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Big Jay Sorenson - WJRZ

I waited 6 days for some kind of response to the post before my response above... SO, now that there hasn't been a reasoned discourse to the previous poster's comments, the door is closed. I actually answer everyone's e-mail whether they like me or not. But posting cloaked and then not backing up statements is the bunk.

I had a lovely time today with Rich Phoenix, his wife and a few other members of the NJ Radio Museum folks. ( www.njrm.org ) Other members of leadership were invited, but some couldn't make it. Their loss. We met for brunch and the very crowded and noisy Menlo Park Diner...then took a tour of News 12 New Jersey a few miles away, given by Charles Blanding, a very talented engineer.. What an amazing facility with a complete switch over to total digital coming soon under his direction. I never realized that it Cablevision had placed that much capital into that joint.

Personally, I do find the looping of reports every half hour can sometimes be annoying, especially if you're a news-hound like myself, but overall it's a very well done presentation from off and on-air types. It may not be as high on the talent scale as let's say Channel 4's newspeople, or CNN, but I think the Jersey version of News 12 is pretty good, and a super training ground for the next level. Radio ought to stop a beat and think about where the NEXT group of talent is coming from. Do YOU hear any younger people talking about careers in RADIO? I don't. Well, one kid I know wants it...but I wonder if they'll be anything LEFT by the time he's totally groomed. I digress.

I was impressed with how much redundancy they have at News 12 New Jersey regarding equipment. That's SO important in a broadcast facility. And they're not even OVER the air...it's strictly cable-fed.

Some radio stations could learn a thing or two about having TOP of the line equipement. Many very competent engineers have to use bubblegum and string sometimes JUST to keep a station on the air, as their budgets get plucked each year for OTHER needs. THEY are the unsung heroes of stations. I've seen them in action for all of my 38 years in the biz..and they do magic with the least amount of respect and money spent on their departments.

I know Tom McNally as he has described (and others who I don't want to mention, as to not embarrass them in this forum) know exactly what I'm talking about. He's had to piece things together from scratch...even recently.

However I must say the engineering staff at WNBC..the NABET guys fixed things faster than I've ever seen before or since. I guess having deep pockets at RCA then GE allowed them to have a bigger budget, but at some stations in the minor leagues, owners don't seem to care as much about HOW it sounds, or HOW it gets from the studio to the transmitter..they just expect it from these guys. That's not EVERY station of course, but lots of smaller stations seem to skimp on the only product their is. What's ON the air and HOW it sounds!!! Everything else can't exist without it.

I wish I had paid more attention in my formative years in the biz TO the engineering aspects. I DO get Radio World magazine every two weeks, and I can follow along on most stuff...but some technical things are just that...Technical!!!
It's way over my head. Watching what goes on at a TV facility is nothing short of amazing as well, as I saw today at News 12 New Jersey. I peaked into master control at 30 Rock a few times..it's mind-blowing. But at least ONE TV company is paying attention to our state unlike another one which is LICENSED to New Jersey.

That was the overwhelming reason we decided to name WKXW New Jersey 101.5 when we made the switch on March 1, 1990, based on Walt Sabo's recommendation. There was a lacking of a STATEWIDE voice via radio. Surely, local news departments covered small areas VERY well back in the day before news staffs became another afterthought in the minds of ownership.

Stations like WOBM-FM, WHWH-AM, WCTC-AM, WMTR-AM, WRAN-AM, WFPG-AM, WOND-AM, WJLK-AM & FM, and numerous others could ALWAYS be counted on to give local news..and not just from ONE news person. Many had large staffs given the market size. But those days are largely over.

Millennium at least seems to care about news for their stations that require it. WCTC does a fine job with 3 people...but the staff used to be MUCH larger, thus more coverage. But when the entire AM band becomes either forgeign language, sports or syndicated talk, or all brokered time selling colon cleaners and $&#%^ pumps and pills, you can kiss local news goodbye.

I KNOW who can take their place, but I ain't talkin'. You'll have to feed me an Edyie Gorme meal, and even THEN I might not tell you how.

Thanks again for the courageous person for coming forward uncloacked to discuss with us all just what I've done to make them so obsessed with my future. What sound does a chicken make?? Chickennnnmannnnnnnn....Bar Bar Bar BARRRRRRRRR.

Be BIG
Dick Orkin
 
Big Jay –Over the years, I’ve read your postings with interest and have wondered…is this guy one of those sad people who is hoping that things go back to the way they were or is he one of those people who is embracing things as they evolve? Judging your most recent postings, you seem to be in the former group and that’s a shame. You can, and must, do better. On the other hand, if you can retire, then good for you, and enjoy the strolls down memory lane.

