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10 Questions with ... Jesse Mitchell
April 28, 2009
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NAME:Jesse MitchellLAST WITH:KBEA/Quad CitiesPHONE:(414) 839-4147
Please begin by giving us a brief career history ...
2003-2005 KQQL/Minneapolis - Producer
2005 KCLD/St. Cloud -- Middays / Imaging
2004-2005 KDWB/Minneapolis - Part-Timer Extraordinaire
2005-2007 WXSS/Milwaukee - Overnights / Production Assistant
2007-2008 KBEA/Quad Cities - Nights / Music Director / Imaging1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?
I've found that maintaining a positive attitude isn't too tough after the obligatory two week "woe-is-me" attitude following your termination. I've never been one to be uplifted by the downfall of others, but it's comforting in some sense to know that the problems those of us in radio right now are facing aren't unique to radio. Being something of a PBS junkie, I remember a quote from the Red Green show where he says, "I'm pullin' for ya'. Remember, we're all in this together."
2) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?
Well, I just got myself a new dog. His name is "Stoli," and yes ... he's named after the Vodka. It's true what they say that "dogs can be chick magnets." Strangely, the magnetism ends when the aforementioned women finds out you don't have a job. Strange, huh?
3) Do you plan on sticking with the music/radio industry?
Absolutely. Most people think it's insane to keep after an industry with such a poor job outlook, but I just can't help myself. I love it. Radio has had a great past, a solid present, a bright future, and I still have a lot more to offer the medium.
4) What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get a job?
I liked to send odd gifts. There was the time I sent the standard pizza to a PD with the pepperoni spelling out "HIRE JESSE," and then there was the bamboo plant. I had a bamboo plant delivered to a PD, and the attached card read: "I'm an 18-34 year-old woman eagerly awaiting the arrival of Jesse Mitchell." The plant worked, but nowadays if I'm faced with an FTD bill and a rent bill, guess which one's getting paid first?
5) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?
Obviously beggars can't be choosers, but I'd love to go somewhere that would still let me get my hands in on some of that imaging goodness. I learned from Freddy Cruz (KRBE) a long time ago that good imaging can be a station's greatest asset.
6) How are you finding the "courtesy level" at places you've applied? (Callbacks, e-mails, rejection letters, etc.)
For the most part, I think the communications in a job search have become one-dimensional. Rejection letters seem to be a thing of the past. Often times the only way to find out you didn't get a job is to read Net News and see that someone else DID get that job. Of course, there are a few PDs I've been lucky enough to deal with who are real straight shooters and tell you exactly what is going on with their hiring process, and I respect them substantially more then those who don't. I'm trying to get a job here, fellas ... it's pretty life-altering. How would you feel if the results to your cancer test never came?
7) What's the most unbelievable question you've ever been asked in an interview?
I was once asked to spot a PD a few bucks for a pack of smokes. After that, I was lacking in the confidence that my hotel tab would be picked up the next day.
8) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?
I don't know that I'd call it an accomplishment, but one of my proudest moments had to involve Rob Morris (KDWB). When I was leaving Minneapolis to go to Milwaukee, I had to do an exit interview with Rob. As I've never known him as a guy to frequently dole out the compliments, I was especially happy when he told me that if he had a task he needed done and he gave it to me, he never had to worry about it. That's a trait I pride myself on, and I hope someone else will take full advantage of it in the very near future.
9) Having been through all you have dealt with in this biz, what advice would you give people trying to break in?
In a time when most industry vets or disillusioned On-The-Beachers would tell you to go another direction, I would tell you to keep after it ... to not let frustration get the better of you. To exhibit both effort and patience. Discouraging people from entering the industry will only serve to hinder the medium so many of us love.
10) How will this experience change you when you get back to work?
I don't want to sound jaded here, but I think I may be slower to trust and more eager to please. The thing is I actually WANT to be working. I've worked with too many people over the years who have viewed being at the station as something they HAD to do, and in spite of my recent setbacks, I'm happy to say that I'm not one of those people.
Bonus Questions
Any books you can recommend to people who need something inspirational to read?
The best book I've had the opportunity to read is "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho. It's about an Andalusian shepherd boy named Santiago who decides to follow a dream, and about the faith, power, and courage we all have within us to pursue ours. It's a short read ... and GREAT inspirational material for those of us in need.
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