A typical day on the job for Jay Edwards, ’04, includes waking up at 3:45 a.m., getting games and prizes ready, and setting up the studio for his co-hosts, Scott McKenzie and Dana Taylor — until they all go live at 5:30 a.m. On some days, he even gets to hang out with celebrities like Dr. Oz, the Backstreet Boys and Mary J. Blige.
As the on-air producer of Scott McKenzie & The Morning MIX on MIX 105.1 in Orlando, Edwards’ job doesn’t stop when the show ends at 9 a.m. After that, he edits audio for their evening podcast, reaches out to celebrity publicists and managers to book interviews for future shows, and he manages much of the station’s social media and website updates.
“People dream about going to work each and every day to a job they love, and with people they like and respect,” he says. “I have exactly that — and they pay me! I get to talk about fun topics, listen to music and hang with celebrities. What’s not to like about that?”
Edwards fell in love with radio when he interned during his junior year at UCF. But, a career in radio wasn’t always on his radar. When he was a child, he dreamed of being a police officer.
His first paying job was as a summer camp counselor. He also worked as a recreation supervisor and tuxedo salesman. However, he says his love of music ultimately made radio much more appealing. “And I’m so glad it did, because I have the best job in the world!” he says.
Music also led him into a second job, about which he’s just as passionate. On most weekends, Edwards puts on his best attire and DJs his heart out for new brides and grooms. And, thanks to all of his hard work and dedication, his company, Liquid Entertainment, has been named tops on many wedding-affiliated lists.
Since he’s lived in Central Florida his whole life and wanted to stay, UCF was a natural fit when it came time for him to choose a college. It also helped that his brother was a Knight. “He had nothing but good things to say, so I followed in his wise footsteps and now I’m a proud grad!” Edwards says.
Whether it’s teaching or mentoring the UCF interns who work on the show nearly every semester, or scoring an interview with Coach George O’Leary, his alma mater has remained a constant in his life since graduation.
He’s even been out to campus several times to speak to radio/TV students about careers in the field. His advice to them: “Don’t just focus on your voice! Sure, vocal presentation is key in radio, but these days, there are so many other things that go into being a great DJ. Know how to blog, know every aspect of social media, and be up to speed with everything happening in the music and entertainment industries. If you’re a pop culture geek, radio is the right place for you!”
MIXin’ It Up
Q. Working in radio, you’ve probably had opportunities to meet some pretty famous people. Who has been your favorite so far, and why?
A. One of my goals as the producer of the morning show was to have Bill Cosby on the show. I’m a really big fan and, about six years ago, I was able to book him for a five-minute phone interview, which turned into a 45-minute interview. He was so cool! When you get to talk to someone that you’ve truly admired and respected your whole life, and they are genuine and humble, it makes you appreciate them even more!
Q. Do you have any special/hidden talents?
A. Before I got into radio, I was the singer in a band, and I also play the drums.
Q. What movie can you quote word for word?
A. “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”
Q. What part of pop culture do you wish would just go away?
A. Baggy pants, twerking and lip syncing
Q. What do you do for fun?
A. I coach my kids in football, baseball, basketball and softball. So, if I’m not working, I’m on a field somewhere with them. We also have an RV, and we love to go all over the Southeast and camp at new places and go jet skiing.
Q. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
A. I still have the desire to be a police officer. I find their line of work absolutely fascinating, and I have the utmost respect for them. I will occasionally do ride-alongs with different departments just to get a taste of what they do day to day.
Q. What’s the first album you ever bought/owned?
A. I bought a cassette single of The Outfield’s “Your Love.”
Q. What was the first concert you ever attended?
A. I was a big fan of Van Halen and, shortly after they split up, David Lee Roth came in concert, and I had to go! He had some band no one had heard of opening up for him called Guns n’ Roses.
Q. If you could have front-row seats to any concert, which would you choose?
A. Red Hot Chili Peppers! My favorite band ever, and I’ve been close — just not front row.
Read more stories about alumni at ucfalumni.com.