Interview: Erin Davis, CHFI Radio Personality
By TorontoJobs.ca
August 21, 2008
By TorontoJobs.ca
August 21, 2008
Erin has been a fixture in Canadian Radio for over 25 years. Erin was born in Edmonton, Alberta and as a result of her father’s Air Force career, was raised everywhere, including, Ottawa, Trenton and England.
The Davis household was always filled with music and Erin’s introduction to show business came at an early age when she sang regularly in her Grandfather’s orchestra. Her love of performing led her to study at Loyalist College in Bellville, Ontario. By her second year, a typical day for Erin included attending classes in the morning, hosting a radio show on CIGL-FM in the afternoon and playing piano at a local restaurant in the evening. This routine helped her prepare for a lifetime of sleep deprivation.
Davis was happy to answer many questions we had for her, despite her busy schedule. Davis answered questions in regards to her career path, how she overcame obstacles throughout her career and advice she had for our readers being such an influential role model in the Greater Toronto Area.
TJ: How did your up bringing prepare you for a career in radio broadcasting?
Davis: “The constant moving we did as an Air Force family prepared me for the early part of my radio career which included several new opportunities and relocations. I learned to never get too attached to one address.”
TJ: When did you discover that radio was the career path you wanted to pursue? Were there any influencing factors that took place to entice this decision?
Davis: “I was in my final months of high school when I went to a Career Day. I lucked into hearing a professor from the local community college (Loyalist in Belleville) talk about the radio broadcasting course. It was like being hit by a bolt of lightning! Suddenly all the years of doing PA announcements, singing with an orchestra, reading aloud to class etc. and just basically wanting to perform, added up to a career where I could put those “loves to use”! I just hadn’t looked for the signs and been really tuned in to what career could suit my talents or passions.”
TJ: Where did you begin your career? What was your first position in the radio industry? How long did it take to work your way to the top?
Davis: “In November 1980, two months after starting school, I was offered a weekend position at an easy listening station in Belleville. When my first year of college ended, the job became full-time. I stayed at CIGL FM until 1982 when I graduated and moved to the #1 station in Ottawa, CFRA, then later to CKLW Windsor. After becoming the first female co-host in the Detroit market in 1984, I moved to Toronto. I joined CHFI in 1988 and that’s when the rise truly began.”
TJ: While at CHFI you were let go. What were the company’s plans for the future? Why did they feel as though you weren’t a good fit for that role?
Davis: “In 2003, CHFI’s kid sister station KISS FM was “unplugged”. That left its hosts without a station, and it was decided that CHFI would be a good new home for the younger, hipper duo. That meant someone had to make room for the new team, so I was let go. Sometimes companies make decisions that look really good on paper, but when it comes to reality, just don’t hold water. This was most certainly one of the latter. While hoping to bring a younger audience to CHFI, the move actually brought a much smaller one instead.”
TJ: How did you handle being terminated? How did this termination affect your family/personal life?
Davis: “Initially I took it extremely hard. CHFI had been my life for almost 15 years; those four letters had preceded my name for that long and I never imagined being let go. But almost as soon as the firing became public, I received a couple of amazing opportunities that never, ever would have surfaced had I stayed where I was. Talk about one door closing and another opening! “As for how it affected my family life, we were all shell-shocked. Our ten year old daughter was warned that we might be moving (I didn’t want to stay in Toronto if I couldn’t do radio here and it was unthinkable for me to be anywhere but “home”, CHFI). I felt I had no identity if I wasn’t “CHFI’s Erin Davis.” That was a big mistake on my part and one that I most certainly learned from.”
TJ: Had you ever thought about changing career paths before being terminated?
Davis: “Not really. I enjoyed doing television but apart from a few really rewarding seasons on Rogers Television, TV wasn’t particularly interested in me. Fair enough; radio was my first love. I knew I’d already been blessed and decided to put those ambitions away.”
TJ: Leaving CHFI opened many new doors for you. Were you at all hesitant when the “W Channel” contacted you to host your own television show?
Davis: “Are you kidding? It was a dream come true! A national, live TV talk show! I only wish now that there had been more trust in my own abilities and instincts, rather than having so much scripted and prepared for me. I thrive in ad lib situations and I was disappointed at not being allowed a chance to let me be me. I think that may be a very big difference between radio and television: in radio we live for intimate and real moments, whereas on W Live with Erin Davis, I was urged not to be “earnest”, whatever the hell that means. In the end, it was a wonderful learning experience and one for which I am extremely grateful!”
TJ: I know that you have had a very diverse career within the media (Radio, Television, Theatre). How did you manage the transition from each career path?
Davis: “In that they’re all just different areas in the realm of performing, I found the transitions to be very smooth. I guess what I’ve found is that no matter what the medium, people know “real” or “fake” when they encounter it. And even though it takes a lot to really put yourself out there (for better or worse), you can’t go wrong with the truth!”
