Almost the New Year

The time counts down, and one more year is said farewell to. I look at 2008 as a year of growth for me.
1. I’ve grown in my faith
2. I’ve grown in my on-air presence and feel
3. I’ve grown a little more in the perfection of my production skills
4. I’ve grown in getting involved with the community I live in
5. I’ve grown in relationships with co-workers, good friends, and my new church family
6. I’ve grown in my patience
7. I’ve grown a little in my impatience (not good, I know)
8. I’ve grown to test new strengths I never knew really existed
9. I’ve grown in the hips just a tad bit
10. I’ve grown to understand that some places in this country can’t stand change and are even fearful of it
11. I’ve grown in my comedic “performances” and “tendencies” in front of groups
12. I’ve grown to love who I am a little more
13. I’ve grown in my cooking skills
14. I’ve grown to realize I will always be growing

As the year 2008 comes to a close, I still have a couple of irritations nipping at my heals. Today, a day that should be some-what happy, was a day of me wanting to punch or kick the co-host in the shins. I’ve told myself to try and understand him when he doesn’t see eye-to-eye with me on ideas---not everyone agrees on everything. That’s where the saying, “Let’s agree to disagree” came from (which for some odd reason the co-host hates btw). But I’ve begun to realize, at times, that it’s not that the co-host not seeing eye-to-eye with me, but it’s the co-host not wanting to agree if it’s not his way. He enjoys new ideas…if they’re his. He’s fine and happy with change…if it’s change for him. He’s cool with new people…if they put him on some-what of a pedestal. He may be upset at the fact that he’s not at a bigger station by now in his radio career, but he’s even more upset that I have a 99% chance of leaving this area in the next year or so to pursue bigger things. The more I see these things boil over and be shown in the light of day, the more I become irritated, impatient, and upset. I understand that I shouldn’t be judging others or pointing fingers, especially at someone who I do give credit to to helping me with some of my on-air skills, but it’s hard to ignore some of this stuff. Maybe it’s harder because it’s all coming from the co-host, the guy who’s suppose to be part of the team, the guy who can be a friend at times, the guy who I’m suppose to look to for help at this station.

The trigger, you may wonder, was my idea of doing my midday shift as a Live Request Lunch time. I’ve been wanting to do this for a good 10 months or more, and have thrown the idea towards the co-host about 3 times. And every time I’ve gotten the same response, “Well, let me talk to the boss jr. about it, because I think we should get it sponsored first.” After months of hearing nothing back, I decided to give it a shot one more time, and was even tempted in going above his head and going to the boss jr. with the idea. I went against that thought and went straight to the co-host one last time—yesterday. This time, I kind-of made him talk more about it, but it was as if he was trying to come up with every single excuse in the book to why I should forget the idea, and if I wanted to get the Live experience, then do my Saturday shift Live. He agreed to talk to the boss jr., and I asked him today if he did it. He did say he talked to him, but once again brought up the stupid sponsor thing. I just felt like I should throw up my freakin’ hands and say, “I give up—you are a jerk of a brick wall that will not budge ever, so forget it!” Instead, my dad gave me an idea: get the sponsorship myself. If I work with one of the sales people and find a client who would like to jump on-board, then the co-host has one faulty argument against the idea.

I just want to not only get more of the Live experience, but the big thing for me is connecting more with our listening audience, and maybe make their day a little brighter because they requested and I was able to deliver that one special song. It’s why I love my job, it’s why I love radio, it’s why I would give up some of my nap time for my shift to be Live. All I can do right now is think happy thoughts, pray to the Lord to help me figure out some stuff, and maybe take my dad’s suggestion. Plus, I have started to apply to other radio stations, so who knows what may be in store for the New Year.

Now, I must head to bed, but I must say beforehand—HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Many blessings and Peace for a terrific 2009!

Looking Into the Future

Well, I know I have told myself that I would wait until around April of this next year to begin looking for possible new jobs...but I decided to take a little sneak peek. I have to say, the idea was not put in to my head until the co-host decided to give me a heads-up that there was an opening for a female co-host for the Mancow Show (it's a news-talk show that is kind-of like Rush, with a younger feel). He then suggested that I should apply. I was a little hesitant, but decided to get my stuff together and email it ASAP. Turns out that they are looking for a local Chicago Female (something that they didn't mention in their first posting of the position). Oh well, at least I sent them my stuff. If they change their mind on the local thing, maybe they'll like what they see.
Oh, and now that I applied to that job, I also sent my resume and aircheck to 2 other postings I found--one in Las Vegas and one back home in Houston. I think that will be all for me right now--I'll give it till March to start looking again. It's not that I don't love what I'm doing here, it's just that there are some other stuff that makes me want to move on to a bigger market someday soon.

