Adam Smith
All things for all media – Consultant | Producer/Director | Talent & More
About Adam Smith
As I look back on a broadcasting and entertainment career that started in the late 1970s, I have to admit, I never thought I would have been lucky enough to spend my entire career in and around Los Angeles. In my chosen field, LA was in fact, “the place”. And not only did I start out doing exactly what I wanted to, I also realized a great deal of abilities and opportunities far beyond what I had expected.
It all started in radio at the tender young age of 19. Since then I’ve been fortunate enough to have been an on-air DJ, voice-over announcer, voice-actor, on-camera commercial actor, on-stage singer and musician, news producer, news director, production director, operations manager, program director, radio consultant, network operations director, personal consultant to well known sports and music stars, producer of both audio and video commercials, infomercials, documentaries and programs as well as an advertising and marketing specialist.
It has been a phenomenal experience! When I remember those first non-entertainment jobs I had, I could see how my life could have easily been very different if I’d chosen to stay in the “9 to 5” world. By being in radio and entertainment, I’ve had the opportunity to do some absolutely amazing things throughout my career, and learn so much about not just the broadcasting industry, but the entire world of entertainment.
When I was young, I tried extremely hard to leave southern California. I would apply for jobs in New York, Florida, Vegas, Texas, Georgia … anywhere but here in southern California. So it’s funny that my career kept me here, but also very fortuitous. Today I am a freelance producer, director, voice-talent and consultant still living the good life near Los Angeles. Even though the weather is nice, there’s no water and too many people … meh, what are you gonna do? I look at it this way: if I tried to leave for the better part of the last 40 years and couldn’t, why should I now?
When I started in radio, it was a very different time and radio was a much different business way back then. We took our role as “public trustees” and “serving the public interest” very seriously. When I started, the radio station and operators (an operator was really anybody who controlled the transmitter, which was part of our job in the smaller markets) were required to be licensed by the FCC, and it wasn’t easy to get those licenses so nobody wanted to lose them. Thus you understood what was expected of you outside the realm of entertainment. The background things the public really wasn’t aware of like operating a transmitter within the legal limits, rules and regulations, broadcasting laws, and the list goes on.
Then there was the entertainment part. We played music of course, but also had to come up with entertaining things to talk about. As an on-air personality, we really had to be knowledgeable in many different areas, informed about current and local events, and find new and interesting things that would engage the listener and make them feel like a part of the show. A lot of people have the notion that for a DJ, it was four hours on-the-air and then sitting by the pool the rest of the day. In actuality, it was hours of preparation outside that four-hour air-shift to develop a show that was entertaining, relevant and topical.
So here I am, no longer on-the-air, but with a mind still full of things I think my listeners would enjoy. Things that might spark a conversation or debate, things that are entertaining. Besides, if I don’t get all this stuff out of my head, I might explode!
There is another very important reason why I started this site. As a way to share some of what I’ve learned as a producer/director and a consultant when it comes to how people present themselves. I have been very fortunate and honored to act as a consultant for some very talented radio personalities, well known sports figures and award winning musicians and performers. It’s funny how many performers are actually very introverted people and not comfortable at all being the center of attention. But when you are the center of attention, whether a movie star, recording artist, radio or TV personality, or even making a presentation as a business owner, you will lose a great opportunity to engage those around you if you don’t present yourself properly. There is an expectation others have about you, and it’s that expectation that can open many personal and professional doors for you if you know how to take advantage of it. Unfortunately, I’ve found that many people don’t understand or respond to that expectation and as a result lose great opportunities. I’ve always been the kind of person who notices the details and watches closely what’s going on around me. As a radio personality, I spent a great deal of time in front of the public, but also watched others in my industry and saw how they were missing the mark in their presentation and professional demeanor. As a program director and operations manager, part of my responsibility was to work with the radio personalities not just on their show, but also to help them with their public image. And that’s what I hope to accomplish in part here: to help others benefit from my years of experience at helping people become more comfortable, and as a result, more engaging in situations where they are the center of attention.
