It always bugged me when I had to show up at a remote alone. No engineer, no sales person, no support at all from the station. I’d arrive well in advance with a mic, a cable, a mixer and a screwdriver to attach the phone line.
After some asking around, I’d finally find an employee of the store, car dealer, …whatever who thought he remembered seeing someone from the phone company installing a line earlier in the week.
“Maybe you’re supposed to set up over there….I dunno.”
After connecting, I’d go back to my Beetle, into the back seat of which I’d squeezed our “booth.” Wooden pieces of a desk-type thing with our call letters on the front (WWOL). They were heavy and always grimy. In my dress shirt and tie, I had to put them together.
Naturally, by showtime, my hands were filthy and I was dripping with sweat. Wonderful conditions, and it was my task to go on the air and attract dozens of customers for the Big Model Year End Clearance sale. I’d hope my station- logoed keychains or other trinket would arouse the interest of those affluent Cadillac buyers and get ‘em rushing in. If that didn't work, I'd have to rely on my own star power.
You guys know – many of you from personal experience – the rest of the story. What the heck, though. Three fun hours and I’d get my $45 talent fee.
Another thing which has rankled me over the years is being asked to make a public appearance, only to show up and find that I have no role whatsoever, other than to stand around.
About 7 years ago, I was doing mornings at a small station in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (sounds exotic, doesn’t it?). Someone on the board of directors of the holiday parade in a nearby city called and asked if I’d be willing to do the PA announcements – kind of a play by play of the parade. It was gratis, of course, but being the good citizen of my station that I was, I said “Sure, I’ll be happy to.”
The evening of the parade, a Saturday, I drove 60 miles from my home to represent my radio station and take part in this grand civic event (which actually was a pretty good-sized parade). At the designated place, I met the person who’d initially called me. She pointed me in the direction of the lady in charge of the parade, then disappeared. I never saw her again.
You can guess the rest. The lady in charge had no idea who I was, had never heard of my little radio station, and said, “Well, we already have Carl, here, to do the announcements, and he’s been doing them for years. Maybe you can team up with him.”
I talked briefly with Carl, who, of course, had no intention of giving up a second of his precious time on mic. Can’t say I blamed him.
In subsequent radio gigs I’ve had a PD or promotion person ask me to attend some event or another gratis for the station. My response uniformly has been “Sure, what’s my role?” Often, it turns out, there is no role. Just show up. In this case, I’ll always decline.
I’m always happy to get on stage to introduce a band or say a few words about my station. It’s a legitimate function for an air personality and I always enjoy it. If I have something specific to do at an event, I’ll do all I can to make time for it.
But if my role is no more than standing around with a hand-written name tag stuck to my station-logoed golf shirt, I’ll pass, thanks. I have a previous engagement with a ball game, my Barca Lounger, and a nice glass o’ scotch.
Nick Seneca
After some asking around, I’d finally find an employee of the store, car dealer, …whatever who thought he remembered seeing someone from the phone company installing a line earlier in the week.
“Maybe you’re supposed to set up over there….I dunno.”
After connecting, I’d go back to my Beetle, into the back seat of which I’d squeezed our “booth.” Wooden pieces of a desk-type thing with our call letters on the front (WWOL). They were heavy and always grimy. In my dress shirt and tie, I had to put them together.
Naturally, by showtime, my hands were filthy and I was dripping with sweat. Wonderful conditions, and it was my task to go on the air and attract dozens of customers for the Big Model Year End Clearance sale. I’d hope my station- logoed keychains or other trinket would arouse the interest of those affluent Cadillac buyers and get ‘em rushing in. If that didn't work, I'd have to rely on my own star power.
You guys know – many of you from personal experience – the rest of the story. What the heck, though. Three fun hours and I’d get my $45 talent fee.
Another thing which has rankled me over the years is being asked to make a public appearance, only to show up and find that I have no role whatsoever, other than to stand around.
About 7 years ago, I was doing mornings at a small station in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (sounds exotic, doesn’t it?). Someone on the board of directors of the holiday parade in a nearby city called and asked if I’d be willing to do the PA announcements – kind of a play by play of the parade. It was gratis, of course, but being the good citizen of my station that I was, I said “Sure, I’ll be happy to.”
The evening of the parade, a Saturday, I drove 60 miles from my home to represent my radio station and take part in this grand civic event (which actually was a pretty good-sized parade). At the designated place, I met the person who’d initially called me. She pointed me in the direction of the lady in charge of the parade, then disappeared. I never saw her again.
You can guess the rest. The lady in charge had no idea who I was, had never heard of my little radio station, and said, “Well, we already have Carl, here, to do the announcements, and he’s been doing them for years. Maybe you can team up with him.”
I talked briefly with Carl, who, of course, had no intention of giving up a second of his precious time on mic. Can’t say I blamed him.
In subsequent radio gigs I’ve had a PD or promotion person ask me to attend some event or another gratis for the station. My response uniformly has been “Sure, what’s my role?” Often, it turns out, there is no role. Just show up. In this case, I’ll always decline.
I’m always happy to get on stage to introduce a band or say a few words about my station. It’s a legitimate function for an air personality and I always enjoy it. If I have something specific to do at an event, I’ll do all I can to make time for it.
But if my role is no more than standing around with a hand-written name tag stuck to my station-logoed golf shirt, I’ll pass, thanks. I have a previous engagement with a ball game, my Barca Lounger, and a nice glass o’ scotch.
Nick Seneca