My Bad!

I know, I know, I know...someone out there is going to be like, "Where the hell did you go?" Well, lets just say these last two weeks have been utterly busy and will not slow down yet. Oh, and today was the first snowfall of the season, but then it turned into a rainy mess. Before I forget and feel like a complete tool-- HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! I have a funny feeling I will be away from the computer this whole Thursday, so I'm getting a jump on the holidays a little early. Speaking about the holidays, I cannot stand how Christmas stuff continues to be put out in stores earlier and earlier each year. At all costs, I avoid buying, putting up, or listening to anything Christmas-oriented until the day after Thanksgiving--that's how it was when I was a kid, and that will continue to be the way for me. Thanksgiving should not be shafted, so I will celebrate it all the way through.

Work update: So now that Gloria has left the station, all of her clients have been divided among the sales staff that are still around, which is a major reason why these 2 weeks have been nonstop, on-the-go production work. We have spots that have to be re-cut, reread, and completely redone. The production has been flowing in, which also makes sense because of the holiday season we're in until about January 1st. Now, as some may know, my strong suit and first love of radio is production, but sometimes it can be a little on the frustrating side...especially when it comes at you all at once and you have about a day turnaround on lots of it. And then stick a 12 hour full remote smack-dab in the middle of it all, and chaos can ensue. Don't get me wrong, the all-day remote that went down last Wednesday was amazing because it was a food drive and the pantry was able to gather 253 turkeys and HUGE amounts of nonperishables and necessities, but it drain some of us out just a little bit. Oh well, as long as it's for a good cause, then I'm fine with being in a zombie-like state for 2 days.

Cool thing with Gloria leaving (besides the fact that some irritation is gone) is that Samantha, the sales exec for our brother station, 95.3 FM Info Radio, has been promoted to sales exec for Magic and WMWV. With the amount of work that she completed with Info Radio, she definitely deserved this position! And with her moving to that position, we've gotten a new employee to the staff to take her place. Her name is Peggy and she use to work part-time for the station about 2 years ago. So far, it seems like she'll be fun to work with--she brings me a joke for the day, and we all know how much I love comedy and humor.

So, I'm hoping that the rest of the week doesn't kill me in some form or fashion--prayers are highly requested and asked for at this time.

Possible Cake!!

Tomorrow is Gloria's last day at the station. A question came up from June our office manager--"Should I make a cake on Friday for Gloria even though I've never really gotten along with her."

My reply, "Yes, because you don't want to deprive the rest of us from your cake." And then J continues, "And look at it this way, it could be a celebration cake."

I know, mean, but if you knew the working-relationship between those 2, you would probably chuckle some. As June said, she doesn't (and never has) hated Gloria, she just has never gotten along with the woman. So I'm thinking we're getting some cake tomorrow--Sweet Action!!

Comedy

Saturday Night Live! It's the show that has outlasted wars, deaths, huge dips in ratings, and horrific tragedies in our country and world। And somehow, the show comes on every Saturday night, bringing us that little piece of humor that we really need after a week of work or other busy things in this fast paced world. To be able to make people laugh and give them that small glimpse of happiness must be one of the most rewarding jobs ever. If I had the chance, I would try out for that show in a heartbeat because I Love to make people laugh--comedy and laughter are great for the soul, and I firmly believe the healing power in it all. As I've heard news and entertainment stories about Lorne Michales possibly looking for another woman or two for next season, it just made me wish more and more that I could be one of those lucky few. And the good thing is is that I wouldn't go in to the audition empty-handed---my life experiences so far have given me some great material, ideas, and characters to use on a show like SNL (I'm not joking, I have so far a list of 4 different characters/sketches).

Music has always been a BIG part of my life (besides my faith, family and friends), but I would have to say comedy and humor are right up there with it। It's why I love being a radio DJ, it's why I love doing skits for my church and community organizations, and it's why I would love to do SNL one day। Comedy can make a grown man come to tears because he's laughing so hard, and it can make the most bitter old woman crack a small smile. Just like dramas, music can help emphasize a comedy and push it to new limits, which is why for me, the 2 have gone hand-in-hand so many times. Yeah, I may play the song you requested as a shout out, or thrown out some cool music history, but I also do radio to make that one listener smile.

