Working in radio, we often are asked a lot of the same questions by listeners, friends and family. We decided it might finally be time to actually put something together for you once and for all. So, here are the answers to the questions we're asked most often:
Who's the coolest person you've met?
Scott: He once met Johnny Cash who told him that he listened to Scott on the radio that day. Unfortunately, he didn't get a picture with him, but he did get an autograph that was made out to his wife!
Ridder: Garth. Hands down. Literally one of the nicest people you could ever meet. Him and Trisha are as sweet as a pecan pie.
Shannen: I feel like this question is always hard to answer because it changes based on the person! A lot of people freak out when I say I've met Carrie Underwood, but for me, it was really cool getting to meet Keith - despite the fact that I smelled like three days of Country Thunder and was drenched in rain... He was so nice!
What's the best concert you've been to?
Scott: Bruce Springsteen by a mile.
Ridder: This is a really tough one. There's been a lot of really great shows. Pretty much every Kenny Chesney show is amazing, and I've seen him 10 times. Top 3 would have to be Justin Timberlake with Pink, Elton John and Kenny Chesney with Lady A and Miranda at Summerfest. That show went so long, security pulled Kenny off stage...have to add that Violent Femmes made an appearance. Honorable mention to Kenny at Lambeau with Jason Aldean. Lost my voice at that one.
Shannen: This changes every time someone asks. As Ridder mentioned - there are so many. Every Kenny show is great based on the fact that the man is a performer. I had a lot of fun at the Eagles show at Summerfest, JOHNNYSWIMM ...just any show, and John Mayer or Keith Urban because they're so fun to watch. Eric Church's last show at the former Bradley Center was also INCREDIBLE. I also remember OneRepublic at Summerfest being the best show for a very long time...I'll just stop there before I write a novel.
What's the most unique experience you've had with a celebrity, on the air or at a public appearance?
Scott: Johnny Cash telling me he was listening to my show.
Ridder: I once got to host a cooking demo with celebrity chef, Tyler Florence. That was really cool.
Shannen: This didn't even come from me being on the air, but when I was a Promotions Assistant. I got to take a couple on a private plane tour of Milwaukee out of Signature...with Thompson Square performing on the plane. That was super cool.
How'd you get into radio?
Scott: My older brother was in radio, and I thought that was cool! (Scott is the only one of the show that went to broadcast school)
Ridder: My high school buddy interned at our local radio station, became a part-timer and got on-air. I hung with everyone from the station all of the time, and one day, the PD was like, "We should just get you on the air." The rest is history.
Shannen: I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, but after wrapping up a year at UW-Madison, I started to apply for random internships and landed at what is now iHeart Media Milwaukee! I loved my time spent there that summer, so I transferred and continued to work. I'll be celebrating 8 years in March already!
What time do you wake up every morning? What time do you go to bed?
Scott: 3:30AM and 10:00PM
Ridder: I'm up between 3 and 3:30AM most days. Sometimes earlier. I'm off to bed around 10 most nights. Summer is the worst because I'm often up watching baseball. The latest I've went to bed before work was during the NLCS last year...west coast game in LA went extra innings, and I was up after 1AM.
Shannen: When I first started, 2:30AM. I've since become a little more lax and wake up sometime between 3 and 3:30AM. I don't have a bedtime because it's really when my body tells me. I try to be in my bed between 8PM-9PM, but I usually don't fall asleep until 10:30PM-11PM. You never get used to the hours...
What time do you get into work? What time do you leave?
Scott: 4:30AM and 12PM
Ridder: I'm into work between 4/4:30AM...Some days, ok, maybe more than I care to admit lately - 4:45AM. But, I do a lot of work and prep from home in the middle of the afternoon and evening before. I'm out of the office most days around 11AM.
Shannen: I'm usually at work around 4AM...I do take a short ten minute nap from 4:25-4:35AM on occasions...usually on just really bad days during the winter time. I get out sometime between 1PM and 2PM...lately, closer to 1PM, which is great!
Do you get along outside of work?
Scott: I get along just fine.
Ridder: Ugh...JK - Absolutely. I'd like to think we generally like to hang out. I often meet up with Scott at ball games and Shannen at concerts.
Shan: Absolutely! Not just with the boys, but with their wives, too. We've got a great bunch, so it's really easy to hang out when we run into each other at Summerfest or go to our annual baseball game or brewery!
Who's the coolest person you've gotten to interview?
Scott: Former President Jimmy Carter
Ridder: Another tough one...Always love chatting with Brothers Osborne and Chris Young. But, the most unique has got to be Harry Connick Jr...what a nice dude, too! NOLA represent!
Shannen: I've had the chance to help out with some really cool interviews, like Reba, Kiefer Suthereland, etc...For me, I will always remember interviewing Thomas Rhett and Tim McGraw because I talked to those two by myself, and I was really proud of being able to handle it. I'm not the best at interviews, so it's always nice to have Scott and Ridder close by!
Do you get recognized in public?
Scott: Nope! Unless they see my name.
Ridder: From time to time. Sometimes, I wonder if people recognize me but don't want to say something...Seriously, please do. Always like meeting people! Just don't ask if I'm Ridder, and then say, "I don't like country music..." Don't be that guy...
Shan: Occasionally. Not often, though, which is kind of nice! It's always an ego boost when someone comes up and introduces themselves or shouts my name or something, though. Just frightening at times! lol
Do you get free concert tickets? Do you get to meet everyone?
Scott: Tickets - sometimes. Do you get to meet everyone? Not everyone.
Ridder: Yes, sometimes. Not all of the time. And no, I don't get to meet everyone. Most of the time, I'd rather give you the chance to meet your favorite artists.
Shan: Yeah, definitely! It's not to every concert...especially popular concerts because we give all of the tickets away to give you the chance to see your favorites! As Ridder mentioned, we give all of our meet and greets to listeners. Most of the time, when we meet people, we're in passing or getting ready to go on-stage.
Do you actually like country music?
Scott: Yes. Yes, I do.
Ridder: Yes, I listen to everything. From NWA to Kenny G. But 80% of the time, I've got country music on.
Shan: Absolutely! I was raised on country. I listen to everything, but country is probably the one genre I don't get sick of.
Where else have you been the air?
Scott: Rock Island, Illionis; Monterey, California; San Francisco, California; Madison, Wisconsin and Muhhhhh-wokkie.
Ridder: I've been blessed to get to work in my home state. However, I've covered every corner of the state! Green Bay, LaCrosse, Madison, and I've done shows in Sheboygan, Wausau, and Duluth/Superior.
Shan: I'm new to the game. I've been on Milwaukee and do some fill-in work from time to time in Madison.