10 Questions with ... Spence

NAME:Spence POSITION:3RD Chair/Third-Rate No-Talent, Ass Clown, Sidekick, Dancing Monkey STATION:98.5 KLUC MARKET:VEGAS (No, not Sin City or Lost Wages or Vegas Baby...just 'Vegas') COMPANY:CBS RADIO BORN:SPOKANE, WA RAISED:THE G.V. ummm...GRASS VALLEY, CA

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Broadcasting school in SACRAMENTO followed by a quick tour of CALIFORNIA's least desirable cities including BURNEY, YUBA CITY, and CHICO...first morning gig at KYKA in the PALM SPRINGS of WASHINGTON (YAKIMA)...got fired and headed to KMPS/SEATTLE and finally a full-time prod gig at KISS 106.1 in SEATTLE...on to the same gig at KLUC in VEGAS...switched over to mornings in 2002 and have been on THE ZOO ever since.

1. What was your last non-Industry job?

While working part-time at KMPS in SEATTLE, I tried to pay the bills by pimping computers at FUTURE SHOP, sort of like a Canadian version of BEST BUY. I lasted two weeks. I had to wear a tie...I hated that f'n job.

2. Why Radio?

Sitting by the radio at 10 years old in SAN JOSE listening to KFRC. The weekend jock did a contest involving writing a poem about the 49ERS playing the COWBOYS in the NFC Championship. I called and did my thing. When he played my prose on the air I nearly flipped out. A few weeks later I received my prize; a 49ERS NFC Championship pennant. No shit, I knew right then I wanted to be in radio.

3. Do you remember the last time you got the "get a real job" speech from your folks?

Mom never actually gave the speech to me. I think she still believes that I could actually be President. My grandpa, however, was different. When I told him, in high school, that I wanted to be in radio he sternly said, "There's no money in radio. Get into TV." He was right, of course. TV? Are you kidding me? Not unless I make it onto COPS or some local news story involving a tornado and a trailer park.

4. What's the highlight of your radio career to date?

We heard a parody song that AJ's Playhouse (CHANNEL 93-3/SAN DIEGO) did about EMINEM. "Won't The Real Slim Shady Please Shutup!" They had an EMINEM sound alike. We modified the lyrics, wrote some new ones and had a girl from a local band rap it like she was CHRISTINA AGUILERA. Damn, if that thing didn't circle the globe. TOKYO, BERLIN, LONDON...number one requested track in NYC. Then, the real AGUILERA mentioned it on MTV while rumors were floated that EM might sue us.

5. What's your favorite part of your duties on the morning show?

Besides, of course, working with CHET & LAUREN, I just love the creative freedom I have, whether it's phone scams, parody songs, parody spots or original songs. CHET really gives me free reign to write and produce stuff for the show. Only 12% of it's funny...but my goal for '08 is to get to 13%.

6. Has a celebrity ever shocked the Zoo with a comment or action?

If you visit VEGAS very often you see the big billboards for DANNY GANS. DANNY does impersonations...you know, MICHAEL JACKSON, GEORGE BURNS, all that shit. He's never participated with the station on anything community related and he even used to be CHET's neighbor back in the day. So, DANNY has become somewhat of a punch line. We had PENN GILLETTE on and PENN went off on DANNY. PENN's rant went on for 10 minutes. In his tirade he said, "If you want proof that there is NO GOD...it's DANNY GANS." Then, in reference to the SIEGFRIED & ROY tiger attack PENN asked, "Why couldn't that tiger have gone over one more theatre and ate DANNY GANS."

7. Who do you consider to be your mentor(s)?

I worked for a guy named DON SCHRACK when I first got into radio. He was a news/talk guy that really was the first person to really believe in me. I gotta throw my PD CAT THOMAS in there. We get into some straight up knockdown drag outs but they're always fueled by the passion of wanting to do better shows, and better radio. Outside of radio it has to be my wife. If I was to write, "She makes me want to be a better man," would that be gay? The fact is, I run every issue, idea and complaint through her. She gives me perspective and focus!

8. Do you stream the morning show?

Yup....at www.kluc.com.

9. What's the biggest difference in the production of the morning show now as opposed to say, 2002?

First off, I'm not the host. I was back in '02 and I just plain sucked at it. We have a great group and each person knows their roles and responsibilities. Each person is dedicated to the success of the show and the station. So, ideas are always coming from all sides. Everyone carries their weight and has passion about what we do. We meet pre and post and plan and plan and plan...Possibly more than anything else...I just suck less.

10. If you were to leave Radio today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?

Songwriter. I play the piano and guitar poorly but I love to write. (www.myspace.com/michaelnofsinger) We also have an occasional contributor to the show named Angry Dick that sounds a lot like me. (www.myspace.com/angrydickvegas) that writes stuff for the show. Writing fulltime would be a dream.

A freak gravitational shift has added three hours to everyday. What would you do with those extra three hours?.

I know "sleep" is an overused answer...but I would...I might say "sex" but my wife would probably still say "no" so that would be three more hours of frustration that I just don't need in my life.