Get Involved

Everyday is a new day to make a new impression. We all have those moments where we may think, "The world is traveling at lightening speed around me. I don't have time to put my neck out there and meet new people." It's as if human connection is put on hold in our lives when we think that, and because of it, we never grow in who we are, the experiences we have, the people that we meet. I see it every time I hang-out with the co-host. The man has been in this area for about 6 years, and you want to know how many people he hangs out with, calls friends, or can say "Hey dude, what's up?" to? Let's just say it's a slim amount of what makes up this whole area. Now don't think I'm dissing the man--he definitely has a lot going for him and he really can be the life of the party. But at the same time, he thinks that he's big in the area and that he doesn't have to really get involved with anyone outside of the "club group" he knows (he works as a DJ on the side at a local club). The people at the club are really nice and great to chat with, especially when you can walk in and the usuals know who you are, but that is a very small group in the whole realm of what makes Mt. Washington Valley. If only the co-host would get out of the box a little more and possibly get involved with other things in the area--community groups, organizations, societies--then he may begin to realize that the world is a lot bigger than his posse, and promoting his DJing business would probably double in size. He would have weddings after parties after anniversaries to deal with every weekend, and possibly on certain weeknights.

It's the same reason why when I say I work for Mt. Washington Radio, people in the area automatically think of our sister station--93.5. Don't get me wrong, the station is good and it's been here for a lot longer than Magic, but it's also because of the involvement that J and (especially) Roy have in the community. Every remote that I have helped with or run the board for, you can hear the people who greet Roy and him greet them in return. When I say he should be the mayor of Mt. Washington Valley, I really do mean it--he knows so many people! It does help that he's lived up in this area for 30 years, but I believe that even if he was up here for as long as the co-host, he would still know tons of people, therefore being able to promote 93.5 a lot better, and putting himself out there. And putting yourself out there is what the radio world is about, just like TV and film. That means getting involved with more than one or two groups of people.

I have to say, the biggest compliment I can get in any day is that someone listened to our morning show or to me on the weekend or mid-days, and they heard something that made them laugh. It's that joy, that humor, that happiness brought to our listeners that makes me thrilled beyond belief. I don't know if it brings as much excitement to the co-host as it does to me, but to know that what I love to do as a career is affecting people in a good way, well that is just unbelievably reassuring. It helps me know that I chose the right job and path, and that I could probably do bigger things and make more people smile down the road. Yeah, I may not be up here for forever, but with the time I do have, I want to meet our listeners, make new listeners, and bring a little light to someones day.

For me to hear from Roy that I have done an awesome job adjusting to this area and really delving into getting to know the community and many who are in it, that makes me feel a little honored and proud with myself. I'm just little 'ol me, being friendly to all I meet, and making new friends, but I guess people are noticing that and I may be making a slight impact, which would be so cool! Even if I become a "big fish" in the small pond here, I know that God and my close friends here will help to keep me grounded always. I just sometimes wish that the co-host would come out to events, places, and groups with me so that he could meet the people that listen to us, or could possibly be future listeners. Maybe, just maybe one day, he can see farther outside of the rectangle he's chillin' in---not only to help himself and his business, but to help the station and others.

May This Week Be...less dragging

Busy, busy, busy week it's been...yet at the same time it's felt as if it's been dragging. In between production, being on the air, and running errands for Young Professionals and the MWV Chamber Annual Meeting and Dinner, I really didn't feel like I was taking a breather until today, or at least until this evening. Each day felt as if they were 40 hours long, but every hour was taken up with stuff. I also had my birthday this week, and even though I didn't really go out and "do something" that evening, I had a really great day--cake with the co-workers/friends, great care package from the fam, and birthday hugs/messages from all of those who have become near and dear to me.

One of the downfalls this week, as surprising as it might be, was Halloween. The one night where you dress up, hang out with friends, and just have some fun (possibly grab loads of candy) turned out to rank right up there with the Halloween where I was sick. I don't know if it was the fact that I decided to take the extra job of running the sound board for the High School football game, or if it was I received a phone call from my Choral Society director that just didn't fly with me, or that I was starting the night off really late. Overall, I ended up getting out of the station at almost 10pm, was dressed up as a 60's Hippie, and ready to start the night, just to drive over to a friends party that had already been winding down, then driving back and realizing that everyone I knew was already leaving to go home or at some other party too far away. This Halloween was just not my cup of tea---memo to self: DO NOT take overtime at work on Halloween, it messes up the whole flow of the night!

