My World Record Attempt

It all started back in January, when I announced on the radio that I wanted to attempt to break a Guinness World record for the longest radio broadcast by a single host.

The record at the time was 182 hours.

Yesterday, someone posted on my Facebook page a story about a Belgian DJ who recently set the record at 184 hours! You can read the story here.

In the spirit of good sportsmanship and fun, I emailed that DJ congratulating him and informing him that I was going to make a run at that same record next month.

He emailed me back wishing me all the best, and he even offered to call in while I was making my run.

So far so good, right?

This morning I check my email, and received a letter that can only be described as bulletin board material: (This email is NOT from the Belgian DJ...just some random Belgian)

"Please don`t do the radio marathon. First of all you are american and you can`t handle the 187 hours. Don`t underestimate how strong us belgians are. I lived in Amerika for 14 years one thing i learned is they you are the laziest people in the world.
For once let a record stay in Belgium. You Amerikans always have to be number one in everything guess what the rest of the world thinks you are the biggest and laziest idiots in the world."

Talk about motivation!! All I have to say is: GAME ON!

Dark Shadows

 

 

So...The new Dark Shadows movie with Johnny Depp comes out in May. I'm very excited about it. I've been watching the show in re-runs and on DVD for a while now.

 

I thought I'd take a sec, and tell you how I got hooked in to DS.

I was born in 1963, so I didn't catch the show when it was first on. I first saw the show, when it was being re-run in the afternoons sometime in the mid-1970s, on a TV station in Indianapolis. It ran for a few months over the summer, and I remember watching on a Friday as the episode ended with Willie's discovery of the secret room, and Barnabas' hand reaching up!!!

I anxiously awaited for Monday to arrive, and to my horror, they replaced DS with something else!!!! I called the station, and the answer I got was that they didn't like the quality of the prints for the re-runs, so they just stopped showing it!

Unbelievable!

Fast forward to 1990, I was working in Minneapolis, Minnesota for Stuart Anderson's Cattle Company Restaurant, as a store entertainment coordinator for the bar! I worked at the stores in Roseville, Bloomington, Fridley, and Minnetonka. When I first arrived, not having made friends yet, I was looking for something to fill the time. Suncoast Motion Picture Studio, a video store, became my second home.

This was before DVD. Everything was VHS. So I'm perusing through the racks, and I see that "Dark Shadows" is out on VHS!! What a concept! I was thrilled. I started snapping up the tapes as quickly as they came out. How devious that one tape would end with a pretty big cliffhanger, forcing me to wait until the next release to find out what happened!! I figured it was my version of waiting from Friday until Monday, with the wait actually being a little longer. :-)

I still have those tapes, up to the first time travel story.

Yes I watched the 1991 NBC show as well. I recorded them on VHS, and kept them until the DVD's came out.

When I left Minneapolis to return to Indianapolis for another career opportunity, one of my going away gifts was a copy of "The Dark Shadows Companion:25th Anniversary Collection" that had autographs from Kathryn Leigh Scott and Lara Parker (2 of the actors from the show) inside!

So that's where we are now. I break out the DVDs and watch them from time to time, with certain DVDs marked with my favorite episodes.

I have not yet made it through the entire series...but I plan on it! I've stopped and started three times! Once on TV, once on VHS, and now on DVD. Third time's the charm, right?

 

Today I had the opportunity to interview Kathryn Leigh Scott. 

 

I did my best, to not go all 'fan boy'. I'm not sure I succeeded. Listen for yourself by clicking here.

The movie opens May 11th.

I know...I know...It's been a while. How've you been?

So it's been a year and two months since I've been the morning radio host here in Knox, Indiana. After hearing what happened to some of my radio bretheren today in Indianapolis, I have become more and more convinced that I've made the right move.

In the time I've been here. I've been a part of some interesting promotions that have never been done here before:

• We broadcast an entire day on our front lawn, complete with bounce house and an electric car!
• As of this writing WKVI is getting ready to host it's second Pumpkin Drop. (True..other stations I've worked at have done this. Hi Smiley! But this kinda thing has never happened up here before)
• I've taken my flip cam all around the area to tape my exploits, see an earlier post here for some of those videos.
• This past Summer, I've MC'ed or judged at least 5 different pagents.
• I got to go Power Parachuting!!

And that's not all. There's still more in the pipeline.

The stations sound has improved 1,000 percent since my arrival, not because of my arrival, though.

The music library has been tightened up. The music list has been trimmed. We have new automation software (nexgen) that allows us to voice-track both out FM and AM stations. The company that owns these stations is a firm believer in live local radio, and I'm going to make sure that trend continues here.

Also...we have JINGLES!!

