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10 Questions with ... Shady Spencer
May 6, 2008
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NAME:Shady SpencerPOSITION:PD/MD/morningsSTATION:WNHT WiLD 96.3MARKET:Fort Wayne, INCOMPANY:Summit City RadioBORN:Terre Haute, IndianaRAISED:Venice, Florida
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
WXKB/Ft. Myers (Sept 11, 2003--Sept 30, 2005)
WNHT/Fort Wayne (Oct 1, 2005--Present)1. What was your last non-Industry job?
Well, I have been a mixer for over 10 years, starting in Germany while I was in the Army. I've done the bartending/club manager thing and I was a singer/M.C. for the United States Army European Band and Chorus while in the Army, touring Europe singing and dancing. Don't laugh! Yes, I was in a show choir.
2. Why Radio?
I grew up listening to Bubba the Love Sponge, and MJ & BJ on "93.3 The Power Pig" and always wanted to be that guy to make everyone laugh. After joining the Army, and having a friend that worked for AFN, mixing in some of the biggest clubs in Frankfurt, Germany, touring Europe as a singer, then seeing my first live mix show broadcast with Drew Steele and Mojo from WXKB I knew it was what I had to do.
3. Five years ago...would you have guessed Ft. Wayne, IN?
I would have never thought I would be in Indiana...PERIOD! Five years ago, I was fresh out of the Army (still in good shape), going to school fulltime, interning at the radio station, and drunk 23/7...yeah, I had to pass out for at least an hour. I'm living proof that anyone can work in radio! On a serious note I did tell my first PD, Chris Cue, that one day I would be doing his job, and he offered it to me the job for a day, and I told him, "Watch this will be me for real in five years."
4. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Well, I have a few thoughts, one I know for sure is married...I promised my fiance that we would set a date once I became a PD. Boy did that backfire. I thought I would not have to go through with it but now I'm stuck. I would like to make it to Tampa radio, maybe programming the legendary station 93.3flz which I grew up listening to.
OK now back to reality, as long as I have a job I enjoy doing then I really don't care where I am. That is the only reason I stay in radio. Once the "fun factor" is gone there is no point in doing this anymore, because the pay really SUCKS!!!!
5. What's the highlight of your radio career to date?
I haven't really had a life changing experience in radio yet. But a funny story, about Too Short!! My first week on the air here in Fort Wayne, we had a concert with Too Short. So my first live radio interview with him didn't turn out so good. He was being a real....!#$%^.....so my first question for him was, "So you have grey hair and looking old, why did you come out of retirement?" I thought I was going to be killed, if not by his crew then by my PD who was listening in on a tieline. All I remember hearing in my headphones from my PD was, "Damn, Shady just got the show cancelled.". Wow did Too Short's attitude change after that, and I got respect...then I started the real interview.. I tricked him, the mic wasn't on!
6. What's your favorite part of your duties as PD?
Favorite? I can tell you my least favorite part.....answering the damn phone. It won't stop ringing now. I actually like coaching the talents and watching them progress to being real jocks. It is great to hear someone who has no clue what to do and then mold them into being a great jock.
7. Who do you consider to be your mentor(s)?
I would have to say that my mentor is my OM, JJ Fabini. If I ever have a question about anything in radio he is always right there with a logical answer. Some of my other influences would be my first PD, Chris Cue, Drew Steele, Rob Murphy, Shannon Holly for giving me a microphone probably when she shouldn't have, Jerry Clifton, and my current consultant, Ted Bolton. And I can't forget one of my good friends, and the one I learned a lot from Mojo Wilson.
8. It's midnight on SATURDAY night in Ft. Wayne. Where do we go to find you?
Good luck finding me. If I am not mixing in a club then I hop around to all the clubs, Piere's, Duffy's, Flashbacks, Columbia Street, Legends, Thirsty Camel....I'm everywhere!!!
9. As the new PD at WNHT, What area of the station are you looking to improve?
Blowing out the staff and starting all over........II just gave the whole staff a heart attack.
The main focus is owning the streets in this market, the competition has had it on lock for a while and it is time for a change. Time to put my "Drill Sergeant" hat on and start taking care of business!
10. If you were to leave Radio today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?
I don't know if I would really want any other job.....if I didn't have to work at all that would be better. I have no problem sitting on the couch in my underwear watching TV and playing video games.
Bonus Questions
If you could pick an artist or band to perform at your wedding (and do all the traditional songs like the Chicken Dance) who would you pick?
Have you taken a look at my picture? It would have to be Eminem.
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