Thanks very much for visiting and I hope you find something entertaining and of value here. I have truly loved all the different aspects of the entertainment industry that I’ve spent so many years in, and love sharing it with others. The only trouble is, once you get me started, it’s hard to shut me up!
Currently:
- Principal with Dab-Row Broadcast Advertising
- Freelance producer/director
- Freelance performer, actor and voice-over professional
Past:
- Radio personality
- News director, producer, reporter, and anchor
- Extensive voice-over career
- Training and experience in all aspect of audio and video production, long and short form
- Experience in front of the camera
- Director of network broadcast operations – TV
- Lead – network operations – radio
ON STAGE
Concerts and events – Emcee for numerous concerts and events at venues such as The Fabulous Forum, Universal Amphitheater, The Greek Theater, Irvine Meadows Amphitheater, L.A. County Fair Grandstand Arena, Orange County Fair, Angel’s Stadium, the world famous Crazyhorse, The Cowboy, Cal State Long Beach Festival area and many more. Artists include Kenny Rogers, Alabama, Eddie Rabbit.
Headline performer – Headline 2 shows as musical performer at the world famous Crazyhorse in Santa Ana.
VOICE-OVER
It would be hard to list them all because I have been the voice on literally thousands of radio and TV ads, but here are a few highlights, in no particular order.
NHL’s Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, NFL’s Rams and MLB’s Anaheim Angels – Provided the voice for the produced opening spectacular at the opening of each game.
Honda cars – Voice for regional TV ads
Albertson’s grocery – Voice for local TV ads
Sony Trans Com – Host for numerous in-flight programs produced by Sony Trans Com and played on major airlines
Toyota and Lexus – Voice for numerous training videos used internally by Toyota and Lexus
Disneyland – Voice for parrot in Pirates of the Caribbean attraction during a special event
Tel-A-Patient – Voice for hundreds of on-hold telephone programs for professional offices such as doctors and dentists
KEZY/KORG, KIK-FM, KOLA, KORJ and K-131 – Produced and voiced hundreds and hundreds of radio ads as either a talent or producer at these stations
Industrial and Training videos – I have had many, many opportunities to be the voice of training videos and industrial pieces from aerospace companies to job fairs to electronic manufacturers and trade show features
TV ON-CAMERA
Mail boxes etc. – On-camera with audio. I got to dress up like Santa…it was my first big TV acting gig.
A Doctors Weight Loss Clinic – On-camera, no audio. A weight loss clinic TV ad featuring an overweight woman where I played the husband (The pinnacle of my acting career … it was a good day shot entirely in Laguna Beach!)
It’s not quite done yet, there’s much more to come … thanks for your patience!
I started in radio at the age of 19 and kept at it until it became too consolidated, corporate, and boring. But over my many years in broadcasting, I did have a blast and wouldn’t have traded it for anything! And yes, I do miss it.
(From most recent)
790 KABC – Los Angeles : News Producer/Anchor
ESPN Radio – Los Angeles : Sports Anchor
METRO NETWORKS – Los Angeles : News & Traffic Producer and Anchor
KZLA – Los Angeles : On-air personality
KEZY-FM – Orange County/Los Angeles metro : Production Director & on-air
KORG-AM – Orange County/Los Angeles metro : Operations Manager, talk show host
KOW-AM & FM – San Diego metro : Programming Consultant and later Program Director
KTIM & KTID – San Francisco metro : Programming Consultant
KIK-FM – Orange County/Los Angeles metro : On-air personality, Production Director, later Program Director
KOLA-FM – San Bernardino : Production and News Directors and “voice” of the station
KORJ-FM – Orange County/Los Angeles metro : On-air personality and production
K131-AM – Barstow : On-air personality
KEZY-AM, KOCM-FM – Orange County/Los Angeles metro : Kid that hung around trying to get a job on the air