issue #07 pdf - Razorcake

just picked it up by the end of the week and webeat last year, which is pretty cool consideringthat nobody wanted us to be Program Director orGeneral Manager.”George explains the controversy over hisand Melissa’s appointment to the top KXLUposts. “We haven’t been here that long comparedto other staff members who had been chosen. Ithink a lot of people were really freaked out, likethey didn’t know what Melissa and I were allabout yet. They didn’t know us. At KXLU, youknow everyone there. We didn’t really have thatrelationship with people when we were hired.”Having only been DJs since January of2001, George and Melissa were newbies to theworld of college radio. In most cases, a DJ spendstwo or three years on the air before moving up toa management position. Where many students aregroomed for the General Manager and ProgramDirector positions since freshman or sophomoreyear, this year’s directors were simply thrust intothe top spots.“When we were applying for the jobs, it’snot even like we were applying for GM and PD.We just wanted a job. We didn’t think that wewould get GM or PD at all – maybe promotions orpublicity or something like that. When we gotthese jobs, we knew what it was, but we had somuch to learn in comparison to other staff memberswho were brought up in the whole system. Itfreaked a lot of people out that we didn’t knowwhat we were doing.“It kind of makes you put a perspective onthings. We weren’t groomed by that same systemthat everyone else was. But, the station is doingreally well. Everything is running smoothly.Everyone is happy. And this is the best Fundrazorever. It’s good to be underestimated and then succeedmore than you ever thought you could.Honestly, Melissa and I have been really organizedfor this Fundrazor. We have been planningit since June or July. We tried really hard because,with last year’s Fundrazor, [KXLU Live] Volume 6got screwed up, all the premiums were sent outreally late. We wanted to make sure that it wasdone 100% better. Nothing personal against them.That’s just what happened.”So how did two clueless college seniorsmanage to lead the station through such a successfulFundrazor?“The first thing that we did was talk to peopleabout what the hell Fundrazor was. We hadnever done a Fundrazor show before… Weremember seeing people at Fundrazor while wewere doing our Fundrazor show, but we had noidea what to do about premiums or packs or whento do it or how long it was. We didn’t know thatshit. All we did was keep talking to people – FredKiko (host of Demolisten), Chris Checkman,Uncle Tim, Nestor – the people that had beenthere for a long time. We talked to them andshowed them that we wanted to understand. So,we taught ourselves and [listened to] what theytold us. We just kind of learned how to do it. Iguess walking into it blindly was a blessing in disguisebecause we didn’t know what we were gettinginto. Maybe that’s why we succeeded. I canimagine being like [last year’s management team]– having a new staff come in that has never donea Fundrazor before. That’s pretty hardcore. Evenif that happens next year, I’d feel kind of weird, like, ‘Oh God, these kids havenever done a Fundrazor before.’”Unique to the 2001 Fundrazor is the large amount of support from new listeners.“Seriously, I’ve taken a lot of calls and a lot of them are new supporters.There are a lot of return people, but also a lot of new people. A lot of people, forsome reason or other, have just been finding out about our station, and I think thatreflects on our total… Honestly, this year, not to take anything away from anyoneelse – because the specialty shows did really well – but rock programming kickedthe fuckin’ shit out of a lot of other stuff this year.”KXLU’s rock programming has traditionally struggled through Fundrazor.Where a one-hour specialty show may normally receive between $800 and $1,200in pledges, four-hour daytime rock shifts tend to average about $1,000 to $2,000.Even the prime 2-6 P.M. shift rarely earns more than $3000-4000. This year, however,morning shows (6-10 A.M.) are reaching $5,000 while afternoon shifts arebusting through the $7,000 mark.“Rock programming tore shit up this year, which is weird because it’s usuallythe well-known specialty shows and Alma [that carry Fundrazor]. It wasn’t likethat at all this year. I don’t know what the implications of that are, but obviouslyfor rock programming it is a big deal.”Given this astounding success, this miniscule radio station, with a mere3000-watt broadcast range, has earned enough money to begin live streaming overthe internet, thus ending a Fundrazor era.“Next year, after streaming, people from Japan and Kansas and New Yorkcan donate. It will be so much more. People from all over the world can donate tothe Fundrazor, which is insane. This is the last Fundrazor as we know it. Next year,with streaming Fundrazor and international pledges, it’s going to be a lot different.Like, we’re probably going to have to have an online form for certain premiums.I’m looking forward to that. More people hearing our station is exciting.”Back on the fourth floor, Melissa is starting to finalize the Fundrazor tallies.With only a few hours left, the station has earned$116,000, better than any prior Fundrazor. Melissawrites the total on a piece of white cardboardhanging on the wall of the entryway. She turnsaround to talk about her mixed feelings towardsthis year’s Fundrazor.“What if LA is just playing a cruel joke onus and we only get $20,000 back. I thinkthat might happen.”KXLU FUNDRAZOR POSTER(RIGHT).(BELOW) VOLUNTEERSMANNING THE PHONES