10 Questions with ... Mark "Fish" Fishman

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Started WUOG (Univ. of GA.) for one night a week. I worked part-time at KMTN (Jackson Hole) starting in 1990. I took over the MD/PD reins in 1996.

1. How did you become interested in radio?

Growing up listening to Z-93 in Atlanta, I knew I wanted to be an "entertainer." My neighbor would bring his record player and case of 45s over to my house and we would play DJ and tape our "show" on a Radio Shack cassette recorder. The M & M show had a total listening audience of 3.

2. How long have you been with Chaparral in Jackson Hole?

I moved to Jackson in 1989 and began working part-time as the Sunday jock in 1990.

3. How would you describe the music on the station?

Mountain music, for a mountain lifestyle. From the classics to the Valley's Best New Music. I program KMTN as a listener, not as a program director.

4. Give us some insight in the marketplace.

Jackson Hole is a local-minded, outdoorsy-type community. It has a small town feel but because of its incredible mix of people from all over the country, it has a "sleepy" metropolitan/Western cowboy vibe. Great restaurants, two National Parks, world-class skiing, fishing and whitewater rafting, mountain biking, rodeo, snowmobiling....

5. What is your typical day like?

Well, they all start out the same with a 4:30a alarm! I'm on the air from 6-10a M-F. On Mondays, I report to the industry charts, followed by a few hours in the production studio. After that I put our syndicated shows into our system for the week. From there, I hit the streets to see my advertising clients (I have about 75) and tend to their schedules, copy changes, etc. On Wednesday and Thursdays, I take music calls from 10:30-11:30a (MST), fill out affidavits for syndicated shows, make sure we are staffed for on-air and promotional events, more production, more sales, listen to new music, make some more sales calls, and finish up with some last-minute production and sales calls.

6. What are some of your biggest challenges as an independent station?

Limited talent pool and a very small budget

7. If you could add any one full-time position to your budget with no questions asked, what would it be?

A new media/web master/full-time afternoon-drive personality/production guru

8. What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?

There are two: You can't please all the people all of the time ... and think before you speak. (The latter has seemed to help in my personal life as well)

9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without:

..........well.........

10. If you wanted to completely change careers today, what would you do?

Restaurant owner or professional baseball player

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from work?

I love to spend time with my daughter Mia (she's 7) and girlfriend Joanna. I also like to cook, nap, ski, fish, play softball, watch sports, BBQ with friends and vacation as much as possible!

Last non-industry job:

Asst Food & Beverage Director, bikini waxer at Club Med (Eleuthera, Bahamas)

First record ever purchased:

"Rumors" by Fleetwood Mac

First concert:

Journey

Favorite band of all-time:

Bob Marley & the Wailers and The Grateful Dead