AND NOW FOR A FUN MEMORIAL DAY GAME...

[nhradiochild]

How many of you have ever taken liberties with your shift? Things that maybe should have aired but didn't, things that aired that shouldn't have, and the response you got from it. Then we can all have at our comments on them all.

I'll start:

When running board op at WNTK, I dropped audio during a crucial section of programming that would have easily identified a listener in our area, who was talking to Dr. Joy Browne about his homosexuality and included the place where he worked. (The place of employ is what I manually cut.)

At WPNH:

Subbing on the morning drive, I was sole dog running the show and there was this "headlining story" about how then Gov. Jeanne Shaheen's second cousin or something got arrested for DUI, and I'm thinking "this is worthless". This is only a smear piece I'm sure by the conservative press that is dominant in NH. (I don't claim to be Republican or Democrat, but I just don't see how news-worthy saying how someone-of-importance's niece or what-have-you just got a DUI.) If it had been a wreck or something maybe, but not just a pull-over. Like the Gov. had any knowledge of this person's whereabouts and events that transpired that evening before or as they were having them. So I dumped the story.

I created features such as the "hard-rockin set" (20 minutes of format-approved songs heavier-in-nature-than-standard-fare back-to-back), "Hard-rockin set part II" (20 additional minutes of currents or recurrents that were in normal evening airplay) "Quest for the far out" (1 song late at night that really broke the confines of the format, leaning towards alternative/college track).

On New Years Eve, (as we had been running Red Sox games and were vainly trying to play "catch-up" with overdue local feature programming called the "Album of the Day", where the station ran an entire album which was sponsored by the local music shop, which by the way was how we got our new music), we were scheduled to run TWO Albums of the day. Now, normally this feature runs from 9pm until it runs out, but this extra special night, we had a special three-hour program shipped in from Westwood One, so do the math. Two albums at roughly an hour a piece, means about 7pm WPNH shut down for specialty programming on New Years Eve. Now this in itself was aggravating, but what pushed me over the edge was that they had scheduled Jewel's "Pieces of You" album which was extraordinarily slow and hokey for the countdown to the New Year. So I played the first album as scheduled at 7pm, then dumped Jewel for a more peppier blend of music but continued to billboard the sponsor for the Album of the Day. Well let me tell you, the PD was none too pleased about this course of events, but the MUSIC director was the one outraged the most. (Mind you, I discussed this with the sponsor himself and he was unconcerned, but yeah it might have been a big deal if it were major market of course... Of course, if it were major market, I doubt we'd be running an entire album of ANYTHING much less Jewel! lol)

OK, your turn!

 

[Toni]

So let me be sure that I get this right...

If you worked at McD's, and I came in and ordered a Big Mac...you...because you think you know better than the people who put the Big Mac on the menu...might decide to substitute olives for my pickle and might even leave the cheese off because it's just worthless calories that I don't need anyways. Problem is, I ordered what McD's calls a Big Mac, not what you call one.

If you take the job, you follow the rules. They are there for a reason. If you want to play PD, apply for the job, and be sure to explain how you would tolerate Board Ops and jocks taking liberties with the format. I'm sure that will help you get the job.

I can't believe that you're proud of all of this.

 

[radiotony]

One time, during an overnight shift at WUNR, I played a four hour set of Joy Division. Another time, I played an entire evening of Isaac Hayes.

 

[THE_VIKING]

Ah, back to my WHDQ days...

Does playing the likes of Soft Machine, Television, Clear Light, Spooky Tooth, Al Kooper, Captain Beyond, and Quicksilver Messenger Service and the Strawbs on a blowtorch classic rocker count?

(Granted, it was a Sunday "deep cuts" show, but still...)

 

[probuttonpusher]

you know whats great about those storys, no one listened to those stations any way. thats why you had no one calling you out about your lack of profesionalism. Your a lucky man nhchaild to be able to screw up and noone cares.

oh by the way if you messed with the music at some of the stations I have worked at you would have automaticly been looking for a new station to "drop the ball" at.

 

[radiogaga603]

So true probuttonpusher.....let me guess nhradiochild, you probably came up with 'the best classic rock remixes' all the while not realizing that classic rock listeners dont give two beans about how the songs 'mix'.

Question, have you ever had a 'full time' on air position? I'm just curious....

Thanks!

 

[NHRadio]

Anthony, when did WUNR ever play music? I thought they were brokered ethnic 24 hours. Also, when were you there? I was there 1981-2...are they still on North Washington St?

One time, during an overnight shift at WUNR, I played a four hour set of Joy Division. Another time, I played an entire evening of Isaac Hayes.

 

[mistermicrophone]

So let me be sure that I get this right...