The Davis household was always filled with music and Erin’s introduction to show business came at an early age when she sang regularly in her Grandfather’s orchestra. Her love of performing led her to study at Loyalist College in Bellville, Ontario. By her second year, a typical day for Erin included attending classes in the morning, hosting a radio show on CIGL-FM in the afternoon and playing piano at a local restaurant in the evening. This routine helped her prepare for a lifetime of sleep deprivation.
Davis was happy to answer many questions we had for her, despite her busy schedule. Davis answered questions in regards to her career path, how she overcame obstacles throughout her career and advice she had for our readers being such an influential role model in the Greater Toronto Area.
TJ: How did your up bringing prepare you for a career in radio broadcasting?
Davis: “The constant moving we did as an Air Force family prepared me for the early part of my radio career which included several new opportunities and relocations. I learned to never get too attached to one address.”
TJ: When did you discover that radio was the career path you wanted to pursue? Were there any influencing factors that took place to entice this decision?
Davis: “I was in my final months of high school when I went to a Career Day. I lucked into hearing a professor from the local community college (Loyalist in Belleville) talk about the radio broadcasting course. It was like being hit by a bolt of lightning! Suddenly all the years of doing PA announcements, singing with an orchestra, reading aloud to class etc. and just basically wanting to perform, added up to a career where I could put those “loves to use”! I just hadn’t looked for the signs and been really tuned in to what career could suit my talents or passions.”
TJ: Where did you begin your career? What was your first position in the radio industry? How long did it take to work your way to the top?
Davis: “In November 1980, two months after starting school, I was offered a weekend position at an easy listening station in Belleville. When my first year of college ended, the job became full-time. I stayed at CIGL FM until 1982 when I graduated and moved to the #1 station in Ottawa, CFRA, then later to CKLW Windsor. After becoming the first female co-host in the Detroit market in 1984, I moved to Toronto. I joined CHFI in 1988 and that’s when the rise truly began.”
TJ: While at CHFI you were let go. What were the company’s plans for the future? Why did they feel as though you weren’t a good fit for that role?
Davis: “In 2003, CHFI’s kid sister station KISS FM was “unplugged”. That left its hosts without a station, and it was decided that CHFI would be a good new home for the younger, hipper duo. That meant someone had to make room for the new team, so I was let go. Sometimes companies make decisions that look really good on paper, but when it comes to reality, just don’t hold water. This was most certainly one of the latter. While hoping to bring a younger audience to CHFI, the move actually brought a much smaller one instead.”
TJ: How did you handle being terminated? How did this termination affect your family/personal life?
Davis: “Initially I took it extremely hard. CHFI had been my life for almost 15 years; those four letters had preceded my name for that long and I never imagined being let go. But almost as soon as the firing became public, I received a couple of amazing opportunities that never, ever would have surfaced had I stayed where I was. Talk about one door closing and another opening! “As for how it affected my family life, we were all shell-shocked. Our ten year old daughter was warned that we might be moving (I didn’t want to stay in Toronto if I couldn’t do radio here and it was unthinkable for me to be anywhere but “home”, CHFI). I felt I had no identity if I wasn’t “CHFI’s Erin Davis.” That was a big mistake on my part and one that I most certainly learned from.”
TJ: Had you ever thought about changing career paths before being terminated?
Davis: “Not really. I enjoyed doing television but apart from a few really rewarding seasons on Rogers Television, TV wasn’t particularly interested in me. Fair enough; radio was my first love. I knew I’d already been blessed and decided to put those ambitions away.”
TJ: Leaving CHFI opened many new doors for you. Were you at all hesitant when the “W Channel” contacted you to host your own television show?
Davis: “Are you kidding? It was a dream come true! A national, live TV talk show! I only wish now that there had been more trust in my own abilities and instincts, rather than having so much scripted and prepared for me. I thrive in ad lib situations and I was disappointed at not being allowed a chance to let me be me. I think that may be a very big difference between radio and television: in radio we live for intimate and real moments, whereas on W Live with Erin Davis, I was urged not to be “earnest”, whatever the hell that means. In the end, it was a wonderful learning experience and one for which I am extremely grateful!”
TJ: I know that you have had a very diverse career within the media (Radio, Television, Theatre). How did you manage the transition from each career path?
Davis: “In that they’re all just different areas in the realm of performing, I found the transitions to be very smooth. I guess what I’ve found is that no matter what the medium, people know “real” or “fake” when they encounter it. And even though it takes a lot to really put yourself out there (for better or worse), you can’t go wrong with the truth!”
TJ: When CHFI asked you to return to the station what were your immediate thoughts? Did you consider not returning?
Davis: “I couldn’t believe it; my husband and I had given up on our dream of me returning “home” one day to CHFI. But the first thing my former – and present – boss Julie Adam did was apologize. She was a class act then and continues to inspire me every day. The station did everything to make things right again and we knew in our hearts that returning home was the right thing to do. Best of all, my wanderings had hooked me up at another station with Mike Cooper. We took the ratings to #1 there and together have done so again with CHFI. He’s been the true silver lining in my life’s story, and we’re blessed to have found each other.”
