10 Questions with ... Mike Jackson (The Mayor Mike Jax)

NAME:Mike Jackson (The Mayor Mike Jax) POSITION:PD/MD STATION:WYPW Power 95.7 MARKET:South Bend, IN COMPANY:Talking Stick BORN:Pittsburgh, PA RAISED:Pittsburgh, PA

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

College Radio since I was 16, intern at WAMO, WJHT, State College, PA, WYPW South Bend, IN

1. What was your last non-Industry job?

Before fulltime radio I shot video for local TV affiliates, does that count? I was the man at KFC growing up.

2. Why Radio?

Music, Music Music. I finally found a job where reading every Source, Blaze, XXL and Vibe magazine pays off. I love music and now as a PD it's translated into having a serious respect for the music.

3. What's the first thing you do when you walk into your office in the morning?

Update my morning shows promos for Big Boy's Neighborhood and send out a Tweet, of course.

4. What animal would best describe you as a person and why?

I think a giraffe, because I try to check everything out with a good view, before jumping in.

5. Most of what people know of South Bend centers on Notre Dame University. What

about South Bend would probably surprise most people unfamiliar with the city?

Well, Notre Dame is not a big school and this isn't a college town. ND is a private school and very separate from the community. They had Common come and perform and I found about it long afterwards. South Bend is a very blue collar area. The mobile home industry is huge here. When you see an RV driving on the road, chances are it was made in nearby Elkhart, IN. They also make the military issue Hummer here in town.

6. You've been at Power for quite some time as an air personality and now you're the PD. Since becoming the PD how has your daily schedule changed the most?

Well we're only 4 years old and I've been here for 3 of them. Um thank the lord for voicetracking. I would never get anything done. I'm live for the PM drive everyday but with my air shift being 2pm to 7 it's hard to fit it all in. A 12 hour day is typical because things happen during my shift that I can't get done unless I'm here long after my shift.

I'm constantly on our site updating the content and giving people a reason to come back to www.power957.com My focus is on our Web site and morning show. I want our morning show (Big Boy's Neighborhood) to sound as much a part of the station as all the other day parts. The Web is key. We're small market but broadcast worldwide!

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

Michael Newman, he's our consultant and he's constantly challenging me to be better and think bigger. Chuck Wright (DJ Manic, KVPW) he was able to make big market ideas work in a small market without half of the resources, but still packed a punch. Pat Cerullo (DJ Grooves, WIHT) his work ethic is insane and he's a great night jock that thinks like a PD.

8. If you could add 30 minutes of solitude in your office everyday...how do you think you would spend it?

Show Prep, and then researching promotions.

9. If you could pick a perfect vacation spot, where would it be?

Um...Vegas pretty much has it all.

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

Lawyer. I'd probably go back to school. Penn State was great, but you have to have more nowadays. One degree isn't enough.

You are driving across country. Each night in your hotel room you have to watch the same 2 TV shows (different episodes each night).

What 2 shows would they be? The Office, that's my weekly LOL right there. Keeping Up With The Kardashians, cool family and nice eye candy.

Who is on the air for you at Power?

Big Boy's Neighborhood is our syndicated morning show.

Our midday jock is Alicia. She is a former intern, turned roadie, turned jock. The minute I knew I needed someone I checked my e-mail and she wrote me asking pointers on what she should include in her Youtube video submission to a station down south that was looking for it's next on-air personality. She assumed we didn't have anything opening up anytime soon and was ready to pick up and leave everything to follow her dream. I immediately told her about the opening. I wanted someone with that much enthusiasm on my team!

I am on afternoons with our night guy Big Slim weekdays at 5pm for our Traffic Jam.

Nights, Big Slim came to us from Minneapolis and got his feet wet at B96. By coming here, he wanted more and boy has he gotten it. He has fit in just fine and he thrives on getting out in the community. His name has become synonymous with the station in a very short time and I think it will be a huge part of his success. He has a lot of energy and he gives it every night.

We also have DJ No Sleep and Toby T who help us out with swing shifts and weekends. They are both huge assets to me and are poised to take the next step upon request.

I couldn't ask for a better team. We're constantly relearning everything in this new economic climate and trying to keep our audience entertained and informed.