Hollywood Music TV Canada Interviews Vic Mendoza of
The VM Underground Internet Radio Show
The VM Underground Internet Radio Show
www.v-m-u.com
www.myspace.com/vmunderground
www.hollywoodmusic.tv/vmunderground
www.myspace.com/vmunderground
www.hollywoodmusic.tv/vmunderground
HMTV Canada: 1. Vic you been in the independent scene for many years now and currently working as a Solo Artist and Producer of many side projects and interviewed independent/signed Artists, Models, Indie Film Makers, Authors, Promoters and much more in the Entertainment Industry. I know you started out in your career as a DJ on Krush spinning music when did you decide to become an Interviewer? Who did you complete your first Interview with and what was the experience like for you the first time?
VM Underground: It just kinda happened. I was listening to another DJ on Krush using a speaker phone and it seemed simple. So I just tried it to see how the out come was I guess just for fun. Then it snow balled from there! My 1st interview was with Teresa of NYs based Kinetic. I sucked really badly then! Lol!
HMTV Canada: 2. In comparison from when you first started out in the field how do you think your Interview Skills have advanced since then?
VM Underground: Like I said I was really bad! But times have changed and you learn through the years what to say and not to say. Im still learning everyday. I listen to a lot of talk radio and other interviewers and study them also. I still feel I have a lot to learn.
HMTV Canada: 3. What advice can you give to us yuppies that want to get started into this field of Interviewing Bands?
VM Underground: Best way to learn is just to do it. You find your skills through time. Learn to listen to other interviewers and come up with your own way of interviewing. Like I said I have a lot to learn also and I’m still learning! And don't get drunk and start yelling at your guest's lol!
HMTV Canada: 4. Vic as an Interviewer do you have any influences people that you find an inspiration in this field or on talk radio? Who is your favorite talk radio personality and why?
VM Underground: There are a few. I used to go to church a lot of listen to the pastor preach on stage and listen to a lot of teaching tapes. I think back then I felt that must be a cool gift to speak like that in public. As time went on terrestrial radio started to get real boring! My brother turned me on to this talk radio show called Tom Leykis one day and it was pretty entertaining. I never was into terrestrial talk radio till I got onto Krush and interviewed bands. Then I started listening to 97.1 free talk and KFI 640. I really like The John and Jeff show for the humor, serious topics and their opinions. Adam Corolla pretty funny and good style and of course Howard Stern is very funny.
HMTV Canada: 5. VM Underground used to have an Online Ezine what was the work involved in running the Ezine and why did you decide to dump the project?
VM Underground: To much work and no time! I lost my webmaster in 2004 I'm guessing. And that's when the Myspace thing came around and used that as a temp site till I found another webmaster. Then that's when I saw a bulletin for Krush Radio then from there I talked to Doc Nasty (Dan) the owner and he mentioned me about being a DJ and cross promoting. Then it went from there I met Luke Bones on Mysapce and he became a part of the VMU and took over the webmaster position. Then both Luke and I got to busy with the Show and personal things and I decided to let it go.
HMTV Canada: 6. Vic I understand you now run a Syndicated radio show, who are all your Radio Syndicates now and what are your hopes for Syndication of The VM Underground Internet Radio show in the future and as a Radio Personality?
VM Underground: There are to many to name If you go to www.v-m-u.com or www.myspace.com/vmunderground you'll see the current listings we lost a few gained a few so stations change from time to time. I'm hoping the show will educate and entertain fans and hope it will continue to grow. As far as a future in Radio would be great but don't know if I can ever do terrestrial to many rules. But it is something to think about.
HMTV Canada: 7. Vic I understand the The VM Underground Internet Radio Show now is well organized with a dedicated Crew. Who were your former members of your crew and the new additions of The VM Underground Crew and their Titles or role in working for VM Underground? For example who do the Bands and Celebrities report to appear on your Show? Where do the Bands send their Music for airplay on your Show? Do you have someone on your Crew completing CD Reviews?
VM Underground: We don't do CD reviews we're just a show. We have a lot of promoters and such that help contribute to the show and again to many to name. As far as VMU crew we have teamed up with Pam of WFLM she is the new webmaster now and helps with the behind the scenes work. Metal Mike of Metal Minds Promotions does a lot of the bookings and the news on the show. Lisa does the street team and she has her own crew for that. Our old crew died somewhere Luke, Leslie, Boozer and Reaper and Lana. Steven from Past Tense of Never still does his funny bits when he is away from the band. Other then that the rest just contribute to the show we work with a lot of great promoters and bookers.
HMTV Canada: 8. What work is involved in coming up with a musical play list for The VM Underground Show? Do your fans request music from the play list? If fans want to hear a new band where can they send their song requests on your Show?
VM Underground: There's really no a set play list because we concentrate more on the guests that call in and prepare for that. I randomly pick songs that are played and the ones that do well for the show. Metal Mike contributes some also and so do the listeners. It's best for bands also to have their fans request their songs it helps a lot! I have like a ton of things going on during the show and I always forget who to play. Any band can submit songs to my vm7573@gmail.com or vmunderground@wflmradio.com but please tag your songs with the band name 1st then title of track if you don't it doesn't get played.
