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10 Questions with ... Greg Cypin
September 19, 2017
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
- KSFM/Sacramento
- KHWD/Sacramento
- KQLK/Sacramento
- KNX-A/Los Angeles
- KATY/Riverside-San Bernardino
- KHTH/Santa Rosa
- KFGY/Santa Rosa
- KUPL/Portland
- KAWO/Boise
- WKSE/Buffalo
1) How would you describe your first radio gig?
I started out on the street team at KSFM, the station I grew up listening to in my hometown Sacramento. I eventually made it on the air after somehow my PD was impressed with my first aircheck. It was 3-6a on a Sunday morning unpaid and I couldn't have been more thrilled to do it. I continued to do that for couple weeks. Luckily when they needed someone to fill in on Sunday morning, I at last got on the payroll. I couldn't believe my first paid gig in radio was on-air!
2) What led you to a career in radio?
I've just always been fascinated by it. I've been a fan of all kinds of music since I can remember and well, have always been kind of a ham, too. And as a kid, just like I'm sure just about everyone in this business did, I spent a bunch of time in my room with whatever I could find to play music on with a microphone made out of whatever (in my case, Legos) broadcasting to millions of people ... hey come on, even now don't spoil the fantasy for me.
3) What are you doing social media-wise?
Anything and everything! I'm on every social media site for both the station as well as myself -- and am always trying to learn more ways to use them. Also, they're a great way to improve ratings. Sounds obvious, but there are still people out there who don't fully appreciate how executing social media well can help your station in the ratings. Maybe somebody didn't tune in in time to catch your last break, but they're absolutely gonna check their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. Even if it's something as simple as posting something like, "Your chance at Ed Sheeran tickets is coming up today at 5:35!" Seems simple and certainly not original, but if someone out there didn't have a reason as to why they HAD TO tune in, you just gave them one. And I've seen how this works time after time.
4) "Local local local" has always been radio's mantra. How do you keep your station visible and involved in the community?
Of course, keeping it local on the air is important. But I also think some of your best tools in doing this are your social media sources. Since I've been in Buffalo, I've been attending all kinds of local festivals, sports games, shows, etc., and posting about them on our socials. The result has been everyone tells me how much they love how I'm embracing the local community... although, to tell you the truth, here in Buffalo, that's not exactly tough to do. Most of the stuff going on here are things that I always would've jumped at the chance to go to anyway.
5) What is your favorite part of the job?
Right now in my career, it has to be working with my favorite format again. Now don't get me wrong ... I'm absolutely thankful for the opportunities I have been given and the people who gave me the chance to be on their radio stations over the past two years. I don't care what your situation is; anyone who's lucky enough to have someone say, "I'll pay you if you talk on my radio station," is a lucky person. But right now it's just so cool that talking about the music I love is what I do in work meetings again. And to have record reps sending me the new Ed Sheeran, Rihanna, or whoever so I hear it first is just such a blessing and something I can't believe I get to do.
6) What's the coolest promotion you've been involved with recently?
I'd have to say our Kiss the Summer Hello concert. Now you may have heard that we had some not-so-slight weather problems that put a serious delay on our show. But I was so impressed by the way our whole team stepped up and rose to this crazy challenge and made what turned out to still be an amazing event happen anyway. And once the show got going it was such a blast. I had trouble getting to sleep that night because I was so pumped.
7) What artist would we be surprised to find on your personal playlist?
Well, besides the occasional Sinatra and Tony Bennett, probably a group called Les Nubians. If you've never heard of them they're two French girls who sing some amazing R&B. I have no idea what they're actually saying, but they sound great.
8) Who would be a "dream guest" to have on your show?
Probably Bruno Mars. People can go ahead and disagree all they want, but he might be the most talented artist around right now. Also Chris Rock or Dave Chappelle. I've always been a huge comedy fan, especially of those two, and I can't tell you how psyched I'd be to talk with one of them.
9) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?
Sit down, be humble. I unfortunately have run into some pretty big egos in my career and promised myself I would never be like that. I just always found it unnecessary and quite frankly, lame. There's no need to treat people like that and it's like some people haven't realized, unless you're a Seacrest or Stern, you're NOT a celebrity. You're a regular person who was lucky enough to get a cool job. And what's funny is, it's usually not the people who have really "made it" in this business with the egos. I was having lunch with a record rep recently who has met way more radio people than I have and he basically confirmed that. He was like, "Yeah man, it's always the losers who do that."
10) What advice would you give people new to the business?
Just remember that in the end, it only takes one person to recognize what you can bring to the table and give you the break you need so you can build the career you want. If you check out my computer, you'll still find countless cover letters and other things that I put together for jobs I didn't get. So even though you may get told "no" a thousand times, in the end it only takes one person to give you your shot.
Bonus Questions
For someone vacationing in your market, what one thing would you say they "must see?"
It's Buffalo, you gotta get some wings! Duffs, Anchor Bar, and sooooo many other places here. But do NOT call them "hot wings" or even "Buffalo wings." They're just "wings." Found that out the hard way.
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