10 Questions with ... Danny T

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Demo:

In my sophomore year of college at Eastern Illinois University, I reached out to the campus radio station, Hitmix 88.9 WEIU. I knew radio was something I've always try out, and Hitmix allowed students to be on-air pretty much from the beginning (there was one semester of training, where you had to get your feet wet by working on an online station). After my first year on-air, I knew this is what I wanted to pursue in life. I worked at the station for the next four years, and also had two Summer internships at Clear Channel/Madison (now iHeartMedia/Madison) for WZEE (Z104).

After college, I accepted a part-time promotional posistion for WZEE. I spent the Summer of 2015 there, and started for looking for on-air positions shortly after. Somehow, someway, I ended up in Vermont, a state I had never once been to, and a state I didn't know anything about. I accepted a part-time position for WEZF (Star 92.9) in November 2015, working primarily weekends, fill-in and running the board for live remotes. I also worked a little bit with the sister station WCPV (101.3 ESPN) filling in for various Sports Talk shows. After a year there, I got a call from Ben Hamilton, the PD for WXXX (95 Triple X), offering me the nights position. I accepted it and for the last 16 months, I've been Danny T. And I've loved every second of it.

1. How would you describe your first radio gig?

So the great part about HitMix was how much freedom I was given. Besides a weather break every hour, I was given full control of my show (minus the music). Through trial and error, I was able to find out what works. And more importantly, I was able to find out what absolutely does not work (like the time I talked about a high school chess tournament for two minutes. Facepalm.) But making these kind of mistakes helped shape my on-air personality today. College radio was not only fun, but also perfect for working out the kinks before I went full-time.

Plus it was really awesome when someone would request Lynard Skynard "Free Bird," and I would have nine minutes to go to the bathroom. I definitely miss that.

2. Are you wearing more "hats" than you have in the past?

Without a doubt. People outside of radio are always shocked when I tell them everything I do. But working in radio is all about juggling, and I think I've gotten pretty good at it. Do a talk break, turn off the mic and run into the other room, load in elements for the next day's morning show, run into another room and start loading up national commercial spots, run back into the studio just in time to jingle into the next song. Rinse and repeat.

Also, some of the projects I've had to do for work kind of came up on accident. For example, I mentioned to my boss that the station website could use an update. He said, "Okay, go for it. Let's see what you can do." I'm glad he put so much trust in me, and I think it (the new website) turned out alright.

3. What is your favorite part of the job?

It has to be the contests. When you pick a winner and you hear them say, "I've had the worst day, and now this just makes me feel so much better, thank you." That's pretty rewarding. To bring happiness to some someone by giving them money, tickets, a trip somewhere, or whatever. That's what I look forward to the most.

4. What is the most challenging part of the job?

The hours. Not so much how many I work, but rather when I work. Doing nights has really changed my daily schedule. I mean, I've gone to bed around the same time every night for basically my entire life. Now that's all changed. My on-air shift doesn't get done until midnight, and sometimes I have to work out after my shift and eat dinner. So I'll get to bed around 3 or 4 some nights, (which is around the time that the morning show gets up!). It was a big transition, and I'm still working on perfecting my schedule.

5. What artist would we be surprised to find on your personal playlist?

The biggest thing I get ragged on by my friends is my love for disco. I don't care who I'm talking to at a bar, if Earth Wind and Fire comes on, sorry, I'm going to start dancing. I could listen to them all day.

6. Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff and why do you like them?

Billy the Kidd on KHKS (Kiss FM/Dallas). He has incredible delivery, and it's almost like he's not even trying. I just feel like I'm hanging out with a cool dude when he's on-air. And that's how I want to be. I want to be that cool dude.

7. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?

The easy answer is my current boss. Ben Hamilton gave me my first shot at being full-time. And his coaching and attention to detail is second to none. He lets me know when I suck, and that's what I need to hear to get better. I listen to my airchecks from a year ago and I can't believe how stiff I sounded. It's a world of difference now and I owe the credit to Ben.

But I still have to give a shout-out to Jeff Owens and Rob Calhoun, who were in charge of WEIU. Without WEIU I'm not where I'm at today. Also Aaron Rogers at WZEE, and Jennifer Foxx, Slater and Eric Forand at WEZF. All of these stops have lead me to my current position, and I'm very thankful for everyone's help.

8. Do you have a favorite hobby outside of radio?

Sports was my first passion in life. I've been playing soccer my whole life, and ran track through college. My racing career may have ended, but I still dabble in coaching young athletes in hurdles. Also, I still play soccer whenever I can, and I go to as many pro games as I can. My goal is to visit every MLS stadium, and get a jersey from every team.

9. What advice would you give people new to the business?

It's really easy to make the mistake of comparing yourself to your peers. That's what I did when I graduated from EIU. It's not that I wasn't happy for my classmates when they would get full-time jobs. But at the same time I would get self-conscious and start thinking, 'Well, what are they doing that's working, and what am I doing that's not working?' What I've learned is that everyone's "big break" comes at different times. Put the work in, do the right things, and your opportunity will come.

10. What would you like to do to save radio from its "dying-industry" image?

Traditional radio was supposed to die with the invention of TV. It was supposed to die with the invention of satellite radio. It was supposed to die with the invention of streaming. And oh look at that, radio is still here. Radio has adapted through changes, and will need to continue to adapt. So we have to answer the question, how is listening to radio going to be better than other sources of entertainment? I think more listener interaction, bigger and better contests, and playing the best music is the short answer.

What was your last non-industry job?

I've gotta give a plug for my pizza pals. I still work the occasional weekend at Ramunto's Brick Oven Pizza in Williston (home of the Cal-Mungo Challenge), and back when I was in Madison I worked for The Roman Candle in Fitchburg. Everyone loves pizza, and nothing beats these two places. Trust me, I would know.