10 Questions with ... Mary Martin Almond aka Kayla Keys

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• My radio career is long, but I've stayed at home to be near my family. Lame, I know, but hey, what are you gonna do?
• March 1997 - September 2000: The Rebel Rocker 99X/Real Rock Radio Shreveport
• September 2002 - present: The Rock Station 99X Shreveport

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

My first job in radio was your basic overnight weekend liner jock. I will admit that I probably only got the job because my sister was the midday jock on the same station. She was absolutely my first influence. Another would be Paul Cannel. He was the PD of the station at the time, and I looked up to him. He probably wouldn't be able to remember me, but he made a tremendous impact on my radio career.

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

I was working in a pompous boutique while going to college on the path towards a Biology degree, and then I realized I hated it! I accidentally ran into the program director of the station I used to work at, and asked him if he knew where one of the guys I used to work with was. He asked me who I was and asked me to come in the next day for an interview. And that was all she wrote! That couldn't have been an accident, right?

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

Absolutely! This is a profession that I honestly LOVE. My husband is so jealous of the fact that I have a job that I honestly look forward to coming to every morning. Sure, I would have stayed in radio rather than listen to my first husband and quit for a stupid job as a sales associate at a local department store. So I got rid of him, the legal way, and returned to radio. But from that, I really learned to appreciate the career that I love.

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

I would probably be a nurse if it wasn't for radio. That is what was planned for me by my mother for many years. But who wants to deal with sick people every day? I give all the props in the world to the people like my mom who can.

5) What can we be doing with our station websites to better our stations as a whole?

It really bugs me when I hear people complain about having to maintain a website along with their radio station, but lets face it ... that's where we need to be! Your station website should absolutely be an extension of your radio station! Not just a place to find our where your station is so you can pick up a prize, websites need to reflect the mood of the station and, most importantly, be up to date! Let your websites function as the details handler, so you can be creative on-air!

6) If you could add any one full-time position to your budget with no questions asked, what would it be?

I would honestly want to add a promotions director! It is unbelievable stressful and difficult to manage being the promotions director for all six of the stations in our building as well as program the station and pull an afternoon-drive shift. I know we as an industry are wearing MANY hats, but I would like to hang up one of my hats.

7) What's the best concert you've been to so far this year and why?

Stone Temple Pilots! They did a small show at one of the casinos here in town and they were amazing. The show was right before their new album came out and it was just cool as hell to see them doing great.

8) What was the biggest gaffe you've made on air?

I was hoping no one would bring this up, but if we must ... Working the overnight shift once upon a time, I went to take a smoke break and I locked myself out of the station building at about 2a, back in the days when you had to cue up your own music. I had to go to a pay phone to call someone to open the building. All and all, 45 minutes of dead air and NO smokes!

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

We had a great idea and no follow-through with our Calendar Grams one year. We had the plan for our local Calendar girls to go to the work places of our listeners with calendars and free concert tickets! Seemed like a great idea, right? Well, all accept the fact that NONE of our Calendar Girls would ever effing show up! That kinda made the whole promotion suck.

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

I listen to them on my way to work and on my way home, and I check their website on a regular basis. I try not to react to any attacks they might make, since I want to cause a reaction and not be reactionary.

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What is the best advice you would give to young programmers/promotion people?

Know your limits and seek to surpass them. Sounds like a fortune cookie, right?

How do you market your radio station?

We are out at the local bar/venue EVERY Friday night for our local band showcase.

Of all the skills you have gained through the years, is there an area you'd like to improve?

Yes! I wish I could write the imaging for my station like I hear it in my head.

What format does not exist that should? Would it work?

Punk, Ska, Reggae. Probably not, but it would be fun as hell to listen to.

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

System of a Down - Toxicity; Shinedown - Sound of Madness; Nirvana - Nevermind; Korn - Life is Peachy; Classical Masters