BECOME A JUGGLER

[Steve Eberhart]

I was talking today to yet another friend in radio who has, through apparently no fault of their own, lost their job.

While this is always traumatic and sometime completely unexpected, in this day and age, it can't be too surprising.

I repeated my advice to them as I have to many others and thought I'd share it here for all.

If you're going to be in radio, you need to be a "juggler", and have 3 things in the air at all times so that when, not if, one of them drops, you still have 2 things in the air to hold you over...
that...plus, pretend you make 50% of what you actually make - and live on that, save the rest because these jobs are not likely to be here in a few years.

in addition, these days i would say while you're having fun doing radio - establish another life/career/interest in something completely devoid of radio on the side so that when the fun ends you will have something to transition to in order to stay alive.

Unfortunately for many, radio is all they have ever done, mostly because of their love for the biz. Nothing necessarily wrong with that unless you short sight yourself on reality, which of course is that the biz changes, things change and you may have to as well.

Talent often has nothing to do with it. There are far more talented people out of work than those working in radio, locally and otherwise.

It's all perspective. You can love radio, as I do, but sprinkle a dose of reality into the "mix" of your thinking. Have other interests, develop other means of support, find another employment interest on the side that might be able to move to front/center if needed. Most important: save your money. You will need it. Don't live beyond your means - in fact, try to live UNDER them so you can save more. If you can, create a business of yourself - voicetrack for out of town stations - do it cheap, it's just time....develop voiceover work (it doesn't require an amazing voice)....work on websites, think of things you can do at home in your spare time...or on weekends.
If you're like half the people who were making good money and having fun and blew off college, go back, age doesn't matter, get a degree that may help you get a job when you have to. Get a real estate license, or take online courses...whatever.

don't LET it happen....MAKE it happen.

 

[Texas Gentleman]

Steve does know of what he speaks.......sound [sic] advice!

 

[Jay Walker]

Steve does know of what he speaks.......sound [sic] advice!

Sound advice indeed, especially saving all the income you can while you have steady income. Live like you're poor so when you run into a "situation" you have a little in the bank to fall back on.

If you want a career in broadcasting past your 40th birthday, you have to learn other positions in the industry. Even though being on-air is a heck of a lot of fun, realistically there are very few positions for 40 year old CHR air talents or 50 year old air talents in general. BUT, Stations are always looking for Sales people. So while you're gainfully employed on the air, take that outgoing personality and learn the ins and outs of radio sales.

If sales is not your strong suite, there is one other area in broadcasting with a real shortage of qualified people, Engineering. While there are thousands of IT people there are very very few individuals qualified to work on or build studios, transmitters, directional AM, HD systems, RF systems or the many other tasks performed by engineers, and Chief engineers these days.

 

[andydallas]

Steve does know of what he speaks.......sound [sic] advice!

Sound advice indeed, especially saving all the income you can while you have steady income. Live like you're poor so when you run into a "situation" you have a little in the bank to fall back on.

If you want a career in broadcasting past your 40th birthday, you have to learn other positions in the industry. Even though being on-air is a heck of a lot of fun, realistically there are very few positions for 40 year old CHR air talents or 50 year old air talents in general. BUT, Stations are always looking for Sales people. So while you're gainfully employed on the air, take that outgoing personality and learn the ins and outs of radio sales.

If sales is not your strong suite, there is one other area in broadcasting with a real shortage of qualified people, Engineering. While there are thousands of IT people there are very very few individuals qualified to work on or build studios, transmitters, directional AM, HD systems, RF systems or the many other tasks performed by engineers, and Chief engineers these days.

You are right on about the dwindling number of engineers today. I had an owner in one medium market, who is by background an engineer, say that in his market the YOUNGEST engineer was just under 60!

Someone that knows transmitters and audio today is hard to find, and they are normally too busy to add another station or project,

 

[Jay Walker]

Steve does know of what he speaks.......sound [sic] advice!

Sound advice indeed, especially saving all the income you can while you have steady income. Live like you're poor so when you run into a "situation" you have a little in the bank to fall back on.