If you worked at McD's, and I came in and ordered a Big Mac...you...because you think you know better than the people who put the Big Mac on the menu...might decide to substitute olives for my pickle and might even leave the cheese off because it's just worthless calories that I don't need anyways. Problem is, I ordered what McD's calls a Big Mac, not what you call one.

If you take the job, you follow the rules. They are there for a reason. If you want to play PD, apply for the job, and be sure to explain how you would tolerate Board Ops and jocks taking liberties with the format. I'm sure that will help you get the job.

I can't believe that you're proud of all of this.

Amen.

 

[nhradiochild]

Well guys, you have to realize that that was essentially the atmosphere the OLD WPNH fostered. When I created my first bit, the PD said to me "Do only what you think you can continue". In other words, the show is more or less yours, stay relatively within the guidelines and things are cool. I was guided not to play as many deep album cuts as I was but other than that it was essentially "free will radio". I mean given that it was essentially a "classic rock" station, and you had Donna Lewis "I Love You Always Forever" (which I refused to play) added to the rotation, well you kinda understand where people might coerce themselves to take liberties with the format they wouldn't ordinarily have. Don't think for a minute that I didn't get reprimanded for that action, so no, I'm not proud of it, but it is one of those entertaining stories you don't get to hear about every day and I thought it might rekindle some "dastardly doings" of other folks of times gone by.

I realize the stunt I pulled was wrong as I stepped on folks toes and shouldn't have and for that I'm deeply sorry. And in hindsight, I realize that what someone mentioned up above was accurate, you don't get into too much trouble for a station that's fairly unlistened to anyway, so the relative impact was slim to nil anyway.

But I have to wonder how many of you would have screamed at the idea of running two albums back to back on any given day not just New Years Eve?

Would I do it again? No. I learned my lesson. But I'd have to say that decisions like doubling up on Albums in the first place (along with the general atmosphere of radio) is what made me decide to get out. And I guess you could say that was the beginning of when I just didn't care anymore

Incidentally, I'm pretty sure you all have screwed up bigtime at least once in your careers. This was my one time on-air.

I noticed that everything else was uncommented on, so I'm going to say then that those were good choices?

FYI, I did receive a call from someone who appreciated one of those so-called "classic-rock remixes that no one cares about". And dare I say that for you to have brought it up without it being a topic of conversation suggests that others have brought it up also, and that you have a problem with that? I don't see where if someone is attempting to take pride in their ability as a DJ to spin the best they can is all of a sudden reason to shun them because "it's not what's expected".

And yes my stint at PNH was a regular 6-hour shift M-F 6pm-mid with a weekend shift, so I would call that full-time. It was however my first (and last) full-time gig and my biggest learning ground.

 

[probuttonpusher]

wow after you big show at PNH Im not surprised you never got another full time gig. Honestly who ever your pd was should be shot. There are some bad pds out there who can ruin new "talent". I was lucky enough to have a great pd when I got my first full time job who reliazed that I was gonna make some mistakes, none like yours radiochild, those are the kinda mess up one ussually makes at a college station.
oh by the way only about 20% of your audeince is an active listern, the others if they dont like what your doing will just turn the dial. no wonder pnh failed so bad, or maybe its just its place on the dial I hear its not doing much better these days.

 

[nhradiochild]

That's really ridiculous. I didn't get another show because I didn't really send out applications or demo tapes. I guess I realized a little too late that I was a little too passionate and did things wrong, but thank you all the same.

And again, I saw the writing on the wall by that time. Not about my own job, but about radio in general. There was never to be any stability or direction, as stations got bought and sold, formats changed. Automation and voice-tracks were coming into age, and as with anything I just wasn't gonna cut the mustard. So I kinda took some initiative on things that were not my call. Because it became apparent to me that it would be my last hurrah on traditional radio.

And you know, if I had that feeling then about radio, why am I still even bothering with these boards? I guess I'm out in left-field on a lot of things these days.

But you could be right about the PD though, as much as I liked him and shared some philosophical moments, I don't think he really expected much from PNH, probably knowing it was going to be sold imminently anyway.

Oh well, at least a couple people had fun with the post. Thanks Tony, Viking. I didn't think it would evolve into a "Look at the stupid DJ! Let's bash him just to show him he's wrong!" contest. Oh well.

 

[radiogaga603]

I'm curious about your 'writing on the wall' statement. What writing did you see - that I clearly haven seen? This isn't an attempt at 'bashing you' because I think you have allot of insight on radio....however you do preach from a soapbox from time to time. You seem to think that the 'glory days of radio' are far better.

Yes, it is true that the 'skill' of being on the air is not as important these days with automation and computers controlling the mix of music....corporate music directors are not the best idea either and I am not a big fan of 'these songs test well in Austin, so they should do well in New England'.....gone is the art of a DJ with a great sounding 'slip cue'.

