10 Questions with ... Michael Bower

NAME:Michael Bower LAST WITH:EA Sports PHONE:(646) 373-6706 EMAIL:thebowershow@gmail.com WEB:www.myspace.com/bowerstandup, http://thebowershow.com, http://meatshopproductions.com

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

Until August, I was hosting a sports/pop-culture game for EA Sports in Orlando, FL, where I was broadcasting nightly. In the past three years, I hosted "The Bower Show" in both AM and PM Drive for the Maxim Channel on Sirius Satellite Radio. And prior to that, I hosted mornings at KCXX/ San Bernardino, mornings at WTKX/ Pensacola, a Maxim-driven Sports Talk show at WDFN/ Detroit and a very successful PM-drive show at KRZR/ Fresno.

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

The silver lining in losing my job at EA was that I have all the time in the world to spend with my 18-month-old daughter. I guess that makes me a stay-at-home-dad, but I can't imagine not experiencing everything I have with her over the past few months.

2) 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.

I don't feel either. I guess "motivated" would be the word. I have always felt like I have something to learn from any radio I listen to. So during this time, I have been listening to a lot of radio online. It gets me fired up and helps develop new ideas for the next on-air gig.

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

10 months ... and it was tough. My wife and I moved in to my in-laws' A-frame cabin outside of Lake Tahoe with our two dogs and parrot. I was on un-enjoyment and we had only a wood burning stove for heat. It sucked.

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

The main goal is that wherever we end up, I want to find a place to plant some roots for my family. I would love to get into an entertaining Talk format ... if the FM talkers can survive, that's where I see my future. Otherwise, Sports or a more traditional AM Talk station that realizes that maybe having Hannity, Limbaugh AND other political talk may just be enough. An AM talk station that wants a compelling, relatable talk show.

5) How are you finding the "courtesy level" at places you've applied? (Callbacks, e-mails, rejection letters, etc.)

It's weird, because I feel like a lot of applying is done via e-mail nowadays. With that, I can't tell if it's easier or more difficult for PDs to respond to you. I'm looking at a little better than 50/50 on responses -- even from random e-mails to stations I think I'd be a good fit for. Not ones posting openings on Allaccess.

6) Are you finding salaries/benefits lower than you ever thought, about the same, or have you seen some pleasant surprises?

Right now, they couldn't appear worse. On the plus side: I believe that this economy is causing stations to hold on to less-than-successful talent on for financial benefit. All things being cyclical, we'll see a chance to get back in, provide great radio and make some good money doing it.

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

It's not easy. I'm not inside a PD's head. But from what I am hearing on radio right now, accessibility, relatability and the difference between talking "with" and talking "at" my listeners. My interviewing skills have always been strong, but if I'm getting the same "A" listers (or "D" listers) as the next station, it comes down to the perception of the overall show. Everyone is invited into my garage, having fun watching the game. Hosts, guests, listeners -- all equal, all involved. I hear a lot of talking "at" out there. Even with the advent of studio texting.

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

Confrontation. Some confrontation is required in our profession, but I could have picked my battles better. Being on the outside looking in, you see clearly those issues that were important at the time, important for the ego and then what was really important in the grand scheme of things.

9) If you were offered a similar position to what you were doing for considerably less money, would you seriously consider taking the job just to stay in the biz?

My wife will kill me for saying this, but I would. I don't know that I could accept it, because it's not just about me anymore. But I would certainly consider it if there was a promise (in writing) of better things "down the road."

10) Having been through all you have dealt with in this biz, what advice would you give people trying to break in?

When you get in, do what you can to do the best job you can. Leave that station and daypart better than when you found it. Tape everything and have a goal. Have a sight. Don't ever give up and network, network, network. The sad reality of this biz is: It's not what you know, it's WHO. Save money, because there will undoubtedly be down times, and there isn't always a severance package.

My favorite new diversion is...

Stand-up comedy and improv comedy classes. I've been doing stand-up for over two years now and it serves as a great creative outlet. Being in NYC, I used a small part of my severance to take some improv classes at Upright Citizens Brigade. Between writing, performing and classes, I'm keeping busy and networking with a whole new group of people. I can't lie, though. I miss the bejeezus out of radio.