10 Questions with ... Patrick 'Nick' Thomas

NAME:Patrick 'Nick' Thomas TITLE:Host, 'Nick and Drew' and Executive Producer, 'Big D and Bubba Show' STATIONS:KTUX-FM MARKET:Shreveport, LA COMPANY:Premiere Radio BORN:New Iberia, LA RAISED:New Iberia, LA

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

1996-1997 KANE-AM New Iberia, LA
1997-1998 WJBO-AM Baton Rouge, LA
1998-1999 WFMF-FM Baton Rouge, LA
1999-present Big D and Bubba Network (syndicated)
2003-present KTUX-FM Shreveport, LA

* From 1997-1999 I worked for Clear Channel in Baton Rouge and did an air shift on WJBO, WFMF, KRVE, WYNK and WSKR. I would do any shift that they would let me do. I was the only person in the cluster with a regular daily or weekly shift on all 5 stations (either as a DJ or producer).

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

My first job in radio was at KANE-A/New Iberia. I was a board-op and I did local news and production. My early influences on-air were Dave in the Dark (on the old WTGE in Baton Rouge) and Bobby Novosad (still doing mornings on KSMB in Lafayette). My biggest influences were off the air. I learned a lot about the business from Matt Kennedy (PD of WJBO in Baton Rouge, who hired me for my 2nd radio job) and Bob Murphy (OM of the Clear Channel cluster in Baton Rouge). Of course, everything I thought I knew about radio changed when I started working with Big D and Bubba. They redefined my idea of what is possible in this business.

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

That's easy ... Yes! I think there are too many people in this business who can't accept where it is now, much less where it's going. If you hate it that much, go do something else. I still love radio and I am working hard to find new ways to make it fun.

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

I'd probably be a high school teacher or an engineer (like my dad).

4) What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?

The lack of young people involved on all sides. I keep hearing people talk about how no young people want to be in radio anymore; that is a bunch of crap. I had to fill an Assistant Producer position (when All Access stole my old one), and I got nearly 50 applications just from the Nashville area. Young people still want to be in this business, but there is very little to offer them. I have seen LOTS of promising talent leave radio because after years of low-paying, part-time jobs with no benefits; they couldn't wait for opportunities any longer. When I started with Big D and Bubba in 1999, I was the youngest Executive Producer of a syndicated show at age 20. Nine years later, I am almost 29 and I may still be the youngest. There just aren't enough opportunities to keep the next generation of talent from jumping ship.

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

I love Glenn Beck. I think he is the most entertaining person in radio. If you haven't heard his show and have only seen him on TV, then you don't understand. I have heard a dozen shows claim to combine news and entertainment, but Glenn does it so well that you can often forget that there is news involved.

6) Besides your own, what is your favorite radio format?

I love Talk radio. I just get tired of music sometimes and outside of AM drive, you can hardly find a good show on most music stations.

7) Tell us what music we would find on your car or home CD player (or turntable) right now and what is it you enjoy about that particular selection?

I have had two CDs in my car since I bought it in November. I listen to radio 99% of the time. The 2 CDs are "Zeitgeist" by The Smashing Pumpkins and "Just A Matter of Time" by The Randy Rogers Band. They still get the job done in those times when I can't find anything on the radio.

8) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?

Don't eat food that listeners bring to the station.

9) Please describe the best or worst promotion you've ever been part of?

The best promotion I've ever been a part of was "Free Car Friday" last May with Big D and Bubba. We literally gave away a car every Friday for a month -- and it wasn't your usual radio station car giveaway (ie: "go by the dealership and sign up, and we'll qualify people on air for a month before we draw a name"). We had people enter online and tell us why they need a car. Then, we just called the winners on Friday. All the cars went to people who really needed them and it sounded HUGE every day for a whole month of the Spring book!

10) As you look back over your career ... any regrets? Missed opportunities?

I have a reverse regret. I almost didn't take the job with Big D and Bubba because I was doing Top 40 at the time and I didn't want to go into Country. I thought about the job offer very seriously for over a week. I think about it from time to time and remind myself how glad I am that I decided a good show was a good show in any format. If I hadn't taken the job, I wouldn't have met my wife in Nashville, because I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be doing "Nick and Drew" because I would have never met Drew. And worst of all, I would probably still think of radio as a job where you get to play music and talk a little, instead of a job where you get to create an entertaining show.

Who would be your dream guest on the show?

That depends on which show. On Nick and Drew, I'd say Billy Corgan. On Big D and Bubba ... wow, that's tough because we'd had all the country artists on at least once before. I'd have to say Britney Spears just because the hype would be HUGE.

What is your favorite TV show?

"How I met You Mother."

Name the artist/act (living or dead) you'd love to meet and why.

Tori Amos. Next to Billy Corgan, she is my favorite musician (and I've met Billy before).

In your opinion, what is the greatest song ever that never made it as a hit?

I can't decide that in Rock without being way too biased by my love of certain artists. I think the best country song that was never a hit is "Carry On" by Pat Green.

You're stuck on a deserted island and you only have 5 CDs with you. What are they?

Okay, these are not my Top 5 all-time greatest albums, but thinking about variety and the circumstances of being really, really bored on an island...

Siamese Dream - Smashing Pumpkins
Scarlet's Walk - Tori Amos
Tarantula - Flickerstick
The best of Ella and Louis on Verve - Fitzgerald and Armstrong
Just A Matter of Time - Randy Rogers Band