10 Questions with ... Ron Chavis

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I'll just quote from my website: "Ron Chavis is a freelance Radio and TV Commercial Producer / Director / Writer / Performer with an impressive client history. Ron has received both the Silver Microphone and Telly Awards.

Ron's radio history spans three decades, and includes #1 ratings as show host at major-market FMs such as: WKLS/Atlanta, KZOK/Seattle, WAMO/Pittsburgh and KRNB/Dallas.

In 1997, Ron founded the advertising/multi-media production group, Chavis Sterling Media Partners, before returning to radio in Dallas, in 2006 at Service Broadcasting.

Ron began performing simultaneously at Cumulus Media Network in 2009, where he served as Radio Host and voice-imaging artist on over 100 stations in the USA on their Westwood One Radio Network. Ron's writing skills came into play when he quadrupled Westwood's "The Touch Radio" Social Media participation, after assuming the responsibility in 2014."

Ron's radio career began at ABC's WDVE/Pittsburgh, which is also the city where he held his first job in TV, on the set of PBS's Mister Rogers.

1) Can you tell us how you have been able to work in so many different formats?

It's all about the listener. Human beings share common feelings, interests and desires, no matter the music. As a show host, I've tried to get to the heart of people as best I can, and taking it to a level that's just a little "bigger than life." This should be every personality's goal.

2) How do you see the future of Internet radio?

It's hard to overstate the impact of the demise of "Live 365" and platforms like it. These events have had a crushing impact on folks who enjoyed the freedom to create and listen to independent Internet stations, operated at affordable prices. In a world where broadcast radio and ALL television is dominated by a few major corporations, the sudden disappearance of over 5,000 "voices" using the Live 365 platforms is a solemn omen. In fact, it's like something out of "The Omen." This is all a setup to the importance of connect car and Internet radio. But there are operators out here trying to rearrange and survive.

3) What surprises you about radio these days?

Too much creative control in the hands of too few.

4) How do you think this should be addressed?

A return at local broadcast outlets to use of research methodologies as tools, rather than strict, applicative dogma. If I ruled the world, local radio would be very locally insightful and CREATIVE in every respect ... including music "programming" and especially radio host performance. But ... I don't.

5) Are you interested in working in radio again?

That depends. The idea of picking up and moving to another city is very precarious now, compared to just 10 years ago. I'm out on that one. I love my life in Dallas. I can't thank Service Broadcasting's Hyman Childs enough, for inviting me here back in 2006. On another note, let me express my gratitude to Carl Anderson, Mike Love and Hollywood Hernandez for introducing me to the world of voicetracking and nationally syndicated radio at (then) Citadel Broadcasting starting in 2009. I miss performing radio as a craft, and I'd jump at the chance to voicetrack any format within my expertise. For a fair price. Thank God, I'm at a place where I can refuse work that would not bring me a great deal of joy to perform.

6) During your long career, who stands out as the most insightful mind in Radio?

Dwight Douglas.

7) What are the primary keys to becoming a successful radio host?

• Talent (It used to be a prerequisite.)
• Repeated exposure behind the mic.
• Positive relationships inside the industry.

8) How do you advise talent currently working who fear for their jobs?

First, congratulations on reaching an insightful concern. My answer, in short is, lean on the talents that brought you to employment in radio to create outside money-making possibilities. The "cheese" is moving faster than ever. Always value family over fleeting fame, and your plans will come along naturally. Last: Angels never retire: In fact, one has always been watching over you, or you'd never have made money so easily as in radio in the first place.

9) What would you say to great Radio Talents who have been fired for seemingly arbitrary reasons?

Well ... First I'd say, if you love what you do, keep at it. It saddens me that so many tremendous talents I've known over the years have quit radio due to bad people and experiences. It'll dog you forever if you leave. And it hurts the public really, when folks with a true love of people and proclivity as talent, are replaced by power-driven wanna-bees who somehow thrive on mostly just a penchant for furthering themselves. You notice, they seem to multiply like rabbits. How many of us have heard, "We're letting you go because you don't fit the direction we're now going." The translation is often, "I've never liked you as a person, and this is my first best chance to deliver a dagger to your soul." Don't be bitter, inasmuch as you can help it. And don't quit the business forever.

Let me tell you in dead earnestness ... and looking back through a 40-year-deep rearview mirror ... I can assure you that these prophetic words are true for all people of good heart: "Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all." Remember, the few like you who have not sold their soul are the only reason anything worth saying or hearing gets said.

10) Do you have a favorite radio memory?

Seattle 1978, a fellow jock left a side of Hendrix playing, while he took the elevator down six flights to get burger. He forgot his keys. A photo turned up on the front page of the paper next day, because he called the fire department, who sent a truck so he could climb the ladder to the studio window.