I’ve Gotta Be Me!

Someone recently asked me whom I looked up to as a radio ideal. It’s been a long time since I really wanted to try to sound like someone else. Back when I was starting out, I wanted to be as good as Tasha Sims on Q107. Then I got a part-time job at CJRN in Niagara Falls while I was in college and I pressed my little nose up to the glass as Carol Mott went womano-a-mano with Paul Mott and I thought what she was doing was pretty cool. I would hear bits and pieces of things I enjoyed and respected but my efforts didn’t go into emulating any one person. I concentrated on developing my own style.

Jock or newsie, big market or small, I think that everybody who succeeds and survives in this business has something special to offer. My perfect radio broadcaster has Erin Davis’ wit, Howard Stern’s confidence, Humble Howard’s laugh, Paul Cook’s strategic thinking, Bill Carroll’s audacity, John Stall’s common sense, Kevin Misener’s integrity, Mike Eppel’s intelligence, Marilyn Denis’ versatility, Chris Mavridis’ creativity, Dr. Joy Browne’s logic and my own dark sense of humour. I don’t like flash in the pan radio. I like dependable, steady and smart with surprises thrown in. Like the people I’ve mentioned, I’m also in it for the long haul. Longevity. That, to me, is worth copying.