I do have to say that the night before (Thursday) was a great evening, and I supposedly made a splash with the MWV Chamber members. I don't know what good it really will do me in the end because many of the Chamber members are in their 40's+ and are usually weary of "outsiders" or "transplants," but at least I helped make them crack up in the mock debate I was co-moderator for. I heard Lorne Michales (from SNL) may be looking for some more women to join the cast--I wonder if I should try out some way :) Oh to work as a cast member on SNL would probably be the coolest thing ever! It's right at the top of the list, alongside being a Radio Announcer that get's syndicated across the country (like Ryan Seacrest or Casey Casem, not so much as Delilah--too soft for my personality).

Well, I should probably hit the hay, so I say adios to all my readers and buenas noches!

Open Your Dang Mouth And Talk

Oh communication--even in a media form based hugely on all aspects of communication, it seems to be lacking between co-workers consistently at the station. Whether it be one of the sales execs (mainly Dorry) "forgetting" to place a production form in a DJ's folder, or 2 co-workers reading a freakin' article from the local newspaper DURING a staff meeting, WHILE our office manager "June" (the mom of the station) is talking. It's as if we've stepped into some episode of "The Twilight Zone" where no one understands that radio and communication have a connection. Even among fellow announcers at the station, it's like they've never heard of proper communication skills.

Yesterday (Friday), I had a remote that I had to run the soundboard for, which was cool with me--extra cash is always a nice thing :-] This remote was one of the weekly High School Football game ones----play-by-play action for those who can't attend the game. I've only run the board for 1 game, and so I was going over some steps with June to refresh myself before I headed home to take a nap, grab dinner, and come back to do the job. Thankfully, June is always on top of things, and asked, "You know it's a phone remote, right?" With bewilderment (and annoyance) I stated, "Uh, nooo! J never informed me that it was going to be a phone remote. What the heck do I do?" As June explained a couple of small things I would have to change, including putting in interviews that were all pre-recorded, I cringed a little from the tiny voice in my head saying, "J never told me this, J needs to remember important things like this, I am going to kick J when I see him next week, etc." Big miscommunication between J and I that could have landed me facing a "what the hell is going on" situation, which was gratefully avoided by June's intuitive senses and knowledge of J's scatter-brained mindset and cluelessness of certain communication properties. Nice guy, but J makes me wonder sometimes why he doesn't carry some form of calendar/planner with him...I think I'll get him one for Christmas.



In other news, I have begun my idea that made me toss and turn, keeping me from my nap a couple of days ago. I decided to go the Myspace route, seeing that it's easier to contact people through it, and they have some pretty cool widgets to help. Now is the tricky part--coming up with a name and trying to display my idea. For the name, I'm thinking "Make It OR Break It"--I even have a poll set-up on the page where people can vote on the song displayed for the week (I want to change it daily, but I have to get enough activity to the page generated first). If you have other name ideas, feedback is always appreciated. :-]

So, I began to try and take my nap today at around 1:30pm, and for the life of me I just could not get to sleep. Damn TV Show on VH1 gave me ideas, and so my brain would not shut down for a few hours. This is the idea that would not let me get some shut-eye:

I love music, and honestly, if you haven't figured that out by now, then here it is in black and white. :) Right at the top with my faith, family and friends, music is the end-all, be-all of my existence. Because of my passion for music of almost all kinds, I love being able to share new stuff with everyone--my listeners, my friends, my family, etc. Now when I say new, I'm referring to new music from both big/medium size aritists and bands, PLUS new music from indie and brand new musicians. Whether it be a new Rihanna track, Collective Soul, or a track from my friend Matt Toka, if it's worth sharing, I try to share it. With this thought in my mind, I have thought of sharing this with everyone. Now, I know there's Myspace Music and other web sites like that, but I've been thinking about creating a Myspace page or using this blog as a type of middle-man site. I want to share the new music I either dig up or receive from new artists, and even have either a daily or weekly poll on the music that I post. I want to do a written feature on the artists/bands and have the people give their opinion, their vote, their voice, and it be all wrapped up in one little place. Seeing that I have new bands ask to be my friend about once a day on Myspace, I want a chance to give them some help, and even send people to their sites/blogs/pages.

I know it seems maybe stupid or confusing or redundant, but I know that there's a reason why I have this love for music, why I'm in the radio biz, and why I couldn't go to sleep this afternoon. Even though I may not be able to play the music on my station (that whole co-host/program director being a kind-of "music snob" most times), I want to get it out there---From the big artists to the newbies of the group.

