10 Questions with ... Orlando

NAME:Orlando POSITION:PD/Morning Freak STATION:WLLD (WiLD 98.7) MARKET:TAMPA - ST. PETERSBURG COMPANY:INFINITY BROADCASTING BORN:GARY, IN RAISED:CHICAGO, IL

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

'91 Intern-Weekends at WFHT/Tallahassee, '94 MD-Nights then Afternoons-PD at WXSR/Tallahassee, '96 MD-Afternoons then PD at WWLD/Tallahassee. '98 MD-Afternoons then PD/Mornings here at WLLD/TAMPA

1.. What got you into radio?

I got into this business, in '91, after being hired as a stripper at the WFHT/TALLAHASSEE, Business Mgr's bachelorette party. Once they saw that this 350 lb, college kid, had no problem shaking the manparts, they let me stay.

2. To date, any regrets in your radio career?

Hell yeah! Not getting any TV's, gift cards, hookers, sensual massages, or sports trips for playing them wack-ass records!

3. Do you ever see yourself coming off the air?

I can't see it, but the audience will let me know, quickly if it's time to go. I figure I can just mosey on down the hall. There's our Smooth Jazz and Oldies format here, so TAMPA ears can still hear me for awhile. The ear hair will just get more and more gray. Ewwwww, that's a sick visual!

4. Your team at WiLD 98.7 has changed very little. What do you think keeps them close?

Everyone at WiLD doesn't wanna work at a real radio station. It's better for this motley bunch, to be at a place that plays by a strange, back-alley set of rules. Plus we believe the next person, coming in, might be more jacked up then us, so we fight to keep each other's heads in the game. Sometimes we even come around to kicking each other in the goods! Great times.

5. TAMPA, has historically been a vigorously competitive market. Is this the most ferocious battle you've seen in TAMPA?

The ferocious times have gone, and those that fought that (BJ HARRIS, DR. DAVE, DOMINO, MASON DIXON) deserve praise for one of the best radio battles in the industry. It's real p*ssy now cuz everyone's "cliqued up" with five or six other stations, so there's no brawl. You ever tried to swing, at someone, in unison, with five other people? Not as effective as poppin' somebody, in the grill, on ya own...is it?

6. Are you having fun?

I'm happier than a crackhead with cash! There are A LOT of aspects of our lives that suck, internally and ex', but don't get it twisted. What we do is much nicer than pouring concrete, or running into burning buildings. We have fun while others have jobs.

7. You're a grizzled, veteran PD now. What advice would you give a newbie when they get their first PD job?

Two things! Hire people that are better than you and don't let it change you. The things that got you the opportunity, are the things that will make you special. However, the things that got you the opportunity are 180 degrees away from every person that you need approval from.

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

Add one more to sleep total, and the other two would go to on the streets. You learn a lot just by being around, away from a desktop or phone handset.

9. Where do you go to get away from it all?

I play Texas Hold 'Em, every two weeks, and I masturbate a lot!

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

I would probably teach. I've always admired the relationship that cool teachers have with their students, and the effect that have on their futures. Plus, having control of that red pen? Whooo hooooo! Revenge bitches!!!!

In a couple sentences...what, if anything, is Radio missing right now?

Balls! Everything that made radio, RADIO, has been replaced with "...well, you know we can be sued", and "ROI" and "...let us tell you how you're gonna handle this issue" and "...what about the liability" and "HR is on line one!". We're all thieves now, cuz we steal fun every chance we get!