I am such a radio nerd. I always threatened that I would retire if I ever got a jingle with my name in it. Well I got one, but I'm not going anywhere!!

We have online streaming! If I may throw in a quick plug, just go to http://www.wkvi.com/ and check out both our AM and FM streams. I'm on live in the morning on the FM, and I'm voicetracked afternoons on the AM country station.

I know...voicetracking is evil. I consider my AM VT shift to me a challenge. I am doing my best to make that time sound live and local, and not just liner card driven.

The past year also gave me a radio first. We covered a funeral procession for a local Vietnam vet. Forty-one years after being listed as Missing in Action (MIA) in Vietnam, CW3 George A "Andy" Howes came home to Knox in a funeral procession that began in Indianapolis. I hosted coverage of the ceremony once the procession arrived in town. 

There are plenty more things to come. I can't wait!

I will try to blog here more often. There's also my Facebook page, and my Youtube Channel, as well.  

See you later.



My life at WKVI

I just wanted to take a sec and update you on my new gig at WKVI-FM in Knox, IN.

In case you didn't get the word, I started as morning man here Monday August 2nd.

It's been a lot of fun. It was a major re-location to be sure. I think the gamble is paying off though.

I bought one of those Hi-Def Flip cams, and have been running around the listening area shaking hands and kissing babies. I wanted to use this blog entry as a sort of bookmark for all the videos I've done so far.

Enjoy!

Here We Go Again!!

Well after about 2 years of bouncing around working part time here and there. I finally have a full time job.

Beginning Monday August 2nd, I'll be hosting a morning drive radio show on WKVI-FM 99.3 in Knox, Indiana.

My own morning radio show, just what I always wanted..WOOOO!

I tried to make my mark in Indianapolis, but the stars never aligned for me. So I have to go where the jobs are.

As long as they'll have me, I'll be holding onto this job until they pry the microphone from my cold, dead fingers!

They don't stream on the web, but I will try to get highlights from the morning show posted from time to time.

I am VERY excited about this opportunity and can't wait to get started.

During these past 2 years, I was sorely tempted to go out and get a 'real' job, but you know what? This IS a real job!!

I was almost a customer service rep for AT&T, a server at Dave & Busters, even a salesman! All noble professions, and if I HAD been hired for any one of these jobs, I would've given it my best. But holding out for this opportunity feels right.

Only time will tell...wish me luck!!

Star Wars

33 years ago today, Star Wars was released. I thought I'd take a few minutes and talk about how I became a fan.

My mom wanted to take me out to a movie at the Eastwood theater on the northeast side of Indianapolis. The theater was known for having a huge 70mm screen. Some sci-fi movie was playing there that no one knew a lot about, but the ad in the paper looked interesting. We thought we'd give it a shot.

I was blown away, like millions of other people were around the country. I lost count of how many times I saw it.

Keep in mind, in 1977 I was almost 14 when the movie came out. So my enthusiasm for the movie didn't extend much past just watching the movie.

• I never dressed up as my favorite character.
• I didn't collect the comic books
• I didn't collect the figures

One thing I did do was get the soundtrack from the movie. Remember what the cover looked like?

The album also contained a poster, I was in seventh heaven listening to that album over and over and over.

Remember this was before VHS and DVD, so this was the only way for me to take a piece of the movie home and re-live in in my imagination as often as I wanted.

(I saw the other 2 movies from the original trilogy as well, with equal amounts of excitement, but I want to keep this post on point about the movie that started it all.)

Fast forward to June of 2001.

I was working as a traffic reporter for Metro Networks, when for some reason that I don't recall as I write this, I thought I'd do a search on the internet to see if there were any "Star Wars" enthusiasts/fans in some kind of organized group in Indianapolis.

I found "The Indy Knights". A small group of fans who meet once a month to talk about the movies, as well as all things sci-fi. How can you not love a group whose motto is: "Hoosier Daddy, Luke?" The group was about 10-15 members strong when I attended my first gathering. So small that meetings were held in members homes at first.

So I started attending meetings, enjoying the company of people who enjoyed the movie as much, and in some cases a little more than I do.

One particular meeting included a screening of the Episode 1 DVD. At this particular house there was a "Star Wars Room" complete with figures and other assorted memorabilia. I remember lamenting that I wish I had started my collection 24 years ago. It was then that I heard those fateful words:

"It's never too late to start."

So I decided, what the heck. It was then that I started collecting figures. I started with stuff you could easily buy in stores. It ramped up to older figures, and then comic books past and present.

But that's it!

If I had the funds, my collection could've grown in so many different directions: books, art, arcade games, costuming, and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

So that brings you up to date to where I am now. I take a lot of good natured ribbing for being a fan, at times I am called a 'geek'.  But I don't care. I am who I am.