If you want a career in broadcasting past your 40th birthday, you have to learn other positions in the industry. Even though being on-air is a heck of a lot of fun, realistically there are very few positions for 40 year old CHR air talents or 50 year old air talents in general. BUT, Stations are always looking for Sales people. So while you're gainfully employed on the air, take that outgoing personality and learn the ins and outs of radio sales.

If sales is not your strong suite, there is one other area in broadcasting with a real shortage of qualified people, Engineering. While there are thousands of IT people there are very very few individuals qualified to work on or build studios, transmitters, directional AM, HD systems, RF systems or the many other tasks performed by engineers, and Chief engineers these days.

You are right on about the dwindling number of engineers today. I had an owner in one medium market, who is by background an engineer, say that in his market the YOUNGEST engineer was just under 60!

Someone that knows transmitters and audio today is hard to find, and they are normally too busy to add another station or project,

As far as I know, one of the youngest in Dallas is 57 and there isn't anyone behind him...
So if you've got the interest and inclination, hang out with the station engineer and soak up all the knowledge you can.

 

[Sgt. Hans G. Schultz]

As far as I know, one of the youngest in Dallas is 57 and there isn't anyone behind him...
So if you've got the interest and inclination, hang out with the station engineer and soak up all the knowledge you can.

=============================================

Jay, you obviously have not experienced the good fortune of running into radi0avenger !!!

=============================================

 

[sshuffield70]

I don't know if Aaron Brodie is still an engineer at KNTU, but he's around 40. He'd also done work in the news department there.

Also, many may remember Pete Thomsen from KAFM or KHYI way back in the day. I've worked in retail myself for many years, and had the fortune to meet Pete a couple of times while he was in the KLTY sales department in the 1990s. Eventually, that gig led to him being station manager of "The Word" FM in 1996.

 

[JRZFM100]

Someone that knows transmitters and audio today is hard to find, and they are normally too busy to add another station or project

Not only that, but today's radio engineers get to go into space!

Here's a job posting today for a broadcast engineer from the City of Chicago, notice the last word:

This position is responsible for operating, maintaining and supervising the radio station, student television production lab, studio, and the associated equipment including the satellite.

I wonder how you get there to maintain the satellite now that the shuttle fleet has been retired.

There ladder's got to be a lot longer than 75 feet!

 

[Jay Walker]

As far as I know, one of the youngest in Dallas is 57 and there isn't anyone behind him...
So if you've got the interest and inclination, hang out with the station engineer and soak up all the knowledge you can.

=============================================

Jay, you obviously have not experienced the good fortune of running into radi0avenger !!!

=============================================

I though RA went into television... Or am I thinking of another user here?

 

[317C50KW]

RA is doing TeeVee. But she's still a radio geek at heart.

And does a great job fixing mauled headphone cords.

 

[TNP]

As far as I know, one of the youngest in Dallas is 57 and there isn't anyone behind him...
So if you've got the interest and inclination, hang out with the station engineer and soak up all the knowledge you can.

Dang, Jay, I hung out with you for years and I didn't learn a thing about transmitters. You're either a horrible teacher or I'm dumb as a...

Um, er, never mind.

 

[Jay Walker]

As far as I know, one of the youngest in Dallas is 57 and there isn't anyone behind him...
So if you've got the interest and inclination, hang out with the station engineer and soak up all the knowledge you can.

Dang, Jay, I hung out with you for years and I didn't learn a thing about transmitters. You're either a horrible teacher or I'm dumb as a...

Um, er, never mind.

TNP you never asked about transmitters ;D BUT I'll give you a ton of credit, you were one of the few that ever came out to the Hill...
You know me, I'll share any info I've got and you know my motto, "There are no stupid questions, Only stupid answers"... ;D

And as you know I always had an open invitation to anyone to come out to the site. I always love showing off the transmitters. It's too bad that so many people in radio these days don't have a clue where the transmitters are located. You'd be surprised how many people would think the STL dish on the roof was the "Transmitter" :

Since we have the tallest stick in Cedar Hill I was always glad to show it off. Plus with the new transmitters and HD it was pretty impressive to gearsluts like me.

