10 Questions with ... Lex Staley & Terry Jaymes

1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?

Lex: WKUE (92K) I really liked most of the local talent in Jacksonville like Rich Langlois and Jamie Brooks on WJAX Rock 95 and WAIV, but was mostly taken in by all the great music those guys were bringing to the airwaves. Thought it would be cool to be part of that in some grand scheme, but Greaseman was also at the height of his career in Jville at the time, so I'm sure I was captivated to some degree by that. But to tell you the truth, I was 19 years old and making $700 a week, every other week sanding and glassing surfboards. So that was influential in my slow move into radio full-time.

Terry: I got a weekend shift at "Loving and Gentle KQLH" in the San Bernardino Mall. I had to report on listeners missing pets every hour. However, my first real job in radio remains one of my greatest experiences ever. That's KTYD/Santa Barbara. The entire staff remains friends to this day. As far as influences go, one of my best friends is Rick Lewis who has owned Denver for over two decades. He and I were great friends before either of us got into radio. It was going to work with him; that led me down this dark path. We have been there for each other from the very beginning. We have a special bond and communicate weekly.

2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment that made you realize "this is it"?

Lex: My job leading to being on the air at 92K was in sales. Had a spot-an-hour order I signed late in the day on a Friday in my sales job and the only way it was getting on the air was by me. The afternoon guy apparently was ready to get high for the night. The PD ended up liking the spot I cut for Walt's Auto Parts. That made me happy since it took all night long to do a :30 spot I was happy with. Several weeks later I ended up on the air part-time and became full-time a few months later. Had I not had that chain of events. who knows what I would be doing now?

Terry: I was sold from the very first time I walked into a studio. I love everything about it. The temperature and smell of a studio still makes my palms sweat to this day. However, my defining moment came recently. I'm just now figuring out how to do this job. A few years ago I took on a weekend shift (just to challenge myself) at KIRO/Seattle. That taught me a new way to show prep and Larry Gifford really helped me develop my own voice. All of my successes and failures to date have recently made me realize that I can actually do this and at a very high level. It's weird to say that, but after 20+ years, I'm just now ready to get started!

3) When did you guys meet and how did you begin working together?

Lex: Roger Mayer introduced us at a party in L.A. shortly before I left Album Network and took my old job as PD at WFYV (Rock 105)/Jacksonville. Roger and I worked together at A.N. at the time. It was bizarre the way the whole thing went down because I unknowingly was essentially getting paid back for a tasteless practical joke I did on Mark Avery, who got a sweet job at KLOS in production. If I remember correctly, my part in the joke was that I was to tell him that we at KLOS had changed our minds and we hoped that he didn't turn in his resignation yet because we were going in another direction. Very cruel thing to tell a guy who just got his dream job. Terry had worked for Roger in Santa Barbara, so that is where the connection was made. Terry was part of the crew assembled by Mark to screw with me revenge-wise at a party we had all been invited to in L.A. -- and THAT they did. Apparently I learned I was going to be a father. The young lady I allegedly slept with on one of my "party" nights was very convincing. She was an actress. A REALLY good actress. After the joke Terry and I became fast friends at that point and when it came time to hire a new morning show in Jacksonville upon my return, Terry was my guy. I was to temporarily join him while we tried to find him a partner. We are still working on that. :)

Terry: One of my dearest friends, the late Roger Mayer, introduced me to Lex at a party in L.A.. At the time I had "moved on" from radio. I was doing stand-up comedy and I was a regular on a soap opera as well as Comic Strip Live and Sunday Comics on FOX. While I was pursuing that, my heart was still with radio. I loved the freedom and creativity, as well as a regular paycheck. Lex called me and said he needed a morning guy in Jacksonville and I jumped at the chance. He basically saved my life and kept my dream going.

4) You guys made a strong name for yourselves doing mornings at WFYV/Jacksonville. What can you take away from that experience that has prepared you for doing a syndicated morning show?

Lex: We took over from a very "vanilla" show in Jacksonville and as you have all found out since, it isn't exactly the approach we use. We did the show for a year before it blew up ratings-wise and there was just bad vibes everywhere, non-committal fellow employees, a lot of shut doors as we walk by, and ugly things said to us on a constant basis. The GM walked the fence until we succeeded. We learned to have thick skin in a hurry. With me being the PD, we weren't subject to a lot of meddling in the product from above; we both were on the same page and really believed in ourselves. We learned that we could lean on each other and get through anything. That, in my opinion, became extremely invaluable and made us tougher as we started syndicating down the road.

Terry: Nothing really prepares you to do a syndicated radio show. The owners of WFYV wanted to keep us when our contract was up, so they offered us the opportunity to go to Dallas and simulcast the show back to Jacksonville. We got a call from Mike Buxer in Savannah, who asked us if we were syndicated. We kind of looked at each other and sheepishly said, "Sure. Why not." Then all of a sudden we were syndicated. The management at WFVY really supported us. PD David Moore made us feel like we could achieve anything and he helped us pull off a ton of crazy bits. Without his support, I don't believe we would have made the splash we did. Our theory about syndication has always been tied to our theory about doing a show in general. If you're a compelling story teller, if you're funny, and if you take chances, everything is going to work out. People will come along for the ride no matter where the show is heard.

5) What year did you start syndicating your show and how long did it take to build up a healthy amount of stations?

Lex: When we went to Dallas on Q102 in '98, we realized that we were set up to give the show to other stations and they started asking right away. Savannah, Key West, Gainesville FL ... all wanted the show once it was available based on its reputation in Jacksonville. Before we knew it we were on seven or eight stations and off we went.

