10 Questions with ... DC

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• * WDAQ/Danbury, weekends (2004-2005)
• * WILI/Willimantic, APD/nights/imaging (2005-2007)
• * WKSS/Hartford, Weekends (2007-2009)
• * WPKF/Poughkeepsie, MD/afternoons/Imaging (2007-2009)
• * WBLI/Long Island, weekends (2009-2010)
• * WSPK/Poughkeepsie, weekends (2009-2010)
• * Premiere Radio Networks/New York, producer (2010-2010)
• * WWYZ/Hartford, nights (2010-present)
• * WKSI/Winchester, PD/afternoons (2010-present)

Have also been heard at WKCI/New Haven and WFKS/Jacksonville

1) How would you describe your first radio gig?

My first night of my internship was on a rainy night. I was put in a shopping cart in the middle of a busy intersection in town with an umbrella and did drops. Radio hazing ... good times! Later I dressed up as a kangaroo and my first paycheck was 30-something bucks.

2) What led you to a career in radio?

Working at a store in the mall one day, listening to a customer complain about a crappy product we sold her, and thinking to myself "What is this lady talking about?" And more importantly, "Is this really it?"

3) Are you wearing more "hats" than you have in the past?

I'm a one-man radio station. On-air, program, imaging, website, promotions, music, production, tracking. I'm tired from writing that sentence, but I love it.

4) What is your favorite part of the job?

Getting a listener to laugh or having a listener call up and comment on what I just said. Also, FREE STUFF! I have Kiss Koozies ... anyone want one?

5) What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?

I fall into my own ethnic stereotype because I'm really a fourth-degree black belt.

6) Could you give us a little insight into your on air staff?

Mornings are Ace & TJ out of Kiss in Charlotte and the ratings have been increasing each book. With proper promotion through the dayparts and better online exposure, I expect them to continue increasing as we move on. Ryan Seacrest is my midday guy. This guy named DC in the afternoons; between you and me, he is kind of a tool but I enjoy his interaction with the listeners. JoJo (PD/Chattanooga) OWNS nights. JoJo used to work here; he knows the market, and has helped me settle into the programming chair.

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

Always loved Bubba the Love Sponge. He was kind of the reason I wanted to do radio. I enjoyed the fact he could entertain, but also do a great job debating with a listener.

8) What is it about our industry that keeps you wanting to do it for a living?

Getting paid for the gift of gab, plus what else am I going to do ... manual labor? That's funny.

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

A hard work ethic really does pay off and things do happen for a reason.

10) What advice you would give people new to the business?

Network! Network! Network! You'd be surprised that "who you know" can play a huge factor in your career. Also, don't let being on the radio make you cocky for two reasons: 1) It can give you a bad rep; and 2) it's just radio.

What's the best sweeper/liner you've ever heard?

It was a night show imaging piece at a #1-rated "work station" -- "Danbury's #1 radio station before 7PM, you're listening to...."