10 Questions with ... Jim Day

NAME:Jim Day LAST WITH:95.5 WSM-FM/Nashville PHONE:615-509-6669 EMAIL:jimdayshow@gmail.com WEB:www.jimdayshow.com

Please begin by giving us a brief career history ...

Currently weekends at 650AM WSM/Nashville
06-08 mornings, WSM-FM/Nashville
03-06 mornings, WHKO/Dayton
98-03 middays/APD, WHKO/Dayton
91-98 middays/evenings/everything else, WBNS/Columbus
*Managed weekend staffs
*Great production
*Produced/hosted CMN Radiothon

1) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?

Driving a school bus. It pays better then most part-time jobs. They gave me a 90% pay raise for having a college degree, and it comes with the greatest health benefits I've ever had. I'm also working part-time at 650AM WSM. It's cool to work at the home of the Grand Ole Opry.

2) Some people get discouraged or enlightened with the business when they actually step out of it for awhile. Tell us your observations from the outside.

Lots of people don't reset their breaks. I've spent time listening to shows from around the country and that's one thing I've noticed. I've been totally lost with what they were talking about because they hadn't taken five seconds to reset their topic.

3) What's the longest stretch you've had on the beach?

This would be the longest -- eight months -- but I'm fortunate, because this has been the only time I've been forced to sun myself on the beach.

4) What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get a job?

I sent a copy of a Powerball ticket with my T&R, but I blacked out the numbers. You want the numbers, you have to call me. I got three calls ... no job offers and no winners.

5) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?

Mornings with an awesome partner. I've done a solo show and a team show ... and hands down, the team is so much better. With a team there's a sharing and growing of ideas that takes place, that can't happen with just one person.

6) With consolidation there are definitely fewer jobs. How do you separate yourself from the pack?

I hear more and more that employees have to be self-starters ... people who don't require a lot of management attention. That's the type of employee I've always been. Now, if I can just get back and prove it again.

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?

I can actually watch "American Idol" and not have to take notes on it. TV has returned to being an entertainment medium, not a show prep site.

8) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?

I produced and hosted a Children's Miracle Network Radiothon for seven years. The awards were great ... the money raised was awesome ... but, the moment I hold dearest is when a girl with cancer stopped me at a station event. She had tears streaming down her face as she said my caring and compassion gave her the hope she needed to live ... wow...

9) What have you learned about yourself, others, or life in general in your downtime?

There are lots of people who are rooting for me -- peers, neighbors and church friends. The support they've given has been tremendous. I also realized that my faith in God and trusting in His plan for my life has kept me stress-free these last eight months. What a relief to not be burdened with that.

10) Is there anything specific that you regret doing while you were still working?

Not making/having recent airchecks. I bought a new radio for my car that didn't have a tape deck, so I stopped making airchecks. Boy, did I kick myself in the butt when I didn't get my contract renewed.

Care to contribute a low-cost recipe to our "ON THE BEACH" cookbook?

Heat two cups of cooked rice/can of tomatoes with green chilies/can of black beans/can of corn/Tabasco to taste. Serve with buttered cornbread and an ice cold beer. That's good eats right there!