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10 Questions with ... Theo
February 10, 2009
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NAME:TheoTITLE:Nights (Perpetrator of Shenanigans and Tomfoolery)STATION:WIYY 98 RockMARKET:BaltimoreCOMPANY:Hearst/ArgyleBORN:St LouisRAISED:Everywhere! We Greeks are a nomadic people.
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
2001: KZON/Phoenix: 2001-2003: KWOD, KRXQ/Sacramento; 2003-2006: KPNT/St Louis; 2006-2007: WEBX/Champaign, IL; 2007-=resent: WIYY/Baltimore
1)What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
I was the last-resort, fill-in, overnight guy for the coveted Tuesday overnight at The Zone in Phoenix. The people who have shaped my on-air style the most are Woody Fife, Thom West and Scott Rizzuto ... all very different, but each great at their craft (in Thom's case, pottery).
2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment that made you realize "this is it"?
I was giving the the- APD of The Zone in Phoenix golf lessons and we hit it off; he asked if I wanted to hang out with him at work sometime (which I found a little creepy until I found out he was in radio) and learned to run the board by watching. As luck, and food poisoning, would have it, one night the overnight guy didn't show; after calling everyone short of the vending machines technician, they asked me to fill in ... the rest has been radio magic. As for a defining moment, it happened about a month ago when I looked around and realized I'd been doing this for almost 10 years and still had a job, when so many super-talented people didn't. I'm very lucky.
3) What makes your station or market unique? How does this compare to other markets or stations you have worked at?
Baltimore is like stepping out of time and space into another world ... in a good way. People embrace our station more than any other I've ever seen -- and I come from St Louis, home of KSHE! This city still loves radio!
4) What can we be doing with our station web sites to better our stations as a whole?
Make them as interactive as possible. Video, audio, photos, texting ... you can't do enough of it. The days of a few jock bios and pics of your last used car remote are gone!
5) What do you view as the most important issue facing radio today?
Being relevant to the local listener. People need to know that you care about what they're doing and going through in their community. That's why having live bodies is soooo important.
6) What is the biggest change that you'd like to see happen in the business?
A few more humans would be nice. No offense to people who voicetrack -- I've done it many times -- but there's nothing like talking to your listeners every shift. A live voice can completely change a daypart.
7) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff?
Woody Fife on Live 105 San Francisco. I wouldn't be around right now if it were not for him.
8) 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?
TOOL Those guys are amazing musicians (my PD, Dave Hill, and I disagree greatly on this) If I had to listen to one band for the rest of my life, it would be Maynard and the boys.
9) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
You are NEVER bigger than the brand. The minute you think the station needs you more than you need it ... see ya.
10) What is the most rewarding promotion or activity your station has ever been involved with to benefit the community or a charity?
The Polar Bear Plunge to support Special Olympics. Baltimore has the world's biggest plunge (we jump in a frozen bay in the middle of January) and we raised over $3 million this year. Meeting the athletes and their families, and seeing what the Special Olympics means to them, is worth every frozen second.
Bonus Questions
If you could add any one full-time position to your budget with no questions asked, what would it be?
A barista ... the coffee here is terrible.
What format does not exist that should? Would it work?
All TV themes. It wouldn't work, but I'd love it ... "Charles in charge of our days and our nights...."
What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?
I would either still be teaching golf (impossible now with the tattoos) or be a wine sommelier. I do enjoy the grape.
What was the first song or full-length release you purchased?
The Muppets Movie soundtrack on 8 track. Rainbow Connection still makes me cry.
What other stations and markets do you like to keep track of?
St Louis, San Francisco, Chicago
Who is your best friend in the business?
Chris Lycholat, best producer on the planet.
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