MusicInterviewsNow.com

Tingle made time for me to go over some of the things that make Sherman and Tingle’s morning spot on Q101.1 what it is today. We talked about his fans, money, and yes...Clairissa Jenkins!

What inspired you to want to get into radio? Where did you attend school...etc?

Tawn Mastry. She was a DJ @KNAC where I grew up in California. I always used to watch her interview videos for METAL HEAD and I thought to myself, “What a great job!” I knew at a very early age that I wanted to be a DJ.

I went to Arizona State University where I WON my job in radio. A station called “The Edge” was holding a contest on campus called, “Who wants to be a DJ”. Long story short.....I tried out and won!

What type of music do you like to listen to?

Everything but country...that is the one format I just can’t get into.

Any hobbies?

I like to work out, water ski and tear it up on the weekends! Anything with good friends is always fun.

Whose cd do you have playing in your car or on your iPod right now?

I am a CD person while in the car and an iPod dude while at home. In the car right now I made a series of mix CD’s (mostly alternative....Deftones, AFI, Alice in Chains, etc) I also have a 70’s funk CD and a mix of some hip hop (Q-tip, Outkast, Freeway)

What's your dream interview?

My dream interview would have to be a combination of people, all together in the studio with feet up, drinking beers. These people would be...Vince Vaughn, Josh Todd of Buckcherry, Carmen Electra, Boots Electric from Eagles of Death Metal and a hot model named Keeley Hazell.

Ever have an interview totally go sour (if you can, explain)?

That happens!! With movie stars for example....my personality is a “regular guy” type. Sometimes you get movie stars who want to talk about their “craft”. They actually think people care about how what struggles their character had or how crucial good lighting is. Blah blah blah! Let’s talk about the thing that drives you nuts about raising kids or your favorite sports team. I want people to get to know something interesting about THEM as people – not how great it was working with the director. People that put me to sleep? Nicolas Cage, Jason lee and Michael Cera. People who didn’t put me to sleep? Paul Rudd, Mark Wahlberg and Lisa Lampinelli who by the way is the best interview ever,

Do you still get any pre interview jitters?

Early in my career I got Jitters. Now that I have grown in this business I don’t get jitters anymore. I do, however, get discouraged. When someone walks into the studio I can tell right away how an interview is going to go based on they act when they walk in. 99% of the time I am right. Chris Cornell is the only one that fooled me. I thought my interview with him was going to go sour. He ended up being great!

Can you tell us one thing about you that your listeners might not know about you?

Wow. I have to think about that one since I talk about my life a lot. I really don’t talk about my religious beliefs.

What is it like doing radio in Chicago?

I have been here since 2006 and I love it, mainly because Midwest people are my kind of people. Our audience makes this job fun.

Can you give us a run down of your daily routine? Start to finish...examples would be any prep work before you go on air...research, etc.

My alarm goes off at 2:55am. I start driving to work at around 3:15am to get to work at 4:00am so I can show prep for 2 hours. On the air we just have fun! That is the easy part. Then work actually starts at 10:00 am after the show....for the next days show. We unwind for about a half hour then meet at 10:30 and decide content for the next show. I usually leave at 2:30pm and get home by 4:00. Then, I do homework with my girls, work out, eat dinner, play with my girls and finally go to bed by 7pm.

As far as prep is concerned, we talk about US first. Is there anything going on in our lives we can talk about? Is there a story in the news we can relate to? We then try to come up with parodies or different takes on topical news stories. After meetings are over, I start working on Phone taps, which are our prank phone calls. Those can take a while to get even one.... Sometimes 2 to 3 hours

Where did Clarissa Jenkins come from?

I have been doing girls voices since middle school. “Clairissa” came from watching too much IN Living Color when I was younger. There was a sketch that Kim Wayans did where she would talk sh*t about people and at the very end of the sketch, she would always say, “Don’t nobody say nothin bad about Miss Jenkins!!” Her character painted this “Miss Jenkins” as a kind lady but also as a dirty, nasty lady. I created this never-seen “Miss Jenkins” and just added the name Clairissa!

Coolest thing you purchased since being a radio personality... (Any comments or ideas on salaries of radio personalities...for those fans interested in getting into radio)

Coolest thing I got was my house I guess!? Money in radio is not what it used to be. The million dollar DJ is not as common as it once was. Bigger market size doesn’t mean you make more money either. I have friends in phoenix that are making more than people I know here in Chicago!

Is there anything you would like to tell your fans?

I would like to tell my fans that I appreciate them more than anything. I love when they email me or call me on my cell. (Yes, I give out my cell number to anyone) Feedback, whether good or bad, helps me get better. NOTHING makes me happier when someone emails, text or calls and says that something I did made there day. To me, that is the ultimate job satisfaction.

Where do you see yourself in 7 years?

I am hoping I can remain here at Q101 till I am irrelevant and done!! I want them to kick me out when I am old and in need or a walker. This is the only place I have moved to since I have been in radio and I don’t want to move anymore. I don’t want to be DJ Nomad!

Finally, is there anything you would like to talk about that I didn’t mention?

I love cleavage......

When you wake up in the morning, make sure you tune in to Q101.1-Chicago’s Alternative, and listen to Sherman and Tingle...it’s the best way to start your day off with a laugh.