Your often-referred-to tenure at WNBC was over 20 years ago… by your own definition of having been in radio 38+ years, that’s more then half your career ago. For that to continue to define your best days is sad. I recall you being sharp and quick-witted. But, that was over 20 years ago. The woman in the N-copter (Jane Dornacker?) has been gone 20 years, the WNBC Time Machine was 20 years ago. Joey Reynolds has been gone over 20 years from WNBC. While it may have been a bright moment in your career, face it, it’s long gone.

Most of us enjoy occasional strolls down memory lane. Those walks bring about sweet memories. However, we recognize them as brief views into the past. We all live in the present. I believe you should focus on what you can bring to radio (NYC, Philadelphia or local NJ) in the present. Nobody really cares that you had a booming voice and could talk up a record on AM in 1977. That stuff has LONG ceased to be relevant. What can you add in 2008?

I don’t know you personally, but I’ve heard you on the radio off and on for over 25 years. You’re good. Please stop wasting your time responding to people on message boards and, instead, spend your time meeting with and convincing big-time PDs that you can continue to be a viable and vibrant contributor to 2008 radio entertainment.

Just my thoughts……justafaninnj.
 
An occasional stroll is okay, true, but when you look on both sides of that lane, you'll find broadcasters who cared for their audience by providing a product that, granted, was designed to make a buck, but showed a responsibility that is somewhat lacking today.
Stations carried news in part to sell, but also to be the "go to" outlet for information. Careers and reputations were built on this product, and you could almost set your watch to the hourly newscast...every hour, 24/7.
Mere tenths of points separate stations anymore, and what is the difference between them? One station plays more or less Celine Dion or Beatles or Barry Manilow? Is it the personalities that drive the product or vice versa? It seems that too much research has caused stations to be too careful. And why do consultants have the last call over the PD that a station hired over other candidates? Pardon my stroll, but I recall getting a PD position because I brought something to the table other than just warming the chair for my 4 hour shift. PD's were the creative force and that is still necessary in today's industry.
I worked with Jay at both 'OBM's in the early 80's, and although I didn't have the extensive career that he did, every station where I was empowered to do what was necessary, I relied on common sense and attention to the product. To some extent, I can see his point. I still recall what was and what will never be again (excuses to Led Zepp) unless broadcasters take the reins of their industry back from the financiers and demand more of their stations.
But that's just my opinion...I could be wrong.
 
Thank you Glenn for your insight from someone from WITHIN. The points you seconded were what I was trying to say. Some though, think that all I do all day is stroll down some mythical memory lane. While I don't linger on the past in my present life, I occassionally WILL go there for those eager to hear about it. Look..
It's easy to NOT know me or to NOT know the whole story then AND now, but I can only say that the poster who claims to be just a fan is missing my intent and just WHO I am NOW.

I don't have to do any resume review here. Almost every station I worked for up until my most recent gig, were contemporay situations (yeah even while playing oldies at JRZ) they were ALL done with a VERY "TODAY" frame of mind.

Here's the deal. I am not going to get into a *$*#*#@ match with someone who THINKS they know me from afar even OR up close. I am currently talking with some suprisingly HUGE folks about some not-so suprisingly big things. If any of them click, and I suspect that ONE could be a reality quite quickly, all of these kind of posts about ME being OVER..me living in the past, me reliving my career on this board, etc... ANYONE who knows my current situation GETS what I'm doing. I've shared my latest intentions with VERY few people to not jinx things...and because, frankly, it's too sensitive to elaborate about. Suffice it to say, that my career is FAR from over. And THROUGH my lengthy career, I've been on the cutting edge of not only new technology, but risky formats that clicked beyond ANYONE'S wildest imaginations, and was one of the first Satellite jocks. I was asked to work at SIRIUS even before they went ON the air.. So "FAN" person...here's the deal. I promise not to lay into your post by being pompous or anything else if YOU just take a step back and THINK about what you write before you just spout off like that. And mentioning Jane Dornacker in your diatribe was not only unnecessary, but in horribly poor taste. She was a lovely person who didn't deserve her fate. Why you needed to mention that was beyond me and many others who may have known or worked with her. I'm fair game. If you disagree with something I've posted..FINE. But don't tell me what I can write and can't write.. I've gotten TONS of email from folks who LIKE talking about this stuff..names, memories of stations, etc. It may not be your bag, but as Lennon once said.. Instant Karma's gonna get you right between the eyes. Ooops..there I go dwelling on the past.

