10 Questions with ... Alan Spector

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I most recently served as Executive Producer and co-host for the Dixon & Willoughby morning show on Cox's Classic Rocker in Orlando, WHTQ, contributing my many (well, two or three) character voices, suspect writing talent and lame ad libs. Prior to that, more of the same (man, this guy's in a rut!) at WRIT/Milwaukee, COOL 105.9/Orlando and MIX 105.1/Orlando.

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

I have re-launched a comedy prep service I did for many years called Alan Spector's Comedy News Network ... and I have a brand new website for it at www.alanspector.com. I have done some freelance voice work, recording park-wide and stage announcements for a summer concert series at Walt Disney World. I have also done some consulting and writing for an old radio colleague who's rebranding his staffing company in Tampa. And I have unsuccessfully housetrained our new dachshund, Cooper.

2) Do you plan on sticking with the radio biz?

Radio is all that I've ever done or wanted to do. So, it's either that or become the guy who hands out free samples of veggie burgers at Costco.

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

Not to kiss up (because I will if it helps), but All Access definitely has the most comprehensive job listings. I also check out the company websites (CBS, Clear Channel, etc.) and, interestingly, I've been finding that stations are advertising openings on Craigslist. The sad part is that I'm checking Craigslist.

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

Ideally, I'd like to get back into morning radio. I love being part of an on-air team, reacting live to current events, bouncing ad libs off each other and insulting -- I mean, entertaining -- the listeners.

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

It's disappointing. Submissions are very rarely acknowledged. One would think things would be different in this age of e-mail, where it takes only a few seconds and several keystrokes to reply with a simple "Thank you, we got your stuff, you suck."

6) What's the most unbelievable question you've ever been asked in an interview?

Probably back when I was 19, applying for a part-time news position and being asked if I had any lawn-mowing jobs that would interfere with me showing up for work. I did not, although now I wish I had that lawn-mowing experience to fall back on.

7) What do you miss most about radio? The least?

The thing I miss most about radio is the people: fellow employees and the listeners. The least? The thing I miss least about radio is management who believes that something as subjective as humor can be quantified just like sales figures. (Just kidding, prospective employers! Ha, ha, ha!!)

8) 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?

I would consider it; I've always been in radio mainly for the free T-shirts.

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

I would hope that being away from the business for awhile will give me a more objective perspective on what I do. Sometimes you get so deep into what you're doing on a daily basis that it is difficult to step back and honestly evaluate your own performance. And now, stepping back and being completely honest, I'd have to say that I'm great.

10) Where do you see yourself in five years? 10 years?

In front of a microphone, whether it's on the air, on the Net or welcoming customers to a garage sale of my radio memorabilia.

What is your favorite new diversion?

Housework. It's the least I can do for my wife, who continues to work and earn a steady paycheck. And who'd have believed that Swiffering could be so satisfying?