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10 Questions with ... Mich & Bryan
October 3, 2005
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LAST WITH:WQQR/Paducah, KYPHONE:214-764-6842WEBSITE:www.themichshow.com
Career history ...
Mich - KNTU 88.1 (University of North Texas), KTCK 1310 Dallas, KYNG/KLLI 105.3 Dallas (nights), KLIF 570 Dallas, WTZR 99.3 Bristol/Johnson City/Kingsport TN/VA (Mornings), WQQR 94.7 Paducah, KY (Mornings).
Bryan - KFST 94.3 Ft. Stockton, TX, KYNG/KLLI 105.3 Dallas (nights), WTZR 99.3 Bristol/Johnson City/Kingsport TN/VA (Mornings), WQQR 94.7 Paducah, KY (Mornings).
1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?
Mich - The only way to stay motivated for me is knowing that we are better than a lot of the people on the air right now. Not that we're these great, unbelievable talents by any means, but there are some bad performers in radio right now. I just have to believe someone will notice what we can bring to a station and hire us.
Bryan - I remind myself that radio is supposed to be a fun job by listening to Opie and Anthony every day on XM. That's what a radio job should be... come in and have a blast on the air for four hours a day. Anytime it starts to feel like work, you know something's wrong. I also check out our old show audio at www.themichshow.com/stuff/audio.html (oh yeah, that's a plug!).
2) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?
Mich - I am trying to fix my air conditioning. I can't afford to hire someone to fix it and it's HOT here. Maybe this can be a new career field when I'm not on the air! Of course I've spent more than 2 days on this project, so I don't think I would get paid by the hour. There is also a dollar movie theater right by my place, so I go see really cheap, crappy movies. There is some real crap out there too. 50 cent Tuesdays!
Bryan - Video games are my stress reliever. After a few hundred homicides I can relax and work on something productive, like writing screenplays. I went to school to study film but somehow ended up in radio. I blame the advisors and their damn "fall-back plans" for that.
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.
Mich - I think I am in between. I always believe someone will like what we do and hire us. I will never believe otherwise, but I get discouraged when we spend all of the time and money we do to get packages out to people and we don't even get a reply like "thanks, we'll check it out". I really have a feeling that with the PPM for ratings and all of these different mediums hitting terrestrial radio from every angle, things will change. There will be more of an emphasis on personalities.
Bryan - Most radio stinks. And no, that's not my bitter, unemployed opinion. It's been bad for a long time. Radio is stagnant and rotting. There's promise on the horizon though. Satellite radio is just beginning to cause some ripples, but these next few years are going to hold some big changes for the industry. Listeners have choices now. They don't need radio for their entertainment any more. We can download our music for free, so programmers are figuring out that local personalities are the only draw for the average listener. XM and Sirius have proven that people will pay for quality radio programming. Terrestrial radio is going to adapt before it fades away.
4) What is your best way to get your foot in the door?
Mich - Step forward before someone closes it. Might hurt though if they try to close it.
Bryan - It's no big secret; WORK FOR FREE. Internships and sitting in on friend's shows. That's how everyone I know got in.
5) What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get a job?
Mich - I drove from Dallas to Austin for South by Southwest. Hell, Bryan was with me on that trip before we ever even thought of teaming up. I just wanted to get some liners from people for a show in Dallas I wanted to intern for (Bob and Dan aka BaD Radio KTCK 1310 The Ticket in Dallas yes that's a plug...I owe those guys A LOT). I got liners from Puddy from Seinfeld (Patrick Warburton), Janeane Garrofallo, and some porn star. I got the internship and moved up from there. I actually interviewed Janeane, but my batteries for my minidisk ran out after the liner, so I just kept going so she didn't think I was an ass.
Bryan - Yeah, poor Janeane had this wide eyed look of terror as Mich rambled and stammered off question after question. As for me, I spent a year of Saturday nights doing a show with Mich for no money.
6) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?
Mich - I don't care what market or what timeslot. I just want a slot where they let us be a "show." I want someone to let us be ourselves. We won't break any FCC rules, but let us speak our mind on the air. Oh, I would like to be able to afford rent, bills, and the occasional bottle of cheap wine. OK, it's out there, I like wine. I really do believe if talent is allowed to be themselves, listeners notice and feel like they really know you.
Bryan - I'm not picky. I want to work. I'd like to be able to sleep indoors and eat once a day. If you can do that for us, we're yours!
7) How are you finding the "courtesy level" at places you've applied? (Callbacks, emails, rejection letters, etc.)
Mich - Man, that's a loaded question. If I tell the truth will I piss people off? OK, there have been a couple of people that got back to us, but, for the most part, I don't hear a whisper. It doesn't matter how many packages, emails, pajama grams, chocolates, or love letters we send.
Bryan - It's true. I don't take it personally, and I try to convince Mich to do the same. I know I'm not alone saying that I would much rather be given a "No" than spend another week wondering if we're still in the running. It only takes a minute to reply.
8) What's the most unbelievable question you've ever been asked in an interview?
Mich - Interview? I've never really had one.
Bryan - Nothing in an interview, but we were told to consider adding a "virtual" female co-host once. Basically a 360 loaded with a woman's laughs, groans and generic reactions such as "you guys are too much," "cut that out" and "that's nasty!" We would be expected to interact with "her" as though she were a "hot babe" in studio with us. Unbelievable but 100% true.
9) Are you spending as much time listening to radio as you used to?
Mich - Yes, even more so. I want to know what is out there and how their shows flow.
Bryan - I do listen now more than ever. But, I have to admit, most of my attention is on my XM. As I mentioned, I'm a big fan of Opie and Anthony, so I listen and study them on a regular basis.
10) Is there anything specific that you regret doing, while you were still working?
Mich - I regret not saying what I feel on the air sometimes. That is why I'm glad I've had Bryan there with me. If I'm being a puss and seem to be afraid to speak my mind, he will call me on it. I love him for that! Of course he will keep reminding me that I was a puss until I want to stab him in the head, but I'm glad he does it.
Bryan - I'm lucky in that I don't have any regrets yet. Any toes that I've stepped on deserved it, any bridges burnt would never have been used anyway. I learned a long time ago to be honest with myself so that I never have to feel guilt or regret. I may be rude sometimes and I might hurt someone's feelings. But, my grandfather taught me, "If the truth hurts, it shouldn't be the truth." Some cliches still hold up.
Bonus Questions
My favorite new diversion is...
Mich - Sleeping! It's easy and free!
Bryan - XM 202. Spread the virus.
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