Time for the NHAB Banquet

The NHAB—a touring ground of what New Hampshire has to offer in the Broadcasting world. Mainly, all that stroll in and attend are sales execs, program directors, production directors, and the head boss(es). When looking around, all you see are suits, suits, and more business attire…and then you see that one glimpse of shimmer and shine. As Jim pointed out to the co-host and I at our banquet table, “You can usually tell who the On-Air talent are. No offense to you guys, but usually they’re the ones who tend to stick out, and not really in the good way.” While saying this, one guy walked by us that looked like the lead singer of Def Leppard (after 20 minutes, we figured out the singer’s name is Joe Elliott), followed by a woman dressed in an edgy black dress and hard-rock hair cut. Now, don’t know if the woman was an on-air announcer, but we had a gut feeling the guy definitely was stuck in a studio many days and was still spinning 45’s of KISS and REO Speedwagon. Then, there was the man who looked as if his pants and button-down shirt were from the 70’s while he tried to hide his disheveled hair under an “elderly man” hat.

You could pick the radio DJ’s out easier then finding Waldo in one of his books, but not all looked like they dressed in the dark and hadn’t seen the sunlight for days. Mainly the woman DJ’s were the one’s who dressed snazzy and fun, including yours truely, compared to the pant suits that the woman sales execs were adorning. Thankfully, Jim said that both the co-host and I were one of the exemptions to the statement he had made, saying that we were dressed to impress the peeps---and that’s how we roll. What made me chuckle some was that when we arrived with our other DJ, J, all of our people said they didn’t recognize me from a distance (in a good way—they thought I knocked it out of the park on looks), and then proceeded to tease the co-host a little, saying that it was nice to finally see him dressed up (him proceeding with a “Bite Me.”).


Besides the people watching, schmoozing is a high priority of the NHAB conference/banquet. Seeing that NH is such a small state, you have the opportunity to chat with people high in the radio/broadcasting “food-chain,” including this year, being able to talk and meet with the head of the whole NAB*, David Rehr—nice guy, very well spoken, hard at fighting to keep radio and TV alive and booming through defenses of the media in The Capitol, yet seems to have his smile painted on constantly. It was nice to finally meet and talk with the guy who’s face has been plastered in the last 3 brochures at the NAB convention. I also had the chance to meet other morning-show DJ’s, most from different formats then ours (so the feel of competition really isn’t there).


And while I sat at our table, I looked around and realized that we (Mt. Washington Radio Group) were possibly having more fun with our conversations and time together then many of the others at the tables next to us. It was just nice (and a tad bit surprising) to see all of us chatting and laughing together at some of the craziest things, whether they be appropriate or not—as if we really are like a family.


Great food (Filet Minoan), great connections, fun times with co-workers, won a first place award for a spot for our station, and received a pretty sweet flannel blanket---All in All, a great evening I must say.



*NAB=National Assoiciation of Broadcating

Double Check...and Triple Check

Ok, so even though it's a little late, I must tell the story of Sunday's remote. This is a huge reminder to everyone that you should watch what you say, even when you think no one is paying attention.

So, I ran the board for a remote* that we had on Sunday at the Corn Maze at Sherman Farm (check out Shermanfarmnh.com for the maze--it's really kick-arse). As board-op, I have to make sure that songs, commericals (or spots as we call it) and breaks are in order. I also have to be alert because whoever is the announcer for the remote can change songs and breaks around if needed. As board-op, the other big thing is that the announcer gives me the order and/or changes through the mic he/she has, and I can hear it all, but they can't hear me---I have to call them if I have any questions.

Well, this Sunday, the co-host was the announcer, and the sales exec, "Jim", was out there with him, as all of our sales execs are suppose to be when a remote involves their client. Well, during one moment off of the air, I hear the co-host and Jim talking. Now remember, the mic is always on, even if I don't have them turned up on the board and on the air. So even when no one else can hear the people on the radio, I can still hear everything anyone is saying/doing at the remote. So the co-host and Jim started talking about Fergie and how she may/may not look good in certain lighting, and then it went onto Amy Winehouse and how a couple of years ago she was semi-attractive, but now she looks, well, crappy. All of a sudden, Jim decided to make a comparison between Amy Winehouse and Dorry's daughter, and I about lost it. I was shocked and laughing at the same time, b/c 1.) I would never have expected a comment like that coming from Jim (maybe the co-host, but not him), and 2.) As sad as it may be, the statement he made was very close to the truth. Thankfully, I was the one who heard this comment and no one else, but it just goes to show kids that you should ALWAYS remember what you may be saying off the air, because you never know who may be on the other end listening.