But, as times change....things need to adapt. I will tell you that I really do not wish to deal with vinyl on the air ever again....or CD's for that matter. Nor, do I ever wish to splice a section of reel to reel with a razor blade!

Are you referring to 'change' when you say 'writing on the wall'? Honestly, I take that as somewhat of a conceded 'slap in the face' to those of us 'jocks' who chose to adapt with our craft....roll with the punches and turn our focus from 'mixing' to quality show prep with interesting bits.....and making our shows sound as great as possible....with what is handed to us.

I know at my station if there is a song that we STRONGLY disagree with....all we have to do is bring our opinion to the PD and 9 times out of 10 they review the song and either bury it deep...or delete it from the database.

Sorry, I didn't see the 'writing on the wall'....guess I'm not as smart as you when it comes to broadcasting.....I chose chose to be in the business for 20+ years. Darn....guess I missed the boat! It least I love what I am doing!

 

[probuttonpusher]

I beleive radio dj's do radio for 1 of 2 reasons

1-love of radio
or
2-insanity

if we where in it for the egos we would be on tv, if it was for money it would be movies. Radio is a love or insanity business. Im in a little bit of both

 

[soxnut]

I beleive radio dj's do radio for 1 of 2 reasons

1-love of radio
or
2-insanity

if we where in it for the egos we would be on tv, if it was for money it would be movies. Radio is a love or insanity business. Im in a little bit of both

How about both? ;D

 

[nhradiochild]

I'm curious about your 'writing on the wall' statement. What writing did you see - that I clearly haven seen? This isn't an attempt at 'bashing you' because I think you have allot of insight on radio....however you do preach from a soapbox from time to time. You seem to think that the 'glory days of radio' are far better.

Well, I meant the industry writing on the wall as it pertained to me. I never felt I was really good enough to be a large market force, and the smaller markets just kept getting yanked around. For those who were already well-established such as you probably were, it wasn't of as great a concern. Plus, there was no way I could continue to work for minimum wage anymore. Got crazy in debt with a vehicle I couldn't really afford just to show it off and do some station promotion -- I got the personalized "WPNHDJ" plates, so I made some pretty significant mistakes for me to keep going in the radio biz outside of the swiping an AOD off the air. Yeah, I see the soapbox and I can't help myself... and I know I've really got to cut that out.

Yes, it is true that the 'skill' of being on the air is not as important these days with automation and computers controlling the mix of music....corporate music directors are not the best idea either and I am not a big fan of 'these songs test well in Austin, so they should do well in New England'.....gone is the art of a DJ with a great sounding 'slip cue'.

I think it shouldn't matter IF you're trying to make your music station a background-listening station. I mean, light rock stations, AAA, classical, oldies and many classic rock stations shouldn't have to worry about flawless mixing, but those that attempt to be cutting edge to some degree ought to. But PNH was a unique animal and most definitely a training ground of sorts, if only for the fact that they never did get an automation system in place under the ownership of Hal Close. So if you have to mix live, you might as well try to be creative with it.

But, as times change....things need to adapt. I will tell you that I really do not wish to deal with vinyl on the air ever again....or CD's for that matter. Nor, do I ever wish to splice a section of reel to reel with a razor blade!

No argument there, been there done that.

Are you referring to 'change' when you say 'writing on the wall'? Honestly, I take that as somewhat of a conceded 'slap in the face' to those of us 'jocks' who chose to adapt with our craft....roll with the punches and turn our focus from 'mixing' to quality show prep with interesting bits.....and making our shows sound as great as possible....with what is handed to us.

I have no doubt in my mind any true radio professional out there such as yourself is doing the best you can with what you've been given. I just sometimes don't think you all are given everything you need to be truly successful sometimes.

And I guess I just was taken aback by someone who replied with the amount of aggression you did for something that was supposed to be kinda fun, that's all.

 

[nhradiochild]

I've got to thinking a little more about "the glory days of radio" comment and (looks for that pesky soapbox, lol) while yes I'll agree that there were glory days for the station I used to listen to in my hometown that have since vanished, that doesn't mean to say that there aren't current glory days out there in radio now. Someone that may have been able to strike the right balance between automation and live stuff, to use the computer technology for the best benefit of programming, not necessarily the easiest/cheapest way out.

For instance, I hear good things about Dennis Jackson's stations. Now I know those things aren't all live, but they serve the public for all they're worth. And the man is well-loved for it. And so, he's created a "new" glory days, not what was done in the past but what he makes of the present. Does this mean his stations are number one? No. Does it even mean that they're billing to the best of their ability? I don't know, but I fashion to say no. But the man is committed to giving it everything he's got in the most reasonable manner possible.

He makes radio fun, and that's what matters the most to me.