I am VERY much in the present my friend...and will be in this until I REALLY croak next time. I may not be 'working' on the pathetic terrestrial sheeple-led stations at the moment...but NEVER count me out. I've been to hell and back in the last couple of years for reasons which only a few know about. How dare you insinuate that I'm living in the past. If you're basing what I've written HERE and on the WABC Sat. Night Oldies page that Sniffen conducts, you DON'T know me from Adam. I THINK you were being a casual observer of SOME of the things I have written lately, but I don't dwell kind sir. If someone ASKS, I tell. I would MUCH rather talk about what stations SHOULD be doing as GLENN wisely picked up on. That seemed to be way over your head. If you look BACK at some of my posts I'm consistent about my posture about the current state of radio. MANY pros take what I say quite seriously. YOU may not see or hear about it..but trust me, I know.

Thanks to you all for having to sit through yet another attack, even if it was well intentioned.

BE BIG
Jay The Jock
 
Big Jay -- I'm sorry you missed the point.

If I were considering hiring someone for my station, I would probably Google their name, check Facebook or MySpace (if they were in the younger demos) and check the industry message boards to see what kind of public persona that person chose to put out there for public consumption. After all, an on-air position at my station is a public position and I want to know that I’m going to get someone consistent with the image I convey to the public.

Looking through your many postings, one might conclude the following things:
- you’ve been around awhile
- you’ve got a lot of friends in radio
- you’ve helped build some good radio stations over the years
- you’ve had some short tastes of the big time (Philly and NYC)
- you’ve got a phenomenal memory of radio in NJ, Philadelphia and New York and of old records
- you’ve had conflicts with ownership which you’ve hinted about in an “I know, but I won’t tell you” or “If you only knew” kind of way
- you engage in flame wars with knuckleheads on the internet
- you think the majority of station owners are idiots and that you’re the smartest guy in the room (that may be true, but why offend those you hope will hire you?)

If I’m thinking of hiring you, I’m probably wondering whether the good I get from you being on my station (and I do believe your on-air persona is terrific, by the way) will be diluted by your penchant for taking on people on message boards. I see other on-air personalities posting on other radio boards. Rarely will any of them air dirty laundry…it’s just not good business. Even the controversial talk show hosts don’t do it.

I’m sorry you took my posting and went off somewhere it didn’t need to go. You’re a real talent…probably one who shouldn’t be on the beach. But give this some thought. Much of what you write is probably better aired over the phone or in email, not a public forum.
 
justafaninnj said:
- you’ve had some short tastes of the big time (Philly and NYC)
- you engage in flame wars with knuckleheads on the internet
- you think the majority of station owners are idiots and that you’re the smartest guy in the room (that may be true, but why offend those you hope will hire you?)
Click to expand...


Eyyyooo BIG!!!! How could a person with such long insights of the industry have such 'short tastes of the big time. That's your new nick name, short tastes!!  Who engages in flame wars. AHHHHH. I can't take it, I'm going to wet myself!!!  Is short tastes a person who play’s short records, and drives short cars, that go beep beep beep. Oh, wait, could it be, maybe, short tastes are a person who can't hold back the long and 'short' of it. Y'know the part where broadcast owner idjit’s cannot take the truth about the complacency of their radio stations? Naaa, couldn't be. AHHHHH.
 
I, for one say KUDOS to Mr Sorensin, who at least had some tastes of the big time. Whats wrong with knowledge of old records? He gets plenty of views on his posts so I know he is close to nailing down those things he's hinted at in the past. I say keep posting Jay I will keep reading with delight!
 
I love how people spell my name.. It ain't the most common surname in America for SHORE.. It's actually spelled SORENSEN. Most people do this with it. Jay Severin...Jay Sorrenson...Jay Sorennson...Jay Thorenssen...and any number of variations. I've seen it at Arbitron when I've reviewed diaries. As long as it's close. But the Jay SEVERIN is interesting. I had a guy SWEAR I was that guy when I was on WCTC in the morning. He just couldn't understand after repeatedly telling him I was NOT Jay Severin. I don't look, sound or have the same views as he does..and STILL this nursing home possibility wouldn't take no for an answer.
I just gave up at the end of the call.

