10 Questions with ... Denver Crabb

NAME:Denver Crabb TITLE:Air Personality (afternoon drive) STATIONS:WCPR FM 97.9 MARKET:Biloxi-Gulfport, MS COMPANY:Triad Broadcasting BORN:Alaska RAISED:New Orleans

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

96-98 WZRH FM ... 98-2001 WCPR FM ... 2001- 2005 KKND FM ... 2006- Present WCPR FM

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

I got my first on air gig when I was 15 at a station called the Zephyr. My influences back then were the on-air staff working at the Zephyr -- Grant Morris, Rossman, We ran 'Out of Order' there too. Gotta love Jed the Fish.

2) If you were just starting out in radio, knowing now what you didn't then, would you still do it?

Without a doubt. Radio can be extremely frustrating and a pain in the ass, but all in all, it beats having a real job.

3) What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?

That's a real toss up between working at a candy store and selling marijuana.

4) Where do you see the industry and yourself five years from now?

I think that five years from now, the industry will still be going strong. It's going to require programmers to get back to basics and understand why people choose terrestrial radio over satellite radio or mp3 players. It really is about being 'extremely local' and 'superserving your audience.' As for myself, as long as I'm on the air and doing what I love, I can't really ask for much more..

5) What is the biggest change that you'd like to see happen in the business?

I'd really like to see less reliance on voicetracking. When you don't have a live personality in the studio, taking calls and talking to your listeners, your station and your ratings will suffer. People are getting more and more adept at being able to tell when you have a "DJ in a can" ... it can be a huge letdown for your audience.

6) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff?

Stern will always have a place in my heart. I also think Alex Jones out of Austin, TX is a great air personality; he deserves more respect than what he gets.

7) What is your favorite radio station outside of the market and why?

Well, after the hurricane I spent a year in San Francisco, and Live 105 was my go-to station. I tried to get a job there, but getting an audience with the PD there is like trying to get an audience with the Pope.

8) How do you keep tabs on the competition? When your competition attacks you on the air, how do you react?

Over the years I've found that publicly feuding with another radio station is totally detrimental. I prefer the tried-and-true tactic of ignoring the competition and focusing on the listener. If your outlook is that the competition is irrelevant, then your audience will pick up on that and hopefully see things the same way.

9) What approach do you take after a soft book?

After a soft book we just dig our heels in and continue to do what we know will work. The simple things make a huge difference -- tightening up rotations, playing the hits and having the air staff tighten up their breaks. If the book is soft, we gotta get back to the basics.

10) In today's world of multi-tasking and wearing many hats, how do you find time to show prep and what sources do you use?

I have found that my $5 subscription to totalfark has proven invaluable. I can't stand pre-written, canned prep sheets. Give me the info, and I'll work on the funny.