10 Questions with ... Dave "Boomer on the Radio" Mazur

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• 2001-2004 104.9 THE X, WXRX/Rockford (weekends/part-time swing)
• 2004 95.9 THE RIVER, WERV/Aurora-Chicago (weekends/part-time swing)
• 2004-2005 Y103 WSOY/Decatur, IL ( nights/afternoons/Production Director)
• 2005 959 THE RIVER, WERV/Aurora-Chicago (weekends/part-time swing)
• 2005 1037 KISS FM, WXSS/Milwaukee (part-time/swing)
• 2005-2006 STAR 104, WRTS/Erie (APD/nights)
• 2006-present 925 KISS FM, WVKS/Toledo (nights/afternoons/APD/MD)
• 2009-present 979 KISS FM, WFKS/Jacksonville (voicetracked/weekends)

1) How would you describe your first radio gig?

Freaking sweet, but I was nervous every time I cracked the mic. But PD Jim Stone was awesome ... one of the best guys I've ever worked for. He coached me along and calmed me down. And he gave me the best advice anyone could give someone young in the business, "Have fun and don't F*ck Up." And that's what I did, and still do to this day.

I loved every minute I spent at that station. I lived in the Chicago suburbs. I drove 100 miles each way to do a weekend overnight shift at WXRX in Rockford, IL. At the time they were still playing CDs and taking calls with a reel-to-reel. It was radio how it's supposed to be -- running the board taking calls and jocking CDs. It was everything as a kid I thought radio was ... pure awesomeness.

2) What led you to a career in radio?

I grew up in Chicago. There is no better radio in the country. That market defines radio to me. Growing up, I was exposed to the best of the best of the best: Larry Lujack, Dick Biondi, Eddie and Jobo, Lou Brutus when he was on Rock 1035, George McFly, Alan Kabel on the old Z95, Fred Winston, Scott Childers, Patty Haze. I could sit here all day and list off who kept me glued to the radio as a kid. All those people sounded like they were having so much fun, their interaction with the audience, their passion ... everything made it sound larger than life to me. I fell in love with it.

3) How would you describe the radio landscape in your market?

Toledo is very competitive from where I sit. We have the monster Cumulus Country K100 that seems to dominate. On the Top 40 front, there's us at KISS ... WTWR and a couple of Rhythmic stations that I have to pay attention to, too. There is an AC battle with 1015 The River and Star. And with this being the Rust Belt and a Rock town, we have WIOT, which rules as well.

4) What makes your station unique? How would you compare it to other stations you've worked at?

We have Ryan Seacrest in middays. I don't know why that guy feels like he's so important that he can't pick up after himself when he's done with his lunch. There are crumbs everywhere.

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

Yes, I'm wearing more hats than I have in the past. It's Radio in 2010. I think every person in this industry is wearing more hats than they were in the past. But you know what? I really don't care, I'm having fun. So it doesn't feel like I'm wearing these hats. It gives me an opportunity to be more hands-on with what's going on with the station ... kind of a freakish control thing going on. That said, I would love to have a bigger staff and take some of the hats off, allowing our staff to concentrate on some of the smaller things to make our station better.

6) What is your favorite part of the job?

Easy ... people. In this business you get to meet all kinds of people from all walks of life, and even though you might not want to meet some of those people its always good for show prep for another day. If you don't love talking to people, there is no reason for you to be doing this, because it's the connection with the audience that makes an on-air personality successful.

7) What is the most challenging part of the job?

Dealing with Ryan Seacrest. Just because he's on "American Idol" doesn't mean he has to have a rule about not talking to him in the hallways. He's in Toledo, just like the rest of us.

8) What's the coolest promotion you've been involved with recently?

We recently had some tornados come through the area and a few people were killed. We were able to get Toledo's "American Idol" finalist Crystal Bowersox to autograph a guitar and we auctioned it off for over $3,000. And our morning show host Andrew Z organized a night where a large number of restaurants in the market donated a portion of that night's proceeds to the American Red Cross victim's fund. We raised a lot of money and helped a lot of people right here in our backyard.

9) What's the coolest promotion you've EVER been involved with?

At 959 The River in the Chicago suburb,s we did a forced listening promotion called "Batteries Not Included." We gave away electronics for the holidays. It was a simple promotion where the batteries on the station would die out and the music would slow down like someone clicked off a turntable and the listeners had to call in when they heard it happen and they'd get hooked up with radios, TVs, etc. It was simple, but I really thought the concept was fun and new and I loved the production elements that went along with it.

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

I have several... Grooves on 987 Amp Radio in Detroit and Big Boy or Chunky, depending if you're listening to Amp or Now. These guys always bring something extra to their show with how they perform on the air. At home in Chicago, I love Drex in the Morning. That show connects with their audience perfectly. His content is compelling and controversial, and it makes people who listen to that show talk. I like Silly Jilly down in Houston. Strong female night jocks are few and far between. Top 40 at night is male-dominated and Jilly kicks all the guys' asses at night. Speaking of strong female night jocks, Heather Storm at Kiss in Appleton is an up-and-comer who programmers need to pay attention too.

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

I may look like a big bumbling oaf, and act like a six-year-old on the air, but one summer in college I worked at this huge fancy liquor and wine store and I have acquired a knowledge of fine wine. So don't buy anything over 18 bucks a bottle, unless it's Cakebread Merlot. That's worth every penny. And if you want to know what to pair with your Riesling, hit me up on Facebook.