I vaguely remember reading—maybe in Radio World—that some broadcasters got their start by working for free. Could that really be true? Were any big-name talents among those who hitched a ride on the free train?
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To get into the business, he/she worked for FREE?
- Thread starter chuckmcmillan
- Start date
I hate to hit you with the same name twice in a row in one day, but Shotgun Tom Kelly started hanging out at radio stations around 12 or 13 years of age. KDEO "hired" him to help with remote broadcasts, but I'm sure that wasn't a fulltime gig or a lot of money.
Shadoe Stevens started on the air at age 11. His dad owned the radio station, so it's probably an open question as to whether he got paid.
Thanks a lot Michael!
I don’t think he was ever on-air, at least with any regular shift, but Lew Dickey's family owned radio stations, too. He often told stories about getting into the business by mowing the lawn at his family's station.
Anybody who worked in college radio as on-the-air talent, regardless of whether or not they moved on in the industry, was most likely working for no pay.
Aside from free CDs and concert tickets. 😁
Not to mention, there are probably many who got their start as unpaid interns. Which sounds better than paying large sums of money to attend broadcast schools.
She didn’t stay in the on-air side of the business (moved into podcast producing), but I hired a reporter at KFBK who got her start as a volunteer at a SoCal non-comm radio station and eventually wound up on their air via a fund drive.
When they figured out she had a voice and some presence, she wound up on the air more, and for money.
She was with us for two or three years before making the career change.
When they figured out she had a voice and some presence, she wound up on the air more, and for money.
She was with us for two or three years before making the career change.
I was not "famous" for being on the air, but was successful with major stations in a number of countries. I began by hanging around an AM/FM near my home when I was 13 and did all kinds of chores and errands for free. After about a year, I got some part-time jobs running the board and the like.
I hired a kid, Amos Morales, who ran errands for us at Mooney's WUNO in 1970. He retired last year as the highest rated midday jock in a top 20 market at KQ--105, and then was enhanced back by the #1 AC station, WFID, to do middays there. That's 55 years and still doing well.
K.M. Richards
Program Director, The Eighties Channel™
I think you cut-and-pasted the wrong link, Mike. The above is the URL to this thread.
Too many tabs open at once. Thanks, K.M.
@chuckmcmillan , I meant to post this:
About Shotgun
"SHOTGUN TOM" KELLY “Shotgun Tom” Kelly has been entertaining Southern California radio and TV audiences for over 45 years. He has worked at such renowned radio stations as KGB (in its “Boss Radio” days) and gained national acclaim at the legendary KCBQ. “Shotgun Tom” was honored at B-100 radio...
shotguntomkelly.com
I was paid from day one---the "teenage minimum wage" in 1971---$1.65 an hour ($13.23 adjusted). I had just turned 15 and was a sophomore in high school.
They started me out with two six-hour shifts a week, so with withholding, I believe my first check was something like $26.00.
They started me out with two six-hour shifts a week, so with withholding, I believe my first check was something like $26.00.