the top 99 songs of 1988

on new year's eve we decided to do a countdown show kate-style. the top 99 songs of 1988. this meant 10 very long hours on the air. it doesn't seem like it would be such a big deal. sit around for 10 hours and talk every 15 minutes or so. it was grueling. grueling. the studio is probably about 10x12 or so ... by the end of the day it felt like a 2x2. and i still feel like i might throw up a little every time a hear a song from that era.

i do finally understand why all the 80's stations on regular 'ol fm radio have failed. its just too much. all 80's all the time can get very annoying, even for someone like me. having the base of 80's plus the 70's pop, new wave, classic rock, 90's pop and disco really fleshes it all out and makes it easy to listen for extended periods.

so maybe by next year when its time to do this all over again i will have forgotten what a long and tiring day it was.

REMINDER FOR 2009: VOICETRACK!

the skating salesperson

first off, i hate interviewing people. its just so fake. i guess i really don't even "interview" in the conventional way. i don't ask the "50 common interview questions." i just like to talk to the person for a few minutes. i usually know within 5 minutes if they have a fighting chance at the gig.

yesterday was a four-interview day for a new salesperson. grueling. the first ones one run-of-the-mill. then came the final interview of the day. the other interviews had been conducted by both ami and myself, but she had to leave and i was solo for this one. so here i am, going through my spill about how hard it is to get started and how its not instant gratification, blah blah. I then ask her if she has any questions for me.

"Well, I really don't think I'm going to have enough time for this job"

"Oh, well, what kind of things are you involved in?"

"Roller Derby"

"Roller Derby?"

"Yes, we will be having bouts, that's what they're called."

"Oh, I see. I'm sure that takes up a lot of time."

"I really didn't want to come to this interview. I thought it would be good practice."

"Well, thanks for being up front."

so when someone decides to compile a list of great interviews, there you go.

the mini-fridge and why the world is corrupt

when the ups person came to the station on monday there was a special delivery for me. since childhood i just love getting mail. even as grown-up i still get excited when i go to the box... there just might be something besides bills... like a new rolling stone or quadratec catalog. anyway, there's the package and its pretty big and i had no idea it was coming and i was just excited. so i open it and there's this little mini fridge with "do not disturb" and "FOX" printed on the front of it. I get to inspecting it and its filled with little cans of m&m's, almonds, red bull, pringles and a tiny little sewing kit. its for the new series about a hotel or something. there was screener copy of the first episode. cool. and the fridge even works! and it makes things cold! or warm if you choose that setting. anyway, i haven't even heard of the show or watched the first episode or even a trailer for it. i've just recieved this very awesome promo item... i've seen a lot of promo stuff in the last 6 years... lots of t-shirts, stickers, even a welcome mat... but never anything like this. so the next day sally is on the air and she starts talking about the new series and how it will probably be dumb. i freak. start waving my arms. mouthing to her not to talk bad about it. i instantly feel like an idiot. i have succomed to the power of gifts and its just a mini fridge. wow, no wonder the politicians feel obligated to big oil.

it does make things very cold.

katecast 1.0

my fellow 99.9 kate-fm dj and i have decided to pursue podcasting. well, actually she is pursuing it and i am following along so that i may learn her craft. we will record an hour of an actual on-air broadcast when the station is usually human-less. each week we will upload a new katecast on itunes. i will put up a link as soon as i have one. radio magic.

Here's the track list:

It's a Sin: Pet Shop Boys
Deeper Shade of Soul: Urban Dance Squad
Love is Alive: Gary Wright
Hazy Shade of Winter: The Bangles
Enjoy the Silence: Depeche Mode
You are the Girl: The Cars
Whoever You Are: Geggy Tah
3AM Eternal: The KLF
Method of Modern Love: Hall & Oates
No Parking on the Dance Floor: Midnight Star
Sittin' Up In My Room: Brandy

Listen out for it... its a hoot.