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10 Questions with ... Kaden
March 10, 2009
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NAME:KadenLAST WITH:MOViN 107.5 (KMVK/Dallas-Ft. Worth)PHONE:651.324.9407EMAIL:kadenradio@gmail.com
Please begin by giving us a brief career history ...
STAR 105.7, WMRV/Binghamton, NY -- Van washer, board op, & rookie night jock
HOT 107-9, WWHT/Syracuse, NY -- Weekend swing & NY speeding ticket-getter
98.5 KRZ, WKRZ/Scranton-Wilkes-Barre, PA -- Night jackass & Imaging Dir.
Z100, WHTZ/New York City -- Big Apple weekend swing & NJ speeding ticket-getter
KDWB/Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN -- Late-night jackass & Asst. Imaging Dir.
104-7 KISS FM, KZZP/Phoenix, AZ -- Desert night dork & East Coast example of 'RUDE'
MOViN 107.5, KMVK/Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX - Major-market night jock w/ Prince EVERY hour!1) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?
Besides flooding PDs, GMs, and adult clubs with mp3s/resumes, making my TiVo do overtime! Dr. Phil, Oprah, Rock of Love, Bromance & Skin-A-Max ... I'm at 98% capacity.
2) What's the best way to get your foot in the door?
Put a little piece of tape over the metal wedge that makes the door lock. Buy a plastic toy police badge and blow past the lobby rent-a-cop at 3a. Then handcuff yourself to the board until they hire you. Make sure you don't shower the preceding 48 hours, either.
3) What has been your best resource for finding out about job openings?
Honestly, other people. I've only gotten hired responding to a public ad twice.
Some people are "in radio," while the rest of us are actually in "the biz." As of today, in this current economy ... if you're not a go-getta and won't go the extra mile, hang up the 'cans.
4) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?
My ultimate dream gig would be PM drive or nights on a larger market heritage Top 40 with a blowtorch signal, aggressive sales and programming teams, million-dollar salary, and is within walking distance of a Chipotle restaurant. Additionally, if a single, blue-eyed busty blonde AE was already in house who loves baseball and beer ... I'll negotiate down. Hah.
5) With consolidation there are definitely fewer jobs. How do you separate yourself from the pack?
Being different. Networking. Knowing the difference between THERE, THEIR and THEY'RE on your cover letter. I'm a perfectionist when it comes to detail. I like to get it done now, not tomorrow. If I'm ever a GM, I'll buy the tire shine myself for the vans. The people in the biz who truly "get it" can still appreciate that.
6) What has been your biggest career accomplishment?
It's all a blur, really. Doing the WX forecast on Casey's Top 40 in high school. Playing Top 40 music on college radio strictly to annoy the hippies ... front-page headlines. Idolizing great stations like KDWB and Z100 and then getting the privilege to crack the mic. Living in the cities I've always wanted to visit. Training the next generation of "radio dorks" who really want it. By far the most gratifying accomplishment is definitely making some really awesome friends ... ALL OVER the country. Bonus points if they're a jock you worshiped. I feel sorry for the people who never get out of their hometown bubble and don't explore. They may have 60k in home equity, but I have lifelong memories! BTW, good luck selling that house ... hah!
7) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?
Lurk around AllAccess.com three times a day. Still read the trades. Keep up on music. Networking. Conference calls with other "on the beach" friends in the biz and trade stories. Critique other jocks who still have a job and then punch my dashboard.
8) Having been through all you have dealt with in this biz, what advice would you give people trying to break in?
I feel sorry for the broadcasting school rookies who are trying to break into the biz. With the economy on a fire trail, they have STIFF competition from "laid off" pros who have ALREADY paid their dues and know how to do a killer :12 break. Learn. Sponge. You won't be making 50k for a LONNNNNNNNG time, buddy. Get a mentor and bleed him dry. Also, the future of radio is PPM ... look that up. It doesn't mean Please Pick Me, either.
9) What do you miss most about music/radio? The least?
Playing with the Vox/Pro, ramping up "club bangers" while staring out the 10th floor window to the highway below ... pretending they're ALL listening. Don't worry, I still talk up posts in the car. And for the least ... how about getting cc'd on 15 e-mails about the monthly birthday party in the break room at 2:30. DO NOT hit Reply ALL.
10) How will this experience change you when you get back to work?
We're in radio ... it happens. Mayflower, the word 'terminated,' and drive-thru windows ... they're all part of the biz. Ramping up records and shaking hands in FRONT of the table is still better than cubicles and TPS reports. And I don't do khakis, either.
It won't change me; it will better me ... because I'm STILL in radio and doing what I love.
Bonus Questions
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
Being featured on those "Lottery Winners Who Spent All Their Money" shows. If that doesn't work out, then somewhere in the Radio/TV/Sports world ... still eating Ramen.
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