We recently interviewed with talented & famous Radio Personality & Event Host in Philadelphia PA.
Well, it’s funny you almost don’t consider it work when you enjoy what you do. I would say the secret behind my success, whatever degree that might be, is that I just keep pushing. There are plenty of obstacles both internally and externally. You don’t let it get to you. The success that I have had so far is attributed to those who keep me going. Strong people around you are necessary. My Grandmother passed almost two years ago, but she taught me strength. She wanted to see me be a success at all costs, and so I have to do it.
Well, right now I’m working on the same stuff that I’ve been working on. I have the show on the air on Heat 100. We have fun on there, and people keep loving it so I won’t change it if it’s doing well. That’s the beauty of radio, you have ratings all the time. If the ratings fall, you got to figure out why and work on making sure they go back to where they should be. We’ll see what comes next. I have many ideas that I want to put into motion. There’s so much creativity out there in the world that needs a better outlet.
I’m inspired by who I want to be. So I guess I inspire myself sometimes. But, in all honesty I’m inspired by my family. When I say family, I don’t necessarily mean blood but those who are truly in my corner. You have family that could care less and you have friends that care more than anyone else. It’s people that inspire me. Both the good and bad.
Tention Free : Who are your inspirations in your field ?
It’s funny, because I am inspired mostly by people that are not in my field. However, there are many people I look up to in the industry of radio like Philadelphia legend Patty Jackson. She’s been around for so many years so consistently. Nothing stopped her. So of all the people in radio I look up to her the most. I listen to a lot of radio other than my own and it all inspires me in one way or another. Inspiration maybe is not the word, moreso guidance. You listen to other people and you say “OK, I want to do something like that.” or “I won’t ever do anything like that.”. The main inspiration has to be being yourself. If you’re not yourself than why should people listen to your show?
Tention Free : Tell us about your radio shows ?
Well, like I was just saying the priority is being yourself. I don’t always know what I’m going to talk about when I get on the air. My favorite thing is taking the callers. I can talk to myself all day so that gets old after a while. I talk, the people call and respond to whatever I’m saying. That’s the fun is talking to them. They always enlighten me on something. The music is great too. I always pride myself on the music I play. I go to great lengths to not play what you hear on every other radio show. Radio is so political as far as who gets played and who doesn’t. I’m so grateful that Heat 100 gives me the reign to play almost whatever I want. I get to introduce people to a lot of stuff that they don’t know. People are so focused on radio singles, I’m an albums person. So you know the stations might only play the single, but nine times out of ten there’s songs on the album that I love more than the singles. And I’ll play that. That’s why they listen to me. If you play and do the same things as every other show, then the people can listen to every other show and why would they listen to mine?
I wouldn’t say I set timed goals or anything like that. I have goals, broad goals. Sometimes you don’t always know the path to get to the goal, but you know what the overall goal is. The key is knowing yourself. If you know yourself, you will find your way to your goals. For example, I never knew I would get into radio. It just happened. It wasn’t a specific goal, but it works with who I am.
Tention Free : What made you decide to become an radio celebrity ?
I would not say celebrity. I have wonderful followers, and some of them say that, but I would never say that. The way I got into radio was pretty funny. My current boss, Simply Monica, she called me one day and basically said that I should come in for an interview to be on the radio. I never thought of it before, but I said sure. So I went in for the interview and I started about a month later. I moved around a little, changed my show up from time to time. Where the show is now is not where it started and not where it will end, as I change it changes. You have to always make it the best representation of yourself. But, that’s how I decided to get into it.
Tention Free : What motivates you to do your best work as a radio personality ?
My listeners. One hundred percent my listeners. If they stop listening, then there is no show. That being said, you don’t just do anything for ratings. I make sure it’s authentic. But, the show is for the listeners. It’s not for me. I talk to myself all day.
My favorite now is Twitter. You go and follow me @RealJMannarino. I talk about everything on there, and we get political on there too so that’s fun! And then my website www.joeymannarino.com is there but we’re doing a lot of renovation on there now so it will be back up soon.