Sam Kunz: First, I want to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk to us here at Baltimore OUTLoud. I know you have a show tonight. For those who may not know, where can people tune in to listen?
Dave Kolesar: You can go to the website www.wgay.fm. Click on the play button or on the logo. You can listen on your phone, if you have an android. You can find the live365 app. Search for WGAY FM.
SK: How long has WGAY.FM been on the air?
DK: Well, we started broadcasting under the WGAY banner in 2006. We had been broadcasting since 1998. Before that, it was a very low power broadcasting range, just a few blocks, literally for 20 years, since I was 13.
SK: What do you hope to accomplish through your show?
DK: It’s just for fun. We are here to entertain ourselves. The format of the show is like a house party that is broadcast. Over the years, we have had many guests. We are kind of a social group. We are a bunch of friends who put out what we think radio should be. We have live acts come in, such as Tom Goss, who is a phenomenal talent.
SK: What are your goals for the future? Do you see taking this national?
DK: I think you can do both. It is something that is absolutely fun. I am having the time of life putting this show on. I have a few things in the works and hopefully we will hit the big time. It’s fun doing it just as it is.
SK: Being a radio host, what would you say is the hardest thing when it comes to getting people to open up when they call in?
DK: Most times, it’s knowing what to say yourself. If you are working with someone who doesn't naturally emote, then you have figure out how to figure out how to fill dead air. With all the militia tasking to keep the show going, it’s a lot harder than it looks.
SK: Many have said that radio is a dying art form. Do you believe this?
DK: I believe if they are dying, the wounds are self-inflicted; radio tightening its play lists to 300 songs. Most people have heard them; they can download them to their ipod and forget radio. I am trying to counteract that by having several thousand songs in my play list.
SK: What do you cover on your radio show? Would you say it’s more political or just come what may?
DK: Well I must say if we cover an issue, its irreverent. We usually cover the news of that week. It depends on who shows up and what they want to talk about. We can run the range of gay rights to baseball scores.
SK: Describe for us, or walk us through a broadcast if you will, what kind of format would you say you are?
DK: Some of us meet up for dinner that is our warm up. As far as prep goes, it goes ad hoc. I don't know what the first song is going to be until I look at the LPS. Then we go into music, then we go into talk and we will do that until we get bored. All sorts of unpredictable things happen. You're just going to have to listen to find out. Patrick (His Husband) will take turns on the board. I am more absurdist than Patrick is. I try to keep people running their mouths as long as I Can.
SK: I listen in quite frequently, so I have to ask, would you say your audience is more gay or more straight or do you wave an even mix.
DK: I think it’s an even mix. The live show is more gay. At the same time I would lying if I said we were taking the world by storm. We have a good mix.
SK: Do you have any amusing anecdotes about something that happened during a broadcast?
DK: We had a DJ from Taiwan called in and hit on my sister. There was this newspaper columnist from Baltimore, during the great blizzard a year or two ago. He was hilarious and I think I am talking to him now. [Sam’s Note: Yes he was]
Check out WGAY.FM. It’s our station, for us, by us, and going out to the world to hear our voice.