*Remote=A live broadcast

Naps and Sleep

Why it is essential to take a nap when you have a job that entitles you to be up by 4am:

1. By 8pm, you feel like you're about to pass out
2. It totally throws off your dinner time
3. On top of that, it throws off your whole perspective of time
4. You end up watching lame shows on TV that you would never catch any other normal day
5. You feel as if you've forgotten something...oh yeah, Your Nap!
6. I mentioned the whole wanting to pass out by 8pm, right?
7. You don't feel like going out and doing anything because you just want to be lazy
   

If I think of more...I'll post them later. As of now though, I think I will be making my way to la-la land. I'll discuss my adventure with one of the remotes this past weekend tomorrow, if I remember :)

Everywhere anyone turns, a new picture or article about some "trendy" star or up-and-coming media mogul is hitting the front page of magazines, newspapers, and refreshed every 10 minutes it seems on the main page of Yahoo. As Americans, we soak this stuff in, even if the person in the light is as stupid as the garbage can you threw your Big Gulp in. If you think radio is separate from this cat-and-mouse spotlight game, you are easily mistaken. Even though radio affects the ears and not the eyes, a simple sentence from some big-shot movie star or rock-band musician that's heard over the airwaves can simply make someone stay glued to that sound box as if their life depended on it.





After watching Simon Pegg's new film, "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People," it made me think over the way I approach this craft, my craft...and yes, radio is a craft (don't think that just because your brother is funny, it would make him the next radio DJ). Simon Pegg's character in the film is an entertainment journalist who, after creating/writing a satiric entertainment magazine in England for years, gets a phone call to move to NYC and write for a world-acclaimed Entertainment Magazine, Sharps. Throughout the film, he continuously struggles with getting anything published because he tries to stay true to his writing style and wants to shine some light on who the new actresses, producers, and directors really are, and possibly kick them off the pedestal they are being lifted onto. Not only does he feel the need to call some people ("twats") out, but he looks for the unique angles and creative stories of those in the industry who really should be supported and encouraged.

While watching his struggles, I could feel this slight connection and pull at the stomach, telling me to, no matter what comes my way, stay true to who I am. It's the reason why when I get a friend request on Myspace from some new musician who is trying to get their stuff out there, I accept the request and really do check out their music. It's why I continue to talk about new artists in my "Nikki's Tune Review" on Saturday mornings...even if the co-host thinks it's a waste of time and should be focused on musicians everyone already freakin' knows. It's why I want to do interviews with any musician that we can grab our hands on--new or old. It's why I enjoy talking about the sweet stories, the crazy competitions, and the small-town or underground events that are happening every day of our lives. I know that one day I may not have this type of freedom, especially if I get a job in a bigger market, but I will continue to write, listen to, and occasionally sneak in stuff that makes me me. If I make it big one day, I will never forget the simple, small stuff that has surrounded and created who I am. I do not want to change my views (yes, I think "The Hills" is ridiculous and Brangelina is getting on my last nerve) and I want to help those who are true and in-synce with the arts of music, film, tv, theater and the written word. I hope to look back on this blog entry one day and say, "I have followed what I wrote, and I've been sure in myself and others."

Last Minute Requests=Food In Payment

By 4:30pm on Friday, I had thought I was done with the day, but things always change at work, especially when you wear 20 different hats--it all comes with a small station. I'm about to head back to my desk, when I turn to realize that "Dorry," one of our sales execs, is on her knees--my immediate response being, "What is it this time?" The only reason a sales exec, especially Dorry, would be begging that way is that she made one more of her scatterbrained mistakes and needed a spot put together. How is it that I'm always the one who gets these requests?! Well, seeing it was waaayyy past my time to be at work, extra payment must come with this favor--food is always an option. She thought her 2 last pieces of cheesecake in the fridge would suffice, HA!! Lunch plus the cheesecake, that would be good enough, and I am planning of ordering dessert with it, even if I have to get it to-go. What the co-host pointed out though was that lunch wasn't going to be only payment, but slight punishment for me, which I didn't think about until he said something. We say punishment b/c Dorry's scatterbrain self carries into any conversation she has, and that means lunch will be very interesting either tomorrow or Wed., maybe even a little aggravating. Note to self: Next time, either ask for a gift certificate, or even make DVDs another form of payment.

Nikki’s Tune Review
“I Don’t Care"--Fall Out Boy
Album: “Folie a Deux”

Background:
-The title of the album means "a madness shared by 2"
*It’s a psychiatric condition where a delusion or psychological problem is

transferred from 1 person to another
*I don't really know what Fall Out Boy is trying to say out of this title, but it
makes me a little concerned for them :) J/K

-"I don't Care" is the 1st single off of this 5th studio album (to be available on Nov. 4th)


Vocals:
-Lead singer Patrick Stump still stays true to his crazy-cool vocal range, but I wish they displayed more of the power that it has. It feels as if it's covered up a little bit


Instruments/Feel:
-A great catchy electric-guitar chord repetition that drives the beat throughout the song

-The tune continues to show the big step the band took away from their original punk-rock style. It's still rock, but falls more into the pop-rock genre now

-I enjoy the message in song,“I don’t care what you think, as long as it’s about me,” because it comically covers the thought that lots of people have in this world, especially those in the eye of the media.