6) Shortly after syndicating your show, you moved the show to originate in Dallas. Why did you make that move and how did it benefit the show?

Lex: That was our second move to Dallas. The first one actually allowed us to simulcast the show with Jacksonville and was ultimately what got the show attention and syndicated to markets that surrounded Jacksonville, such as Savannah, Gainesville and a few others. That list grew substantially when we returned to do the show out of Jacksonville in '98. But by 2004, we were seeing that to really kick the door down and get on markets larger than Jacksonville, we would need the credibility of winning in a huge market to make the others come on board. In 2006 we debuted on The Edge in Dallas and took it to #1 18-34 men #2 Adults and #2 18-49 men and #3 Adults within two years. This allowed us to start picking up top-50 markets like OKC, Tampa and Orlando ... and made that move pay off by making that objection go away.

7) Who are the other players on the Lex & Terry show and what are their roles?

Lex: We have three multi-talented people on our staff who literally can do it all. We are a very close-knit group, (sometimes too close) that do a lot for five people. Dee Reed is our show producer and our affiliate director. He is very talented on the air and is not afraid to put himself out there for any bit you throw his way. He has an extremely active imagination and a very hard worker. He has been with us for 15 years; he walked in off the street in Jacksonville to challenge us at video games. Loyal, good employee, Family Man, and wears his heart on his sleeve. He is full of S like the rest of us,so he fits right in. Krystina Ray Byford replaced seven-year show vet Sarah Morgan last year and was one of the best hires we have ever had. She came to us from "The Ticket" the #1 Sports station in DFW. Young, beautiful, witty, capable, plays guitar, and has a dark side that we are having fun trying to unlock on a daily basis. Ian Gleason took the place of two legendary L&T staff vets Peter Welpton and Taint. He has done an amazing job filling the role of both. He is well-versed in history, educated, a former actor, and just happens to be a completely open book to what is a very interesting life style and a past. He hosted a radio version of Pub Quiz for us on the air and we thought one day would make a great addition to the show in some capacity. He has been with us for six years.

8) Describe a typical morning show meeting for you guys. a) What is the process? b) How much show prep do you do and what are some of the key benchmarks of your show

Lex: Terry is someone who isn't happy unless he has things not just for the next show, but for the next couple of weeks or more. We have conversations, texts, e-mails, etc. at all times but the reason we don't talk several times a day pretty much is due to making sure what we are talking about is not contrived by the time it reaches the air.

Terry: I'm sure any show will tell you that their show prep meetings last until the next show starts. It's not a cop-out. It's true. We are always thinking about the show. We schedule our benchmark bits well in advance in case we need to get props or permission, etc. I also have a goal of having a minimum of 30 different subjects, news stories and personal life stories to weave in throughout the show. We always have somewhere to go.

9) I would imagine there are many, but what are some of your best morning show moments since you starting syndicating the show?

Lex: The best moments are certainly too plentiful to give them their due justice. But Roundtable Rap sends a song around the room to be completed -- one show member and one line of a song at a time. "Weiner Dog" done to the Bruno Mars song "Treasure" remains the biggest hit with our audience along with "I Need 40 Bucks," a bit where we will give a needy staff member $40 to do unspeakable things suggested by the staff. They have to pick one of four things to get their $40. "Twitter Views," a bit where Ricky Gervais and Chad Ochocinco were stalked and eventually brought on to the show by our audience through Twitter was obviously great use incorporating social media into the show.

Terry: We get better guests now and being a show where the callers are the star, syndication gives us a bigger pool to choose from. Personally I love making market visits. The passion our stations have for their product is contagious. Every time I get back I'm reenergized about the entire business. We are totally invested in the success of all our affiliates. Social media has made it easy to feel like you're a local show. Interacting is not underrated. We recently did a segment on the show that never could have happened had we not had the long relationship we have with our listeners. I wrote down a bit idea in my sleep. Of course the next morning it made no sense. I use the "Notes" section on my cell and all it said was, What Do Got? So I decided on the air that I'm not a quitter and that we still need to do the bit. Lex agreed even though we had no idea what the bit actually wasw. We just took calls for What Do Got? And our listeners turned it into gold. It's now a regular segment as well as What Do Got? Overtime.

10) Who is funnier and why?

Lex: I am. He sucks.

Terry: Let me just say this. Almost everyday after the show I have to excuse myself to go to the restroom to splash cold water on my face. I look into the mirror and say, "Jesus only had to carry a cross."

You guys talk for a living but give us the lowdown on your favorite music...both artists and songs?

Lex: If I have to give a high-pressure quick top 5: Rolling Stones "Stray Cat Blues," AC/DC "Overdose," Foo Fighters "All My Life," Metallica "For Whom The Bell Tolls," Buck Cherry "Next To You," Neil Young "Don't Let It Bring You Down," Black Keys "Little Black Submarine," Sex Pistols "Holiday In The Sun," David Bowie "Ziggy Stardust," Jay Z "99 Problems," Black Crowes "Sister Luck," Jet "Move On."

Terry: I love all kinds of music! Anything AC/DC (Sin City). I've recently started getting into going to concerts again. I didn't go to many because of my work schedule. But I'm finding a lot of inspiration watching people do what they're meant to do in life. There's a Jazz club down the street from my house that always has name acts. I don't care who is playing though ... it's just a super-inspiring, chill night for me.

What do you read in the bathroom?

Lex: Why, All Access, of course, along with FB, IG, Bleacher Report and Twitter.

Terry: Snapchat and Instagram. It's where I host my very popular, Scenes from the Toilet series. I'm not joking.