Because my career hasn't been going all that well these last few years, I've had to cut back on my collecting save for the occasional comic book binge.

So that's how it all began for me. Are you a Star Wars fan as well? It's OK, you can tell me. Maybe I'll see you at the next Indy Knights meeting.

You know how this post is going to end don't you.

May The Force Be With You....Always.

Parks and Recreation!

I had an interesting day yesterday.

In addition to radio work, I also freelance as 'talent' for Artistic Enterprises. What that means is that occasionally I audition to be on tv commercials, training videos, and stuff like that.

I received an email a couple of days ago from the agency, asking that I be at the statehouse for a video shoot involving the Indiana Department of Parks and Recreation.

So I get dressed up in an outfit that I haven't worn since my TV traffic reporting days and meet with 15 other people who were also asked to be there. No one knew exactly what was going on. We all thought it was a political commercial, or some kind of public service announcement.

After we all gathered in the lobby, we were ushered to the house chamber. Still no clue as to what was happening. I had never been to the statehouse before, not even on a school tour. I was soaking all this in, taking pics with my phone.

Once we got inside the chamber, all of us had to sign releases. That's when it hit us. On the release, I saw the words, "NBC" and "Parks and Rec". At that moment, we realized that this was no ordinary assignment. We were going to be extras on the hit NBC show!!! Clearly a mistake was made somewhere, at least as far as my involvement here is concerned.

We were told that we are supposed to act like politicians pretending to listen to a speech at the podium, and we are supposed to be bored as we listen. 15 people  were scattered around the chamber sitting in random chairs.

I was lucky enough to have a different assignment. I got to be a photographer pretending to take pictures of Amy Poehler. So while everyone else was sitting around, I actually got to move around a little bit.

WTHR, the NBC affiliate, was there as well doing a story about the whole thing. I got to talk to reporter Kevin Rader and told him about how I got involved in the shoot. I again stressed how some kind of mistake has been made, and what the heck was I doing there?

What an experience! For about 2 hours all I did was take a bunch of fake pictures of an empty podium. I was a little nervous at first, but once we got started, the time flew by. When we finished, everyone looked at each other as if to say, "That's it?"

The footage that was shot is going to be used in the show next season. A part of the chamber is going to be re-created in Hollywood. Then the stuff that was shot here will be combined with the stuff there. All in all I'll probably be an inch tall on your tv when the episode airs.

So..how much did I make? Well I honestly don't know yet. I did get reimbursed $14 for parking!

So I've got THAT going for me...which is nice.

Another New Gig!

Here I go again.

While I have a few irons in the fire to start out the year, for now I am a listener advocate at my1079.

What is a listener advocate?

It's an interesting job.

The station runs without jocks, but I'm there every morning from 6-11am taking requests on the phone and by email.

I also update all of our social networking, and the station website.

I also co-anchor the Fox Newstalk 1430-AM noon news with Bob Horner.

You can call 228-1079 to make your request. or you can email me at onair@my1079online.com

The GAB and OMG! sections of the website are the most interactive. I post interesting news stories for you to comment on, video clips to watch, etc.

Check it out and see what you think.

Click here to go to the website.

A Brief Update

I realize it's been a while since I've updated here, bad blogger!

I just wasn't in the mood to update after having Oldies 101.9 sold out from under me. The self-esteem took a hit, and I just didn't feel like dragging you down with my bad vibes. Are you still there?

Anyway, I'm OK.

Today I'm hitting the pavement with an arm load of audition tapes and resumes, so we'll see what happens.

I enjoy working in media, whether it be radio or television, and I hope to be back in the saddle very soon. If not, look forward to hearing me at a restaurant near you saying, "Would you like fries with that?"

OK Gang, It's put up or shut up time!

Monday night, June 1st, I begin hosting a new show on Oldies 101.9.

It's called "All Request Summer Nights".

FYI...the show WILL last past the summer. We'll come up with another title once we get to September. (All Request Autumn Nights??)

The show will be music intensive with LOTS of phone calls.

Here's where you come in.

I have over 400 facebook friends, a lot of whom friended me because I used to work with Smiley, or some other media association.

This time, I'm on my own. I will need your help. Call me, 849-1019.

I don't care if your a DJ working for another radio station or not. Disguise your voice. Use a fake name. I don't care.

I have 5 hours to fill Monday through Friday!!

There will be topics, and themes to help you out.

I hear people in and out of the biz complain all the time about how radio is becoming generic. What with voice tracking (pre-recording a show), or syndication (Ryan Seacrest, Delilah, John Tesh) no one believes in live, local radio anymore.

Well, my boss does. That's why he gave me this opportunity. I hope you won't let it go to waste.

849-1019

See you Monday!