 

[Jay Walker]

RA is doing TeeVee. But she's still a radio geek at heart.

And does a great job fixing mauled headphone cords.

RA is one of my favorite hams too. She is very talented and it's too bad radio lost another good engineer to TV. Aaron is also a talented guy, I forgot about him, I was the one who pointed him toward engineering when we worked together at All News 94.9 KEWS. So, with the exception of RA who is out of radio in TV and Aaron who is doing non-com, I think I am the youngest engineer/solder jockey in Dallas at 57 years of age...

For those remotely interested, I started out in TV when I was around 13 or 14 hanging out for experience. I quickly worked my way up to master control operator and transmitter operator. This was the only way I had to get any broadcast experience so I could get into radio as an air talent which was my goal.

After I got into radio as Air Talent, I always kept a foot in the engineering pool. I was air talent and chief engineer in Wichita in the 70's for an AM/FM (KEYN-FM/KQAM). I've always hung out with the engineers at every station I worked at, even when I was air talent at WLS in the mid 80's. It keeps you in the loop and current plus it's a good way to score old equipment too

When Sunny 95 switched to All News 94.9, they kept me because I knew which end of the mouse to hold and as such became the IT/Engineer guy from my former morning drive air talent position on Sunny.

When the CH. 39 tower collapsed during the HD TV antenna install, the Chief for KEWS and Young Country was on vacation, since I was the only engineer in the building, I was the one who got the ball rolling to get 94.9 and 105.3 back on the air along with 100.3 and 107.5.

In spite of the tragedy it worked out well for me. I was scheduled to be laid off the end of October that year after the pending sale, but my work with the tower issue saved my job and lasted close to 20 more years. I ended up as Chief Engineer for 1190 during the brief time we had it and several CBS FM's for close to 20 years. Plus I was able to grow my processing consultant business and did a few CBS stations from market one on down.

It was great times, working for the best talented team (IMO) in Dallas. No complaints at all. That's why I recommend engineering as the next step after your career as an air talent when the time comes to "grow up, cut your hair and get a real job" ;D
There is plenty of growth potential and it is also a heck of a lot of FUN ;D

 

[Radioflyer79]

I've been fortunate. I realized over 20 years ago that radio is a better side dish than a main course. But, I did stay with it, on and off, from 1986 until this year on a part-time basis. For me, it was the best decision I've ever made. I've enjoyed a full-time career going on 24 years in the airline industry but always kept my hand in radio from New York to California to here in Dallas. For the last 10 years I worked for CBS Radio so I got to work with Jay Walker and TNP, two of the best in the business. And I genuinely mean that. Early in my career I was told one solid fact of the business... get to know your engineer and get on their good side so the 4 AM call because you're off the air will go much smoother. Words that should be posted over every control room door.

But all the posts here are wise information. Radio as a main career is becoming more dicey every day. So, a fall-back career or job is the wise plan of action.

I never had the aptitude to be an engineer, but that never stopped the long talks with Jay either in his office or my studio. Eventually the conversations would turn to the old days of radio, the 1980's. It's fun to reminisce but re-living it might not be so joyful. So while the temptation in threads like this one and others is to say that radio will never be that good again may be true. But that may just be the way its supposed to be. Reminds me of someone, like me, who came of age in the 70's and says "What we grew up with was real music. Not this crap that passes for music today." i disagree with that. Music is meant to evolve and change with the times. Protest songs and folk music were great in the 60's, but today, not so much. The same, I think applies to radio. Playing all the top 40 hits with a great JAMS jingle package was a fantastic experience. But maybe the station call letters in 4-part harmony isn't so great to this generation. Besides, it was our parents that looked on our music of the 60's and 70's as trash. So history always repeats.

This is just a long winded post to say that radio is fun, it's entertaining and fun to look back on. Unless you are so flexible that you can bounce from on-air to sales to engineer or some path similar, radio is a nice hobby that you can get paid for.

