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10 Questions with ... J.J. Duling
October 27, 2009
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
20-plus year programming veteran ... started at WVIC/Lansing (very young), then on to WGRD/Grand Rapids and WTWR/Detroit. Programming start-ups and turnarounds from Pensacola to signing-on WSNX/Grand Rapids, West Palm Beach to Nashville, Orlando and Louisville ... programming Top 40, Adult Top 40, Oldies, Classic Hits, Classic Rock and Adult Hits.
1) What do you do to maintain a positive mental attitude and stay motivated?
I make sure I stay in touch with positive friends, in and out of radio. It's easy to get discouraged and dragged down if you listen to the naysayers too much. I know radio has its challenges and some of what's happened has been self-inflicted, but I believe in the smart, resourceful people in our industry and that we have better days ahead, so I make sure I listen to upbeat colleagues and friends and avoid the growing crowd who focus on how lousy radio is today.
2) How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?
Doing family stuff, hanging out with my two rescue dogs (Max & Molly) and taking advantage of this extended vacation to get back to a workout routine. This is a great time of year to chill and do a few projects around the house.
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.
I went to the NAB Radio Show in Philly and came back more energized. I've been doing this with just a few interruptions for a long time, so I've been blessed to be able to stay in this great industry, especially when I remind myself that, being from Michigan, how many family, friends and fellow Michiganders have had it a lot tougher than I with the way the economy has affected the auto industry.
4) Do you plan on sticking with the music/radio industry?
That's my goal -- my mind is wide open when it comes to exactly what my next great adventure in radio will be. So many new avenues open these days makes the possibilities pretty exciting.
5) What's the longest stretch you've had on the beach?
Nearly eight months in 2005 ... it was frustrating and disappointing at times, but if I had to be on the beach, being in Orlando, FL wasn't the worst place to be.
6) What's the best way to get your foot in the door?
Be proactive and don't be shy. If you're at a radio gathering, don't hesitate to introduce yourself to people you don't know. Find out where you want to live, who you'd like to work for and be a squeaky wheel. One of my mentors, E. Alvin Davis, once told me, "There are three kinds of people in the world -- people who make things happen, people who watch things happen and people who always seem to be saying 'what happened'?" You have to be the first type to get noticed.
7) What has been your best resource for finding out about job openings?
As it's always been ... networking and continuing to keep in touch with colleagues, keeping up on whose moving where, format changes, etc. That Kevin Bacon Six Degrees Of Separation thing ... radio's just about the smallest of small worlds, so everybody we know knows a lot of people and some we don't know yet. And, I'd have to include the obligatory but accurate reference to keeping up with things on AllAccess.com.
8) What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get a job?
I once applied for a gig and the GM said he wasn't ready to interview candidates yet, that it would be another couple of weeks. I knew I was taking a big risk but I said, "Well, I'm available now, I'd really love this gig and believe I'll be your best candidate ... can I come and see you on my dime tomorrow?" Amazingly, he said yes, we hit it off and I got the job.
9) What is the next job you'd like to obtain?
Hard to say these days ... there's so much cool, new stuff going on these days. I've been a programmer for over 20 years ... I really love doing start-ups and turnarounds (I've done 10), so that may be another PD position, could mean doing some interim projects, or something entirely different in our industry. I'm keeping my mind totally open.
10) What do you miss most about radio?
I miss being around fun, creative, passionate radio people and making great radio happen. I still view radio as show business and in show biz, you can work hard, have fun and make entertaining and different things happen every day.
Bonus Questions
Any books you can recommend to people who need something inspirational to read?
Just started "Buzz Marketing" by Mark Hughes. I saw him at the NAB Radio Show and he was on fire. I'm also reading Tony Dungy's book, "Quiet Strength."
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