Check them out at http://www.falloutboyrock.com/

It's My 1 Year!

October 1st, 2007--a slightly timid, but extremely excited college graduate walked into the Magic 104 studio, took a seat behind the mic facing her new co-worker, and began her start as Nikki Martinez. To think that 1 year ago I was starting off at Magic with only a combined year of on-air experience from 3 different radio stations and only known as "Nicole the Intern" or "Intern Nicole." I had the production experience under my belt--a good 2-3 years--but it was the on-air stuff that I was still shaky on, which was the only fault in my resume and the only reason why bigger stations wouldn't hire me. Low and behold, a station in NH decided to take a chance on me, and in a year I believe I have grown soooooo much on the air, not only with a co-host, but also by holding my own. I can carry the conversation if I need to, and I can run the show by myself with really no problems.


Now, hear me out, I will always continue to grow as a radio DJ--if I didn't, let's just say I would become boring and possibly even canned a few years down the road. If a DJ ever tells you they don't have anything else to learn, that is a crap-load of BS. Technology continues to grow, stories continue to become more detailed, music comes by the tons now, and listeners continue to vary. Even though lots of people have Satellite Radio or CDs they listen to all the time, radio will always have a HUGE place in the media, and people will always want to check in.


To celebrate my 1 Year at Magic and up here in the Mt. Washington Valley Area, I decided to chill, take a nap, and order a Stuffed Crust Pizza for dinner (I didn't know you could only order a large, so I have lots of leftovers for the next day or 2)! I know, not a big celebration, but I have my birthday coming up soon, so I think that'll be a little bigger.




I like to believe that after this first year, I have become a bit more wiser, a bit more confident, and definitely more experienced in the ways of the Radio Personality World. Hopefully this next year will be filled with more experiences and maybe, just maybe, the station will finally get out of the stone age and start online streaming.


Goals for this next year:
1. Try to Post on this blog at least 3-4 times a week (I hope all who read will enjoy)
2. Get Magic streaming online (my family could finally hear me live)
3. Interview someone as big or bigger than Justin Guarini (F.Y.I.--nice guy on the phone)
4. Have my Midday shift become a request lunch style show (I want to make a person's day by
playing a song they request)
5. Stay safe during the winter again
6. Possibly learn to ski
7. Have either a family member or friend visit me from the south
8. Put together a kick-butt air-check for future job hunts
9. Edit my paper resume
10. Look into bigger markets (the White Mountains and Magic have treated me so well, but I
need to start looking into my future plans and future savings)
11. Build a snowman (I didn't have the time last winter)
12. Do some hiking with friends



If I think of more, I'll be posting them so I remember. Oh, and as you can tell, I decided to make some adjustments of my own to my blog--I sometimes just feel inspired to do so :)

"Screw You!"

----Yeah, I know, not the most Christian or nicest thing to say, especially at around 7am, on the air, and to the co-host of all people.

As my mentor has said in the past, to make a morning show (or any radio show) work between co-hosts, there has to be a balance. One person has to be all about the ideas, while the other has to be the one who is quick to respond. In our situation, I've been figuring out more and more that I believe the co-host is the idea man, while I'm the one to respond, 9 out of 10 times with something good to say (sometimes it's an off day and I say something ridiculous, but it happens).

The other factor for our show is that we realized from the get-go that it was as if we were the good-cop/bad-cop situation, the co-host being the bad while little 'ole me playing the good. So you can definitely see where my outburst of "screw you" came as a little shocker to the co-host, even if I was playing around...or at least defending myself without actually screaming or going girly-whiny on him. Shoot, I even surprised myself after I said it over the air, because it's not in my nature to really do that, but I think if you tick somebody off just enough, even the good-cop will snap at you. All in all, I think I became a little frustrated after I responded to a story he was talking about, and then he retorted with some smart-a** comment, as if trying to make me seem like some complete idiot on the show. Now, I know he was probably kidding, but after blowing this type of behavior from him off at times (a thing I picked up from hanging out with my guy friends over the years), you can only bite your tongue for so long until you tell the person "screw you" and, yes, proceed with flicking him off (thankfully we work in radio. And yes, I know, it's another thing that isn't so "Christian" of me to do).

