10 Questions with ... Gerren 'Big Homie' Evans

1) Why did you pick radio as a career?

Honestly, I didn't choose radio; it chose me. I am the eldest of five siblings. There was a point in my life where I was very frustrated with the "struggle" or the challenges with growing up in a single-parent home, not just financially but emotionally and mentally. My mother worked hard and loved us, but there was still something I was missing. Now that I'm a father, I know what it was. That male guidance/leadership or as some may say, "the male structure."

I've always been smart, so when I learned I could unenroll myself out of high school, I did just that. I was going to pledge my life to the streets that my cousins talked about and I heard songs that seemed to describe my level of frustration at the time. Because I was no longer in school, my mother kicked me out of the house. I bounced around among my family and friends, and even slept in cars. I started getting into trouble and going downhill fast.

One day, while working at Burger King and petty hustling anything thing I could get my hands on, I had an idea to work for a radio station. Where did this idea come from? I have no clue because my mother was a secretary at a law office and everyone else, except my uncle who was serving 13 years in the federal penitentiary, worked normal, blue-collar jobs. I found the WHTA (Hot 97.5) and WVEE (V103) websites and submitted intern applications. I then immediately forgot about them and went on my way.

After my younger brother got into some trouble, it made me realize that I needed to get my lift back on track. I enrolled in adult high school and within a year had earned my diploma in 2008. Meanwhile, my mother would tell me that some radio station had been calling for me. I thought nothing of it, having forgotten that I had applied for an internship.

I enrolled in Benedict College and while home on break (my mother let me move back in), I got a call from DJ Ralow Smith at WHTA (Hot 97.5) about the internship I had applied for over a year ago. Little did I know this was the first act of God in my radio career. Interning made me crave this radio thing; I started loving it and would do anything to be around the studio. Vets used to joke and say, "He's gotten bit by the radio bug; look at his eyes." So, every break while kids were going to destinations like Cancun, I was running back home to go intern and satisfy this new hunger I had. From that day I knew radio was going to be in my life for a long time.

2) Is it a passion for you?

Yes, radio is a passion. As I travel through this journey learning more and more, I find myself having to learn how to balance radio with all other aspects of my life. It's more than just talking on a microphone. It's the look in listeners' eyes when they meet the voice that gets them through their day. It's the excitement in kids' voice when they yell, "Hey Big Homi,e" or "I love my Big Homie," or they say he came to my school or he is my football coach.

3) What surprised you the most once you got into this business?

That this is a business. You do so much with inspiring people and getting them to buy what you are selling, whether it be a joke or an experience you had. I had no idea that is just a small part in the business. The research put into the records added to the commercial stopsets, sponsorships, nontraditional revenue, endorsements, and show features.

4) Who did you grow up listening to a lot and why did you like them?

I remember riding to school in the mornings listening to Ryan Cameron. He was hilarious with his skits and jokes. He would do a prank phone call using an old lady voice and have me cracking up in the car. I can't forget his birthday song; it was so catchy it made you want to learn the lyrics to be cool like the morning show. Before we moved to Atlanta, we lived in Texas and Greg Street had the coolest radio intro -- especially when they said "South Dallas and Plano." I was like, "Hey, that's where I live." Plus, Greg played Mr. Big on the radio; I loved it and learned all the words to the song and thought I was the coolest in the world.

5) How do you like doing personal appearances?

I love doing personal appearances; it's vital for the jock/listener relationship. Vets say there is nothing like live radio. To me, that's what a personal appearance is ... live radio. The interaction, opportunity to meet what some consider a local celebrity, and to make a connection that is bigger than any prize you can give away.

6) Who were your influences and mentors?

There are many people I lean on to better myself as a jock and understanding radio. The two that stand out the most are Phillip March, who is the Tim Duncan of radio. He is a stickler for fundamentals such as one thought per break, writing breaks out, conversations not reading, how to use your voice to show excitement versus yelling. Al Payne is he Denzel Washington of radio. The big show is what I learned from him. Everything has to be big, from a voter registration drive to a concert broadcast. Make the most of everything you do. When you do a contest, the audio has to be big and the afterglow has to be just as big. Al taught me it's okay to believe the ratings and hype when executing your work. Meaning. you can be the Sugar Honey Ice Tea in your production and executing breaks or contest, but don't believe it beyond that.

7) If it hadn't been radio, what profession would you have chosen?

Simple ... I can't live without my radio. Honestly, I probably would be in the school system. Head chief at a school by day and football coach by night.

8) What are your hopes and dreams for the future?

I want to get into programming. In college I had to learn the programming software because the station manager didn't teach me. I learned on my own to build clocks and special features like forced elements; I really enjoyed that. Also, building the talent of tomorrow is very important as we take on new entities with social media impacting radio. It's important to include these new platforms while delivering great content.

9) How do you view the other platforms that radio includes to reach its audience?

I love them! Sometimes you must check you yourself because it does get addictive and you want to seem organic in your post and not "Doing it for the gram." Also, these days jocks are better looking than our forefathers, so we want to be seen not just heard! LOL! Seriously, inclusion is the key. We are a very visual society to the point if you don't have footage, it didn't happen. The visual platforms strengthen the listener/jock relationship and give more creativity in giveaways and presentation of events. Also, it lets the listeners feel they are a part of the jock's life.

10) What do think will be important for radio to survive in the future?

Keeping up not only with technology but the lifestyles of the demographic they cater to. For example, stations have apps now, but are they utilized to their full potential? The cellphone is a very powerful tool I feel radio has not fully tapped into. As streaming apps have changed record research by apps like Shazam and record sales with the RIAA now counting streams as album sales. Radio will have to get more interactive via use of the cellphone, which includes better station apps along with keeping the traditional roots of being the voice of the people and keeping the connection of community and music. Radio has to continue to serve its community just as much as they bring the big concerts and play the best music.

What's the funniest thing that has happened to you in radio?

I didn't know the value of a headphone adapter until I got into radio. I thought the $100 headphones were the big fish. You wouldn't believe how fast a headphone adapter would disappear. The minute you get up from the board and don't have that adapter in your pocket, you are at risk, God forbid you to be fancy and get a gold adapter.