Radio DJ isn't a difficult job. In a way it's like being a security officer. There's a lot of nothing between somethings, and often the challenge is shrugging off lethargy when there's work to be done. Listener phone calls are technically "work," and a good DJ will embrace each opportunity as one to shine.
The most common phone call begins with "Can you play..." or "Who sings..." I enjoy the calls that go, "Yeah... (long pause) There's a song, and I don't know the words, or who sings it. Can you help me?" Believe it or not, but my big country music brain and Google (mostly Google) helps me answer 9 of 10 of those queries. This can never get old, because it's essentially what sets my radio station apart from those run by computers and programmers hundreds of miles away.
So how far does my patience and generosity go? I'll admit to growing frustrated with drunks who berate me with requests for Merle Haggard every five minutes. But I'm more than accommodating when listeners call for directions somewhere, ticket information, weather, because they're lost, sick, lonely or even to check what time their favorite television program is on. Yes, that means I'm losing a listener, but I hope my amiable manner brings them back on a day that program is in reruns.
The strangest question I've gotten - until this week - was "What time is (a specific movie) playing at the theatre?" What am I, Movie phone? Well, I was on that night. I reached back, grabbed the newspaper and helped her out.
I was stumped last night, when a male caller asked something beyond my scope of expertise.
Me: "Hi QDR?"
Caller: "Yeah... (long pause). Do you know where I can find a truck load of watermelon?"
Me: "I don't. I don't know. Why are you looking for one?"
Caller: "OK" (hangup)
Initially I thought, "Why in the hell would I know that?" Farming isn't an area I delve into often, and I haven't ever procured any amount of melon suitable for streetside sales. Yet this man thought of me (more specifically he thought of my radio station) when stumped with this impossible dilemma. If I were able to help him, there's no doubt I would have created a listener for life. At the end of the day, that's all I care about.
So, how 'bout it. Where can a country boy find a truck full of watermelons?
This is a deviation from my normally music-centric musings, but humor me. I'll be quick.
Last weekend, I got to conduct an interview - Oprah style - with Keith Urban. He pulled all his meet-and-greeters into a room, and we both sat in easy chairs and sipped gigantic bottles of water while discussing his kids, wife, music and Michael Buble. 
Which is exactly how we began our chat. Urban playfully compared me to Geraldo, and then Maury Povich. It was pretty funny, and I imagine to some extent he was serving up humor to the hungry audience. I've followed Urban closely over the years (as I have all country superstars) and learned he likes to keep his high profile marriage to Nicole Kidman as private as possible. The first thing I did was congratulate him on five years of marriage, and ask question about their relationship. After he scooted around my third question on the topic with a few more quips and jokes, I changed the topic, deciding to return later if time allowed. It didn't. 
So I pulled an audible and stuck to what made him comfortable. After all, the goal was to entertain the 30 or so people in the crowd, not to satisfy my curiosities. I hope one day he writes a tell-all, but to be honest he probably shouldn't unless purging his conscious provides mental therapy. Anything else would just be fodder for tabloids, and a man with that much artistic talent doesn't need to pander. 
...I'd ask if Teller gets a cut of all of Penn Jillette's personal appearances. Does Teller get paid for staying home?
I don't know. No one knows for sure yet. But I can tell you it won't be "Out of Summertime," the song that was leaked to YouTube last weekend. Here's why:
Radio DJ isn't a difficult job. In a way it's like being a security officer. There's a lot of nothing between somethings, and often the challenge is shrugging off lethargy when there's work to be done. Listener phone calls are technically "work," and a good DJ will embrace each opportunity as one to shine.
I was stumped last night, when a male caller asked something beyond my scope of expertise.
Scotty McCreery is the American Idol! 
Scotty will begin with the 'American Idol' tour, but eventually will have travel go from station to station for radio visits. He'll need to impress a room full of radio DJ.'s who typically aren't as easily moved as "Scotty's Hotties." After this first single, every song he releases needs to be as good as those released by current stars. His co-contestants whiffed from time to time, but Brad Paisley never does. 
Macho Man Randy Savage died last week, which is sad. I was as big a wrestling fan as any well-rounded pre-teenage boy should be. 
It's not real! It's as scripted “Days of Our Lives” or “General Hospital.” Macho Man didn't “win” the belt, someone decided he would win the belt. I'm not trying to say these men and women aren't great athletes and entertainers. Just don't try to tell me those belts aren't made of chocolate. 
I Google searched "how much money does the American Idol winner get." The answer is astonishing. 
In March, I got a peak into how much country artists make, and the answer was also surprising. An artist with one hit (think: Steel Magnolia), is basically keeping up on bills, but not getting ahead even with the most modest lifestyle. An artist with two or three hits, (Think: Justin Moore), is basically making a middle class income. It's not until you're selling out arenas that artists begin raking in the money to cover mansions diamond studded bikinis.
Additionally, Haley is from Wheeling, Illinois, a short 39 minute drive from Chicago. It doesn't hurt to have a city the size of Chicago rooting for you. They want her to win as much as the greater Raleigh area wants Scotty to finish first, and they have twice the population.