This October it is an honor to recognize Andrew Steely. Sure, you might say, hey.. Andrew is a staff member, not a volunteer. What gives? To which I would reply… yes you’re right, he’s a fantastic employee but he is ALSO a superstar volunteer… in your face! Honestly though, Andrew is one of the most humble, down to earth, fun loving dudes you’ll find. Always helpful, he steps into action to help out like a caped crusader.
Where did you grow up and do you have any siblings?
I grew up in Central Pennsylvania, between Harrisburg and Hershey. To this day, I still can’t figure out why they made Harrisburg the state capital, but it’s something to hang our hats on. I have an older sister who teaches French near Lancaster, PA.
What is your current occupation?
I’m the Membership Drive & Fringe Benefits Coordinator — in a nutshell, I help acquire donations (gift certificates from restaurants, hotels, spas, etc.) from hundreds of various businesses for our semiannual membership drives, and I’m also involved with helping forge business partnerships for our Fringe Benefits discount program. On the side, I’m a sometimes-producer at NBC Sports Radio in Culver City.
What is your fantasy occupation?
That’s different from a dream job, isn’t it? OK, let’s go with CEO of In-N-Out Burger. Double-doubles and neapolitan shakes for days!
When did you first discover KCRW?
KCRW is one of those things that I feel like I’ve always been aware of. But I would probably have to trace it back to 2004, when I stumbled upon a live session that Chris Douridas hosted with one of my favorite bands on his show “New Ground.” Having worked at other radio stations on the east coast before I moved out to L.A., I had always heard about KCRW as the gold standard for the industry. Now I get to work here!
How did you find your way to our station for volunteering?
Google Maps!I think I applied to volunteer at KCRW before all of my belongings were even shipped to me when I moved to L.A. I started out at the front desk, branched out to various events, and spiraled through the black hole from there.
What’s your current volunteer position and how long have you been at it?
I help out at our various music and cultural events throughout Los Angeles, which I’ve been doing since the summer of 2011. Since spring 2013, I’ve had the honor of serving as Production Assistant for DJ Travis Holcombe.
Favorite volunteer moment?
While I’ve loved every volunteer moment equally as though they were my own children (cliche alert!), I’m still quite fond of my first day as a KCRW vol. I worked the front desk that morning and helped out at “Also I Like To Rock,” a KCRW Summer Nights event at the Hammer Museum. It was such a thrill to fully immerse myself in the KCRW experience from the get-go, and I immediately knew I was involved with something really special — and with some really special folks!
If you could get on the mic and say one sentence on the air, what would it be?
Can I revise the script of “War of the Worlds” to make it one long, run-on sentence?
What song have you hit repeat on lately?
I came across a song called “Damn This Feeling” a while back, by a Canadian musician who goes by the name Hayden. I dug it so much that I’ve been trying to learn it on piano, so I’ve been listening to it on repeat to try to get it right. If you’re a sucker for melancholy, piano-centric songs, it’s a gem.
Favorite book, movie?
1984 / Back to the Future
Favorite thing to do outside the station?
I love hiking, and I’m so grateful to live in a city with so many opportunities to do so in the surrounding areas!
What does KCRW mean to you?
Ok, here’s the bite-sized version! For me, KCRW is one of the few bastions of thoughtful, and thought-provoking content on the airwaves — whether it’s a new handpicked discovery from Anne Litt or Warren Olney’s unique perspective on a topic that affects us here in L.A. and the world at large. But KCRW also is what every radio station should strive to be: More than just a “radio station.” As a volunteer and an employee, KCRW has become my West Coast family, and I think that communal spirit manifests itself across all of our content platforms.
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Andrew is definitely family. He’s there for you, both to get stuff done, but also just to have a fun conversation or share an appreciation of blazers and other men’s fashion items.
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