Happy World Radio Day! I thought I’d post a quick story about my radio journey and answer a couple of frequently asked questions that I get.
–How did I get into radio? I get this question a lot. During my senior year of high school, I worked at a local bar washing dishes on the weekends. On Monday and Tuesday, before I went to school, I would wake up early and clean the bar. One night while taking a break, I was just thinking about what I was going to do with my life when I was sent the answer. I heard the DJ on the radio, probably around 2 or 3 am, and he was AWFUL! At that moment I said to myself “That’s what I’m going to do!” I plugged away and made connections, networking with anyone I could. It all paid off when I was hired to “board op” a small AM station. I was in the building! The door was open, and it was time for me to break it down. Five months after I was hired I made my debut on the FM side’s classic rock station. I was on from midnight to 6 am. I was terrible! I’ve gotten slightly better since then. HA! That was the begining and all these years later I still love what I do.
Oh, the DJ that was on the air that late night? His father owned the station so they had to put him on some time, so overnights it was. I learned that a few years into my career.
–How did I get the name Meltdown? I get this one a lot too. It’s a long story, but here’s the short version. There was a morning show that had a character named “Meltdown Mitch”. My friends started calling me the “Meltdown One”. I would also call into the overnight DJ, Ted Shredd (Not the same one as before) and he would put me on the air telling stupid jokes under that name. I guess nothing has changed..LOL I’ve always loved the anonymity of radio. Theater of the mind if you will.
About a year into my career, I got my first full-time radio shift, doing nights on an AM metal station. Yes, we were Too Loud For FM! My boss came up to me and simply said “Just call yourself “Meltdown”” and the rest is history.
Rebel Radio 14X
Happy World Radio Day and Thank You for listening!
Check out a few pictures from my radio career.
