not try it, but it's nice to know.
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