Today, my first paycheck from The Loop arrived in the mail. Man, it was great to see a paycheck with the WLUP logo on it. I really felt like one of my long term goals was accomplished.

I remember 3 years ago when our radio consultant asked me what my goals were. You know the old 5 year and 10 year plan question.

I remember saying, “well, I just completed my 5 year goal. That was hosting my own morning show. My 10 year goal is to be doing radio in Chicago, preferably on WLUP.”

The weirdest part about working at The Loop, for me, is that I feel like a gunfighter who is not allowed to use his guns. I mean, in Florida I’m very well known as Bob Narley. I had an excellent ratings record beating out both syndicated and local shows. I was known for my very active phones, comedy productions, parody songs, comedy songs, parody commercials, bits and stunts. My whole career was all about doing a very “morning show” type format with lots of great content. Program directors knew who I was and what I would deliver. Almost every promotion was centered around my show. Every caller knew exactly who I was. Now, at The Loop, it’s just the opposite.

I’m not Bob Narley, I’m just the temporary fill-in guy. This is all new to me. I must admit having a very hard time adapting. It’s very awkward for me to go on the microphone and NOT say that this is The Bob Narley Show, and we have this and that coming up and here is a new parody song, and in the 4 o’clock hour we are doing Electrocution Karaoke, and in 15 minutes I have Metallica tickets. Instead, it’s all “that was Aerosmith, this is Led Zeppelin, another 10 in a row, funny thing happened to me on the way into the station, how bout them sox”. I feel like I am deprogramming myself. It’s very difficult. In many ways I feel like a rookie all over again.

Don’t get me wrong. I love the opportunity and fully respect the direction of the radio station. Not to mention that I have totally gained a whole new respect for the weekend guys and their position. For the first time in my 15 year radio career, I’m the low man on the totem poll, and that’s o.k.

True, I do miss doing The Bob Narley Show, and all the craziness that went along with it; however I wouldn’t miss this experience for the world. I’m very happy to be working with such a talented group of people, and on my favorite radio station, even if it is as the lowest man on the WLUP totem poll. At least there is nowhere to go but up. I hope.

You know, the hardest part is not saying “I’m Bob Narley”.
The 2nd hardest part is not hearing the callers say “Hello Bob..”

So, it’s a challenge. How to be entertaining in 15 seconds? It’s an excellent learning experience, and I couldn’t have asked for a better crew to learn from.