10 Questions with ... Jason Savage

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I started in radio at age 16 in my hometown of Altoona, PA, eventually moved on to other PA markets, including State College and St. Marys. Got my first PD gig at Cumulus in Albany, GA in 1999, became PD of two stations and assistant OM for a time. Budget cuts eliminated my job in 2006. I continued part time until early 2007.

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

My wife and I own and operate a pet care business here in the Albany area.

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.

Once you have been inside the business, especially as a programmer, no matter how long you are out of radio you never listen to radio in the same way.

3) Do you plan on sticking with the music/radio industry?

Yes.

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

Currently, nearly three years.

5) What has been your best resource for finding out about job openings?

Friends in the biz, and of course allaccess.com.

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

I'm looking for anything full-time in PA. I want to return to PA to be closer to my 81-year-old mother and the rest of my family.

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

50/50. I know there are a lot of people looking for work so I imagine programmers simply don't have time to respond to every applicant.

8) Are you spending as much time listening to radio as you used to?

I listen to Sports/Talk and News/Talk far more than music radio as of late.

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?

If it was in PA, it would be tempting.

10) How will this experience change you when you get back to work?

To quote Cinderella, "Don't know what you've got til it's gone." I will appreciate being back in the business and even all the little things that used to drive me nuts!

Oprah or Dr. Phil?

Dr. Phil.