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10 Questions with ... Steve Gomez
July 12, 2005
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NAME:Steve GomezPOSITION:Morning Show HostSTATION:KHTN (Hot 104.7)MARKET:Modesto/MercedCOMPANY:Buckley BroadcastingBORN:Stockton, CARAISED:Stockton, CA
Please outline your radio career so far: (station/date, station/date, etc.)
I started out as an Intern at KHTK (Sports 1140) in SACRAMENTO. Then I got hired as a part-time Street Teamer for KSFM in FEBRUARY 2000. I went on to be Promotions Coordinator about six months later. KSFM PD BYRON KENNEDY let me start rockin' the mic during mixshows. After that it was off to KWIN-KWNN/STOCKTON-MODESTO for overnights. After doing that for about three months I was moved to Nights/Imaging Director. Then I got fired about a year and a half after moving to nights (after I gave them the best numbers they had at nights in two years...but I'm not bitter). RENE ROBERTS was kind enough to take me off the beach 2 weeks later to handle Afternoons here at KHTN (HOT 104-7). About a year later he moved me to Mornings.
1) What was your last non-Industry job?
I worked for a grocery store in SACRAMENTO called "WINCO". To this day whenever I'm in shopping I still get the urge to straighten out products in the aisles. Oh, and if you're ever there, "I have a 90 on checkstand 5" over the intercom it means the register on that checkstand has become too full of money and a manager has to come take it out.
2) What got you interested in Radio?
I originally started out to get into Sportscasting. Then I got into music radio and got hooked. Five years later here I am. Sports Radio is something I would like to get back into later in my career. I'd love to have my own call in show. Then I can yell at people who have bad opinions or comments.
3) What's the highlight of your career radio to date?
I hate to sound cliché, but getting the opportunity to do mornings. I think every jock aspires to do mornings in their careers. I'm one of the lucky ones who was given the chance.
4) You've been doing mornings at KHTN. What has been the biggest adjustment from afternoons?
Besides having to get used to waking up at 4am? Prepping and getting three different personalities to mesh. In other dayparts it's just you and the listener. In running a morning show I have to manage three totally different personalities.
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5) It's 11:45 on a Saturday night in MODESTO...where do we go to find you?
In the mix at EL PALOMAR in MODESTO. (If you're in the area come check me out!)
6) Tell us a bit about the rest of your morning crew?
IZZY REAL is one of the...no IS the wittiest person I know. Some of the jokes he comes with on the spot are hilarious. The guy has had me in tears. ALEXIA is the voice of the demo. She is a twenty-something Hispanic female who has an active nightlife. How she does it, I'm not sure, but she does. She is invaluable because she can give me insight into the minds of other females in our demo. Plus she's kind of funny, too....sometimes.
7) Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully programming my own Top 40 or Top 40/Rhythmic. I'm thirty now and I will tell you, I don't want to be a thirty-five year old jock in this format. I know a lot of people might disagree but If you ask me, Top 40 is for younger jocks. Once you stop doing the things your listener does, stop listening to the same music, stop watching the same movies, you lose touch with your audience. Then you can't relate and that will kill your ratings.
8) Who do you consider to be your mentor(s)?
DOUG PARKER taught me everything he knew about Promotions. I have yet to learn something new from someone else about radio marketing. BYRON KENNEDY probably doesn't realize how much I learned from him. I am the jock I am today from aircheck meetings with him. Sad thing is he probably doesn't remember who I am. It's all good, though. THE LATIN RASCAL taught me how to work the crowds at clubs. Sad thing is he probably doesn't remember who I am. It's all good, though. RENE ROBERTS is still coaching me on mornings. It's funny, most of the stuff I've learned from people I've done so by observing. I wasn't that annoying persistant part-timer always asking questions (not that there's anything wrong with that). I also learned how to do stuff just by doing it. I taught myself how to produce spots and do imaging.
9) Taking a look at your career to date...has radio been everything you thought it would be?
Honestly I really didn't have any expectations. I wasn't sure what I was getting into. I wasn't one of those groupie kids who dreamed of growing up to be a DJ. I will say it's everything people in this business have told me it is.
10) Sushi & sake or Beer & pizza?
Beer and pizza. Then hopefully more beer. I'm a guy man. Plus I'm from south STOCKTON. There's not a lot of sushi places down there. But if you want a good burrito, I know the spot.
Bonus Questions
If you were to leave Radio today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?
NBA Superstar! I wish I was a little bit taller. I wish I was a baller! They have the life. Millions of dollars...women...cars...cribs...don't have to wait in line anywhere.
What's your dream market?
Sacramento! You listening BYRON? TOMMY DEL RIO? I am a huge SACRAMENTO KINGS fan. And despite what you might have heard, SAC is no cow town. There's tons of nightlife, great restaurants, museums and art centers. Plus a lot of family activities.
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