When we finished that little break, the co-host surprisingly said that I may not want to use such harsh language in the future, which I proceeded with a "well then lets not try to make me seem as if I'm some freakin' idiot on the air, OK." Thankfully, I performed all of this with a smile on my face and playful anger...even if inside I wanted to be really pissed off at him. Once again, all was back to normal after that, but I think the co-host may want to re-think some of the retorts he has in the future, because this good cop is not one to be walked on. Plus, I don't think he wants me to pull out the "The Notebook" crying incident on the air--won't show him as a manly-man after that story is told.

Well, sad to say my car is still being worked on and hopefully I will be able to have her back tomorrow. To update--On Saturday, my car broke down in the middle of the road as I was driving to work the board for a remote. It wasn't until Monday (no freakin' auto shops are open on Saturdays here in small town NH) that I was able to get this loaner, and then on Tuesday they found that it was my water pump that exploded, which caused my timing belt to break (which I just replaced last year), so they have had to replace the whole water pump system and the timing belt!! Well, at least it wasn't my engine--I was scared and concerned b/c my engine should be great. For now, I have this really great, funny loaner car. It is so ridiculous, it is Awesomely Amazing!!




It's like a baby race car that just can't wait to be a big race car. The co-host calls it a rolling billboard, and I do have to agree with him on that.


Well, today has been National One Hit Wonder Day, so hopefully everyone has enjoyed some 1 Hit Wonders today. We actually dug some great one's up this morning for the morning show--some that I haven't heard in about 10-15 years or so. Here are some of my personal fave 1 Hit Wonders:

· 10. Dexy's Midnight Runners--Come On Eileen
· 9. Eifell 65--Blue
· 8. Lou Bega--Mambo No. 5
· 7. Norman Greenbaum--Spirit In The Sky
· 6. The Buggles--Video Killed the Radio Star
· 5. The Sweet--Ballroom Blitz
· 4. Madness--Our House
· 3. Men Without Hats--The Safety Dance
· 2. Falco--Rock Me Amadeus
· 1. A-Ha--Take On Me (which is also my favorite 80's song of all time)

Let's Just Dive In

Constructive criticism---in every business, every workplace, every job, it's always going to be there. The decision on how you deal with it can affect the outcome of your performance. Some people (mainly a co-worker that I will refer to as Harry that I've compared to as the Dwight of the station) just don't really understand the concept completely. I think the major reason for his "confusion" is that unless you're his age or older, he's going to have everything go in one ear and out the other.

An example of this idea was put into play today, when after being told over and over...and over again, Harry continues to give us news for the morning show that is either too late, contains way too much information, or is too much of a profile, fluff piece. Some of this stuff works perfectly for TV, and even for Newspaper, but when you have 4 minutes or less to deliver World, National, and New England News in one clump sum, you can't take 2 minutes of the time reading a local story that really just belongs in written form. After doing this constantly, the co-host plus another DJ, J, decided that it was time once again to sit down and have a chat with Harry. J was concerned though that Harry wouldn't be able to take the conversation too well, even though the co-host and I tried to reassure him that the talk wouldn't be a type of ganging-up on Harry, it's just all constructive criticism--things to make him do better at his job. Even as this was discussed, J came to the conclusion that Harry may not take any of the meeting lightly and constructively mainly because the co-host is younger than Harry. I have to say, this has to be one of the most prideful mistakes that people, in ANY job, can make. I understand that with age, comes experience and knowledge, but if you don't want to learn anything new, then you're never going to grow in those departments, and younger people will catch up, and even pass you. That's exactly the position Harry has put himself in--he never wants to learn anything new in radio, so therefore, everyone younger than him are going to pass him up. Because of this, he has to realize that he may have to get pointers from these same people, but because his pride gets in the way, he closes everything out and acts like a stubborn 5 year old.

Now, I don't know how the meeting turned out between the 3, but I do know that Harry was not his usual "Dwight" self the rest of the day--a lot of silence came from the closed door of his office today, which is not something that happens too frequently. I have to say, a day without ridiculous quotes or "jokes" that make me want to punch something was a breath of fresh air, but if he comprehended anything from the meeting is a whole other story. Oh well, we'll see if some stuff may have sunk in when I get my local news in the morning. Until then, I hope you all can take something from this--catch up, take the constructive stuff, or suck it up when junior passes you by.


P.S. If you want to check out any of my previous blog posts, you can check out my Xanga site--the link for it is on the side right over there on the right :)