HMTV Canada: 9. Vic can you explain the process the hard work involved in getting behind the scenes for Interviewing the Bands and Celebrities, the planning involved, the amount of time it takes to research the people you Interview before they get on the show and work involved in scheduling Interviews?
VM Underground: Its hard when you are doing 5 nights a week and I don't usually get time to study on the guests. Some bookers add guests at the last min so I get 1 hour to prepare. Then booker send the info and some fan questions which helps but I have to still carry the interview. Metal Mike likes to throw big bands at the last min what a swell guy lol! Usually Pam and Mike have the schedule and I try over the weekend and go over them. There so much going on its hard to I have to concentrate on my personal life and prepare other things for the show. I usually have the typical list that works pretty much for every guest on a clip board and just run with that bio, tour, cd's and your love life all ways works lol!
HMTV Canada: 10. Vic what was or greatest and worst experience as an Interviewer in this field? Are your past Vic Rants related to your radio show experiences as an Interviewer?
VM Underground: There were so many great interviews to many to name I really loved when Craig and JD from Black Label Society called and in studio I had Waiting for Decay I had a lot of fun. The worst oh man there were a few not to throw band names around. There was 1 time I interviewed this 1 band and I kept repeating the same questions. I still get very nervous before every interview. The typical rants I think just help till the listener how I feel and who I am. There are times that I regret ranting on some topics but then again radio is entertainment and I am a human being. Some people enjoy some people don't. But I think now people expect it lol.
HMTV Canada: 11. Vic I understand that you do all the processing of editing your Interviews and Podcasts? With what little time you have its amazing what you have accomplished so far to date can you explain the editing process of your Interviews and the work involved in producing and mixing them? How is the Podcasting working out for The VM Underground Internet Radio Show today?
VM Underground: Podcasting saved my show. Brandon S Hire turned me on to podcasting and I fell in love with it. Many times I had people miss a show and all they have to do is download it now. Not all shows can be downloaded but I try to get the entertaining interviews 1st. I use Audacity for editing then I throw it on Adobe Audition to put the show together. A 45 min show can take me 2 hours sometimes cuz with all the things going here at home.
HMTV Canada: 12. Vic can you elaborate on the promotional Graphic Artwork VM Artisan completes for the Bands and Celebrities you complete for your show? Can you tell us a little bit about VM Artisan your Artistic side is this just simply a hobby or would you like to start a profitable business in the future from your Graphic Artwork? With lots on the go you also have a solo CD your working on currently called Willow Street when do you plan to release the first CD and how are things working out for you now with this project?
VM Underground: VM Artisan is a hobby for now and again I cant get time to sit and do graphics also 1 art piece can take like 5 hours and that's 5 hours I could be working on my music or podcasting. When I get away from the radio and music I like to sit and do graphics. Willow Street is still in the works and hoping for CD 1 to be complete by DEC 2007. Its rough completing it cuz of time but half the CD is done.
HMTV Canada: 13. Vic as a DJ for Hollywood Music TV how is our music site working out for The VM Underground Internet Radio Show? What are your hopes and aspirations as a DJ for Hollywood Music TV?
VM Underground: I havent updated my site on there in a while its gotten me some good exposure to new music and friends. Im hoping to see where it goes and being patient. Steve and some of the VJ's have been really cool sending me bands to interview they were there pretty much from the beginning when I 1st started and really supported me. Somebody please tell Steve to play my shows!! lol!
HMTV Canada: 14. Vic what are your famous words that you would like to shout out frequently today as a radio personality? Can you elaborate on the promos that you come up with for the VM Underground Radio Show the process of creating the unique promotional VM Underground Audio Clips and Video?
VM Underground: WORD would be the famous word. Believe it or not a lot of the fans and other DJ's make most of the promo spots for the show. Brandon S hire made a lot in the past also and Steven from Past Tense of Never. When I 1st started Krush I had no mic so I had to make my own segments and clips. Been a while since I made any on my own I still play some old ones I do but I always like to pull stupid stuff off my answering machine lol!
HMTV Canada: 15. Vic what is involved in running The VM Underground Internet Radio Show, attending concerts that come up the process and time it takes on you for promoting, working with the crew, listener base for requesting songs and working out time slots for Interviews? Do you find this overwhelming sometimes?
VM Underground: At 1st yes I did everything on my own for awhile then finally build my own crew for scheduling and booking now. It got to rough YES but was worth it. You really have to stay dedicated and on fire to do this there are times where I wake up and wanted to throw everything away but what would be the point worked to hard on this. I had to chill out going to concerts everything was to far. I get invited to many shows and events and everyone treats me so nice. I'm taking a little break from going to shows and work on my personal life, music and promoting the VMU.
HMTV Canada: 16. Vic before closing off the interview is there any shout outs or any last words you would like to add to this interview?
VM Underground: Much thanks to the fans and supporters who stuck by me even in my drunken rants and stupidity!
HMTV Canada: 17. Thank you Vic it's been a pleasure to interview VM Underground I hope goals were met in emphasizing all the hard work involved that goes into The VM Underground Internet Radio Show.
VM Underground: Rock on and much thanks to you!!
vM
