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10 Questions with ... JD Garfield
August 11, 2015
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I got my start as an intern at the local Country station. Ever see those CD storage things that basically take up an entire wall? We had one and I had to go though each one of those CDs and catalog them in a spiral notebook. .So, that was WIAI. I spent about five years there. I went from intern, to overnight guy, to night guy, to morning guy.
From WIAI I ventured 30 miles west to Champaign and handled nights on WEBX. It was an extreme Alternative station. I also board-op'd the morning show on our Country station, was MD for the Country station, production as assigned and imaging for WEBX. I got very little sleep that year.
I went to Sheboygan, WI to program WLKN. A couple years later I was in Bloomington, Il at WRPW/WZPW. I diid afternoons and later became PD.
Madison came next where I spent seven years at WJQM. I got promoted to OM and moved to oversee two stations for Mid-West Family Broadcasting in Springfield, MO. Missouri.
Now, I'm in the City of Trees, programming and holding down the morning show at Wild 101! #Potatoes
1. Why radio?
I originally wanted to join the military. But I have scoliosis and flat feet, so they wouldn't let me in. I'd always been fascinated by radio so I gave it a shot. 20 years later, here we are! It's been a fun ride.
2. What was the biggest change in the move from Springfield to Boise?
Mountain time. I've spent my entire life in central time zones. I had my habits down and I knew when everyone was in their office. Now, I'm an hour behind that and it's been difficult to adjust to. I'll call people at 3pm and wonder why I'm getting their voice mail. FOOL! It's only 3pm, why did you leave work already?! Oh, wait...it's 5pm there :/
3. You're getting up a little earlier now as the morning host at KWYD. Is this your first morning show run? How's it going?
I did mornings at my first gig. Word to the PDs out there; DO NOT give a 21 year old a morning show. Don't do it! I did mornings there for eight months. I was on time maybe twice. As for now, it's a lot easier in my advanced age (37). I keep retiree hours now. Dinner at 5, in bed by 8, up at 3. I gotta figure something out, though. This going to bed at 8 in the Summer has to stop. The sun is still very much up and the neighbor kids are still very much loud.
4. Are you getting a good chance to explore Idaho?
Not so much outside of Boise just yet. But, me and the lady have done a lot of really cool stuff here. If you're into torture, you can hike Table Rock and kill yourself reaching the summit to see pretty much all of Boise. The Old Idaho State Penitentiary is pretty awesome. There seems to be a micro-brewery on every corner. Lots of outdoorsy stuff to do. We're going to get some hiking gear next spring, venture out into the wild and see if we can become a statistic.
5. What would probably surprise most people about Boise?
It's friggin' COOL here. In fact, it's so cool the locals don't want word to spread about how cool it is. They LOVE the small town feel of Boise and don't want a bunch of people ruining it. Also, Napolean Dynamite...not even close.
6. What's your favorite song on the station right now?
I have to go with Big Sean "One Man Can Change The World". I love it when artists step out of their comfort zone and does something different. This is NOT a song you'd associate with Big Sean.
7. If you weren't in radio, what do you think you'd be doing professionally?
I've actually thought about this! But, I've never come to a solid conclusion. I'm sure if I left radio tomorrow, there'd be a long period of figuring stuff out. My parents were successful bar owners, so I'd probably try to get into that somehow. But, let's be honest. I work in radio and have no money to buy a bar. So, I'd need to find some investors HA! I've also been trying to get into Voice Overs, but you'd have better luck joining the KGB than getting into that field right now. Everyone wants to make that kind of money by just speaking. VO guys make absurd amounts of money...well, the big ones anyway. I'm lookin at you, Brian Lee ;)
8. Rapid fire, one sentence responses. The first thing that comes to mind:
Ugly: When someone tricks out a classic car with low pro tires and a stupid looking paint job.
Sexy: Jennifer Lawrence wearing a Bears jersey, Notre Dame hat and nothing else!
Dreams: Getting a radio gig overseas in say Ireland, Denmark or some place like that would be pretty schweet.
Nikki: Damn fine cook and infinitely patient girlfriend that supports my career.
9. If you could be on any TV reality show or game show, which would you want to be on?
What kinda question is this?! To be honest, I don't even know which ones are on anymore. I know, I know...I'm a morning guy and SHOULD know. Sorry, I don't. Tell ya what, if I could be on MTV's Real World circa 1992, that'd be pretty boss.
10. What should be legal age for?
Drinking: 13 - Europe does it right. Remove the taboo before you can no longer wrangle the young'ins.
Driving: 16 is fine. But they should make a thing that disables mobile devices in cars driven by teenagers.
Voting: 18, but you should have to display a remedial knowledge of at least three candidates. There's nothing worse than uneducated voters.
Marriage: Eh...whatever. If you're under 18 and you're 'bout dat life, do you son! As long as the parents are on board with it.
Bonus Questions
How's your golf game shaping up in Boise?
BAH! The greatest travesty against humanity right now is that I've only hit the links here ONCE! I did well, though. Shot a 42 on the front 9 and...well, what I shot on the back 9 is none of your damn business. We had beers, maybe a couple shots. Things may or may not have devolved at that point. I turned over golf cart duties.
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