After working with TV stations in Massachusetts and Maine, Steve Galvin now serves as station manager for Norway-Paris Community Television. Galvin also formerly worked as a motorcycle instructor and performed in a group dubbed “the best mediocre band in Maine.” In his spare time, he volunteers for local organizations and takes in the theater or roller derby.

Age: 50

How did you get into technical work? I became the audio-visual aide at my school. Yep, my career was launched because I was a geek. Later on, I learned about the sound systems and stage lights at the schools and ran them. In high school I discovered way in the back of the AV room a Sony video camera and tape machine. It was a huge reel-to-reel tape machine and a black-and-white camera, and no one seemed to know anything about it, SO I read the manuals and started making TV! I still have one of those early shows, called “A Day in the Life.” We followed one of our less motivated students around school for a day.

Why did you choose to get into TV work? After school I managed to land a job at a local TV station. I was the guy that sat there and played all the shows on air. But while I was there I got to help some of the show producers and they seemed to think I had some talent. I pitched a live music show idea to the management and they bit! So my TV career was off and running. I was the producer of “On The Wire.” Now this was in ‘8o-‘81 mind you, and what I was doing was actually new stuff at the time. My show was actually shopped by the then-newborn MTV.

What sort of creativity do you get to use as NPC-TV director? I can choose projects that enrich the community, instead of it just being commercialism all the time. I also get to do everything, which I enjoy. So I run camera, direct, mix audio, edit, create graphics and play producer.

Are people in the area camera shy or do they mug it up? You get a mix of both no matter where you are. I always tell people though that you only look stupid on camera when you try to hide from it. Love the camera and it will love you back.

What is your favorite local program? I’m pretty fond of Penny Dreadful. She is like a local Elvira, a sexy witchy sort of character. She runs old horror movies and does some commentary in between. It’s a lot of fun.

Does working at a TV station make you not want to watch TV in your spare time? Actually for about 18 years I didn’t even own a TV. Where I lived we couldn’t get cable, and I was raising a family, so not a lot of time for watching. But now I live on my own and have basic cable so I do tend to watch the tube if I am home. Of course it is research … seriously I do get some ideas on techniques from some of the other shows.

Which is more enjoyable: motorcycling or roller derby? Riding my motorcycle to the roller derby. I could go on and do this whole article about why I love derby and what sets it apart from other sports, but I will spare you all my fanaticism. But please know that today’s roller derby is not like the roller derby of the past. It is a real and serious sport and the girls true athletes … just with funny names and wheels on their feet! Motorcycling is a great way to get out and enjoy the countryside. It makes every trip an adventure, and on a bike you are a part of the environment, not just an observer in the cage of a car.

What was the best song of “the best mediocre band in Maine,” and what was it about? We did a really kick-butt version of “Rockin in The Free World.”

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