But I REALLLLLLY appreciate the last post on this thread. I have privately written to the guy who nuked me on a previous post. I have not heard BACK from this guy privately yet, but I guess he's too embarrassed now, or GETS it. I just made it plain and simple. I do this for FUN. It's not like I live on this site. I have SO many other things to do. I just type very quickly and get my thoughts out. Like 'em or hate 'em..it's ME. And I DO appreciate it when he DID say that he was "looking out for me" or something like that. I am not worried that some PD is gonna look at my posts and say "Oh..I'd never hire him..he's too much trouble". Actually there WAS a PD who shall remain nameless that has NEVER wanted to hire me because I was..."hard to work with". HUH? Sure I've been intense...I come to work prepared..and mistaken, by some as being arrogant when it was really intensity and focus...sorely lacking in this business in some quarters. If my career is based on a few people I mangaged to tweak now and then, may I publically say I'm sorry!! If I taught a few to always work hard and be the best you can be...mazel tov. I hope you made it. And for those who DIDN'T listen to a word I said.. Good for you too. I hope you're enjoying your life.

When I'm ready, I'll be giving more information about my next adventures!

I'm living in the FUTURE guys..

BE BIG
 
Will my watch be Gold or Platinum for soon reaching 14,000 views on this thread from Radio-info, simply because Greater Media made a blunder back on January 12, 2007? I'd like it inscribed with my motto: BE BIG!

By the way, I will not tell any more stories about stations because I now realize that I've given away free information that I should be using for a future book.
See my agent for details. I'll see that person when I find one.

Thank you one and all.
Watch can awarded in person at a time and place to be determined. Oh, and you have to feed me and my family...and they are hungry.

By the way, what's the prize for 15,000 views? A trip to Maui for 6 adults and 4 children would be fantastic. I'd settle for Oahu, but Waikaki is too much like Seaside or Wildwood now...to skeevy.

BE BIG
The Original Big Jay The Jock
 
Hey Jay, screw these idiot(s) but as i read through the mistakes
of your name, i think i got it. " BIG THOR" you sound like a viking, and yet
realte to the young STD generation. Your fan in Fla always.
 
Shoothoops... stop feeling like ya have to defend me. It flows right off the back..as a matter of fact, the latest flamer and I had a wonderful back and forth privately, and he GETS it now. GETS it. See...as us real radio vets know, ya can't program stations, nor play music for, nor pay a lot of attention to the uber P-1's who hang on every word, read every post and have a lot of time on their hands. That's been the case since Rudy Freakin' Valle sang into a megaphone at 30 Rock in the 20's and 30's.

So I'm in super company with my buds and with my supporters over the years. I can't tell you how many folks (radio geeks and just plain REAL people) tell me things I've said on the air over 30 years ago that I can't remember saying or doing myself...or have rekindled a memory or two of the great radio we did by the seat of our pants.

The gratification I get from THAT is worth all the slings and arrows from a few malcontents and wanna-bes. But I am a postitive person...more so than ever since my stuff of the last couple of years.

I appreciate from afar that you remember the reasons we parted ways, and for the opportunities that THAT presented, while subliminally GETTING all that I talked to you about!! That's worth it TOO! One of my BEST pals these days was told to his face to not be ON the air..and he's thanked me for it in ways that will reap enormous benefits for me soon...and him too! That's all I can say for now.

So never forget what Oliver Hardy said to Stan Laurel in 1931 I believe.. When Stanley didn't know what to say to his wife when they were found running around town in places they shouldn't have been..
BE BIG!
Jimmy Finlayson...the originator of "DOH"
 
na, just thought you might want to know that not everybody is a hater.
we parted ways because i knew everything at 22 years old, i was a freakin
radio geru! Then it hit me, some 5 years later, gee, maybe that Jay guy
was on to something. I got my hater's too, because they cant stand the fact
i found something they couldn't, so BE BIG!
 
Yo Shoothoops... I'll now just accept the compliments and appreciate them. I know you're the real deal. It's quite interesting the network of people you meet when you do this for as long as I have. Some absolutely adore you. Some are ok with you. Some could take you or leave you. Some just don't like ya too much. Some dislike. Some LOATHE. These are the same variables that every ONE of us goes through in our lives every day. We make judgements about people based on either a lifetime of contact...or sometimes on one of those fluke meetings. Either the vibe is good, or it ain't. Sometimes it takes a WHILE to get the proper insight about someone.

I ain't preaching here, but I've been to hell and back...and I am SO back now.
I have made a vow to refuse to get into any more pissing matches with malcontents or wanna-bes. I have a lot on my plate at the moment...some are potentially HUGE situations. HUGE...and perhaps groundbreaking in some instances. So Big Jay's back and I can look in the mirror and see the same focused, determined and intensity that I saw when I was 23. I give kudos to TWO people with whom I've had professional relationships with right here...right now.

