Talk Time is a weekly online TV talk show co-hosted by Shawna Randolph and Sean Burke. Together they, along with guests, cover a variety of topics, from pop culture to healthy living. This series introduces the team. Today, meet panelist Tracie Gray.
Tracie is a radio and television personality who has been a staple in the broadcast industry for the past few decades. You may have also seen her playing the lead female role in any one of the many Sure Shot Dombrowlski movies. She’s accumulated many awards throughout her career, going back to her high school years when she was given the S.P.A.R.K. Award (Smiling People Attract Regular Kustomers) at Wendy's Restaurant. She notes, "It's a good thing it wasn't an award for spelling!"
Other awards include two Radio Morning Show of the Year awards (Major Market), and five Country Music Radio Station of the Year awards (Major Market) with the Canadian Country Music Association. Tracie has also won several awards for stand up including taking second place in the Just for Laughs Home Grown Comedy Competition and Leave 'em Laughing. Most recently Tracie was honoured with the 2021 Public Education Volunteer of the Year Award from the Alberta Teacher's Association for her continued volunteer work in the community.
Have you always wanted to be in acting and performing? What got you started on this journey?
The first radio station I worked at was CJCA in Edmonton. They hired me to hand out balloons and stickers when my dad was hosting live broadcasts. I was 15 years old and loved it! I said, I'd like to do this job forever, and here it is... forever later... and I am still doing it! I'm a radio announcer for four stations in Edmonton and a TV personality.
I love it all. I love the industry so much that I even married a man, Devin Gray, that I met at work who had also been an announcer, so I would say I have a great passion for it (wink).
It is thrilling to be a panelist on Talk Time with Sean & Shawna. We put a fun twist on talking about current events and stories of interest. You've gotta watch for the lightening round, at the end, where we dish on new and exciting things in the world and online.
Discuss your services
I’ve been a performer all my life and can act in or be the voice of your commercials, videos, films and special events. I am also a public speaker and master of ceremonies hosting events from a 10 seater comedy show to concerts with audiences of 30,000 people. During COVID, the live events pivoted to online, so I did too. I started an events hosting company called GrayDay with a very talented friend, Matt Day, who’s a musician and a comedian. We perform a customized music/comedy show with games and trivia for virtual events and company meetings. Zoom meetings got so common and boring that we started a show called a Zoom Boost. We can liven up or boost any online meet up.
What is your advice for others?
I like to find the fun in everything, so I make my career fun too. No one on their death bed wishes they spent more time in the office. Find the thing that makes you happy, and go for it!
Have a great support group, someone who’s got your back and supports what choices you make no matter how crazy or out there they sound. Don’t have a support group? Be your own, believe in yourself, and tell others what you want to do. People’s natural instinct is to help so when you announce to the world what your goal is, it’s amazing how others will step up to give you a hand.
Always be grateful; be grateful for the big and especially the little things (they all add up).
What do you love the most about what you do?
No two days are the same. Every day is an exciting new adventure and there is no limit to your creativity outlet when you are performing on stage, on camera or on the radio. I also wanted a career that was flexible so that I could be the one to take my kids, Dylan & Anson, to school and be the one to pick them up every day. It's quality time that I wouldn't trade for the world.
What do you love about your business community? How can the community best support you?
I am greatly inspired by others who work in the media. I have had the chance to work with some of the best in the industry & it never ceases to amaze me the level of professionalism and creativity that we have in our community.
What’s next for you? For the venture?
The adventure is a never ending, exciting journey. The industry keeps growing, expanding and pivoting everyday. I am so excited to see where it goes to next. In the meantime, I am continuing the fun as a panelist on Talk Time with Sean & Shawna and I am currently filming a TV cooking show with the Old Strathcona Farmers Market. The show is set to come out this fall.
Catch up with Tracie on facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, IMDB, You Tube and online at TracieGray.ca