TJ: What advice would you give our readers who have been recently terminated, or are struggling with finding employment?
Davis: “Everyone’s heard the saying that “when one door closes, another one opens”. But it’s hell in the hallways. Don’t do, write, or say anything that can come back to bite you. Hold your head up, take the high road whenever you possibly can and know – really KNOW – that everything happens for a reason. Although it hurts like hell, you have been given a gift. A gift to explore parts of yourself and life in general that perhaps you’d been shielded from - or blind to – before being fired.”
TJ: Being “Woman of the Year” in 2006 in the Greater Toronto Area, you are a very influential figure for women. What advice do you have specifically for women who are struggling to find their career path?
Davis: “If I could offer any advice it would be this: follow your passion. Make sure that you find something that makes you happy to get out of bed in the morning. Then the hours, the stress, the pay (or lack thereof) will not only be tolerable, but they’ll one day pay off. Perhaps find a life coach or someone whose judgment you trust to help you in your search for fulfillment and joy. Because you can find that in your job. Believe me, I know it, and my partner Mike Cooper knows it, too.”
TJ: Given that there were 50,000 jobs lost in Canada in July 2008, do you have any words of wisdom to those looking for work in the Toronto Area?
Davis: “My daughter’s boyfriend been looking; I get emails from listeners whose spouses are looking. My advice is to create the best cover letter and present yourself in a brief but memorable fashion. Check your SPELLING! And although it’s cliché, it’s true: you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Make sure you stand out from everyone else, use the proper name and title when you’re addressing an application (do the research!) and believe – truly believe – that you are the perfect person for the job being offered. So much of success is in believing in yourself and intentioning the outcome of a situation like a job interview (or emerging triumphant after being fired)!”
FINAL THOUGHTS
One of the things that has made CHFI the winner that it is the approach we take to family – an attitude that can truly make for happy employees. When I became pregnant with our daughter Lauren, it was decided I should broadcast from home for three months, so I did! So many listeners remember that to this very day. And in this age of telecommuting, more and more people are now able to work from home just as I did – but without the live show from their home office that Lauren and I did in 1991!
And finally…my motto….
“Early to bed, Early to Rise, Work like hell and Advertise!”
Davis: “I couldn’t believe it; my husband and I had given up on our dream of me returning “home” one day to CHFI. But the first thing my former – and present – boss Julie Adam did was apologize. She was a class act then and continues to inspire me every day. The station did everything to make things right again and we knew in our hearts that returning home was the right thing to do. Best of all, my wanderings had hooked me up at another station with Mike Cooper. We took the ratings to #1 there and together have done so again with CHFI. He’s been the true silver lining in my life’s story, and we’re blessed to have found each other.”
TJ: What advice would you give our readers who have been recently terminated, or are struggling with finding employment?
Davis: “Everyone’s heard the saying that “when one door closes, another one opens”. But it’s hell in the hallways. Don’t do, write, or say anything that can come back to bite you. Hold your head up, take the high road whenever you possibly can and know – really KNOW – that everything happens for a reason. Although it hurts like hell, you have been given a gift. A gift to explore parts of yourself and life in general that perhaps you’d been shielded from - or blind to – before being fired.”
TJ: Being “Woman of the Year” in 2006 in the Greater Toronto Area, you are a very influential figure for women. What advice do you have specifically for women who are struggling to find their career path?
Davis: “If I could offer any advice it would be this: follow your passion. Make sure that you find something that makes you happy to get out of bed in the morning. Then the hours, the stress, the pay (or lack thereof) will not only be tolerable, but they’ll one day pay off. Perhaps find a life coach or someone whose judgment you trust to help you in your search for fulfillment and joy. Because you can find that in your job. Believe me, I know it, and my partner Mike Cooper knows it, too.”
TJ: Given that there were 50,000 jobs lost in Canada in July 2008, do you have any words of wisdom to those looking for work in the Toronto Area?
Davis: “My daughter’s boyfriend been looking; I get emails from listeners whose spouses are looking. My advice is to create the best cover letter and present yourself in a brief but memorable fashion. Check your SPELLING! And although it’s cliché, it’s true: you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Make sure you stand out from everyone else, use the proper name and title when you’re addressing an application (do the research!) and believe – truly believe – that you are the perfect person for the job being offered. So much of success is in believing in yourself and intentioning the outcome of a situation like a job interview (or emerging triumphant after being fired)!”
FINAL THOUGHTS
One of the things that has made CHFI the winner that it is the approach we take to family – an attitude that can truly make for happy employees. When I became pregnant with our daughter Lauren, it was decided I should broadcast from home for three months, so I did! So many listeners remember that to this very day. And in this age of telecommuting, more and more people are now able to work from home just as I did – but without the live show from their home office that Lauren and I did in 1991!
And finally…my motto….
“Early to bed, Early to Rise, Work like hell and Advertise!”
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