Jim Gearhart and Bob Levy. BOTH are in their 70's...and BOTH are still at it with super results. Bless them both.

That statement may startle some of you who know of my personal dealings with both gentlemen. But I gotta tell you something. There is a level of artistry and professionalism that has allowed BOTH broadcasters to not only thrive in a world of much younger talent, but to actually grow as once pioneers at their craft. So publically, hats off to both of you guys.

JIM for being at it since the early 60's to the best of my knowledge. (I've seen the pictures from KQV) and I give him MUCH credit for the sustained success and initial success of NJ 101.5...

And Levy, whom I've known since I was a 9 year-old kid playing against his team on the Lakewood Little League, and worked with TWICE at WOBM..first when I was a wet-behind-the-ears long-haired-punk who just wanted to work in radio since I was 10...and again when I was asked to program then 1170 AM when perhased in '81, and then 92.7 by the OWNERS of the station. I knew THEM too, thus making it a bit easier to have access perhaps, but my ideas is what they liked. I will likely NEVER know what BOB thinks of what I did as a programmer there in the early 80's, but the stations did just fine ratings-wise then.

My whole thought process has gone through a huge metamorphisis lately. I hope it works for the future of not only MY career, but to anyone else's that I may have come in contact with.

Shoothoops....I'm glad you helped me get that out man!
BE BIG
G. Marconi
 
I am not sure exactly what i did ( your last line ) . But i do know that hate hurts, no matter how tough you are. And there is way to much of it in the radio biz. Consolidation, has killed career's, ( some were needed ) but it made people realize, be careful who you trash, they might end up in the studio next to you one day. You dont need defending, because as i read the dumb flamer post's, you can see how petty they are , just from how they write and what they say. But the biggest shock, was Bob Levy is only 70? i thought he was 70 when i ran his board on sundays in 1983.
 
What you DID was allow me to respond to your post in a way that helped explain myself. To have someone TELL it like it T-I-IS, like you did, is refreshing. I hope that finally some of you finally get what I've been talking about for a few years now on this board.

Radio ain't as easy as it seems. The real-life dramas that play out in our lives every day largely affect our work. We're real people who just happen to be on the radio.

Radio has changed dramatically for ALL of us in the industry over just the last few years. My employment situation has played itself over and over again for countless professionals industry-wide in the last year alone. Perhaps not the specifics about why I'm not working at WJRZ for example, but for similar reasons...all ultimately relating to $$$.

In my career, there has been great joy in doing what I do; and I know that joy will continue soon. The bad stuff? Well, let's just say ALL entertainers have down spots here and there. It's just the way it is.

And Shoothoops...as you know, I have fans...LOYAL fans and many industry pals. Some count ME as the reason they've been successful. That's such a compliment.

I also have detractors. Obsessed detractors...I bet you do too. I can't let then derail me in any way. Some blame me for their woes. How absurd. If some had just listened...and played along (even IF they didn't agree politically or otherwise) they'd still be either still working, or worse yet, still working with ME.. But some want to lash out at me for their mistakes or misjudgements.

I just do the best I can for every task I've undertaken throughout my lengthy time in the biz.

To sorta quote a cool record:
"Some gotta win, some gotta lose, Big Jay ain't got the blues"... (liberties taken on "Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues" by a one-hit-wonder artist #9-'72).

BE BIG
Danny O'Keefe
 
I will tell you, the hater's and flamers are loud . I get it, and i have make sure they dont get in between my ears, because some have. But, the complaints are always louder than the compliments. We hear more negative , because the good ones, dont think your getting any crap. Best player in MLB, A---Rod, gets blasted from the stands every night, and i heard it in Yankee Stadium, his home park!
 
Shoothoops..
I truly think that ALL of us who are entertainers should not let a few folks ruin the fun for those of us who have toiled long and hard to develop our craft and signature sounds.

Most people have NO idea what it takes to learn our specialty, and how long it usually takes to get any number of people to be "fans" of your work, no matter what market. Some will "get it", and some won't! It's that simple. So just go about your business and focus on what is necessary.

Look where persistence and intensity has gotten you in your career. Pretty darn good by most standards.

These are words of advise for ANYONE who has ever cracked a mic open, gotten up on a stage, been in front of a video or film camera... Don't focus on the so-called "flamers" for another second.

However...always be aware that some healthy and professional criticism (and yes sometimes from the public too) is healthy and necessary to figure out what works and what doesn't for each individual.

So, push forward, look upward and always BE BIG!!

Jay
 
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