But there is the added bonus of working with some really great people. Good, like-minded people who may just be a crazy as you. (I'm looking at you Jay) ;D

Nick Riva

 

[BBontheRadio]

You know me, I'll share any info I've got and you know my motto, "There are no stupid questions, Only stupid answers"... ;D

Jay, I've always preferred: "There are no stupid questions, Only stupid people"... ;D

 

[JRZFM100]

Jay-

I've been pondering your perspective on evolving air talent to engineering.

I think it's really gonna be tough for Delilah to get the characteristic curves for even something as simple as a 3CX3000A7.

And when you get up to a tetrode, or god forbid a pentode, forget it! ;D

 

[Jay Walker]

Jay-

I've been pondering your perspective on evolving air talent to engineering.

I think it's really gonna be tough for Delilah to get the characteristic curves for even something as simple as a 3CX3000A7.

And when you get up to a tetrode, or god forbid a pentode, forget it! ;D

You may be correct with that specific scenario, But I'm always willing to train someone IF they are truly interested in learning.

 

[Mediafrog+]

You are right on about the dwindling number of engineers today. I had an owner in one medium market, who is by background an engineer, say that in his market the YOUNGEST engineer was just under 60!

The problem is: If you are in your 20's and technically inclined or an engineering whiz kid, which would you rather do? Work on designing and implementing the cutting edge communication and computing technology of the future? Or flog another day of operation out of a 30-40 year old transmitter while keeping a 9 tower directional AM array within authorized parameters? Yes, a lot of things have changed in broadcast engineering in recent years, but it is still seen as old tech to a lot of savvy young people.

Another elephant in the room: Pay in the broadcast industry is too often not competitive with other fields.

 

[Kent]

Broadcasters haven't exactly been helpful when it comes to cultivating engineering talent either. About 10 years ago, I was getting ready to graduate with an IT degree and was working in radio to put myself through school. A few days before graduation, my PD asked if I had a job lined up. As IT had pretty well become saturated at that time, I said I hadn't, and my PD said, "Great! Our IT department said it needed some help, and I'll let them know you're interested!"

The next day, I sat down with our chief technical officer, who was also part-owner in the company. We had a good interview, and he said, "I hate to break this to you, but we only offered you a courtesy interview because you've been a great employee. We don't really have a position at this time."

Needless to say, my PD felt slapped in the face, as did I. Everyone was flabbergasted. A few months later, we found out why. The company was sold for just under $40 million, and the decision to sell was made before my last semester started. Since the owners couldn't tell anyone what was happening, they just told the PD's it was business as usual. My PD assumed nothing had changed.

In the end, I went somewhere else out of radio and have been doing just fine. It wasn't my loss. It was radio's.

 

[Jay Walker]

You are right on about the dwindling number of engineers today. I had an owner in one medium market, who is by background an engineer, say that in his market the YOUNGEST engineer was just under 60!

The problem is: If you are in your 20's and technically inclined or an engineering whiz kid, which would you rather do? Work on designing and implementing the cutting edge communication and computing technology of the future? Or flog another day of operation out of a 30-40 year old transmitter while keeping a 9 tower directional AM array within authorized parameters? Yes, a lot of things have changed in broadcast engineering in recent years, but it is still seen as old tech to a lot of savvy young people.

Another elephant in the room: Pay in the broadcast industry is too often not competitive with other fields.

The question and solutions pointed out in this thread are how do you survive in the industry post air talent phase. If you are the type of person you mentioned "the engineering whiz kid", more than likely you are not into "radio" as a career. Also if you are only in it for the money, you won't be an air talent long enough to worry about a career in radio when you approach the age of 40 or so. The average length of a career for those starting out is around 3 to 5 years tops. After the first 5 years you learn how to squeeze every bit of income you can out of the job. In addition to climbing up the market size ladder, remotes, and freelance voice work are just a few of the areas you pick up as you mature in the industry.

As far as "old tech" goes, broadcasting will be around in some shape or form long after I and most likely yourself are taking the proverbial dirt nap. Regarding income, In my situation I have made a VERY good income in radio over the last 40 years as an air talent, voice talent, and engineer. It is all about what your goals are and how hard you are willing to work to accomplish your goals.

If is was easy, anybody could do it.....