Medusa2U said:
How about yourself and what are you earning in this business?
I imagine if I were still willing to work for radio wages Melody, I would be earning the same trimmings you do ($12, $15 an hour, or is that wishful thinking?). Twenty years or more really rockets you up from minimum wage in radio, doesn't it? How many non-radio industries reset the wage scale so drastically when you move between companies? (Oh, I forgot, it's always the same company now. You know, that makes it REAL EASY to move up OR down the ladder.) Of course, who needs good health insurance when you're "living the dream" and playing the "same great music" ("your favorite redundant hits of today and yesterday!") over and over and over. Each day brings with it a new temperature to announce, right? Now, that spells: variety! And, "job security," since the temperature always changes, right? Right!
Excuse me if I don't sound remotely excited by that paycheck, but as a radio escapee, I've noted this: once your income TAX alone ends up being substantially greater than what the best paid jocks actually EARN, you tend to regret those earlier ego-driven years in radio. Yes, radio is ego-driven, Melody, but you knew that. However, I will add: there IS light at the end of the tunnel...you just have to get the ego in check and get OUT of the tunnel.
I don't mind "waxing nostalgic" about the 'golden' period of radio, when it WAS a viable career, without multiple ownership and when people could earn an actual living doing it, at many levels. But that was long ago. Folks choosing to stay in it today (for any reason other than as a stepping stone, or a hobby or side interest) are listening to their ego.
There are a handful of in-denial egomaniacs here on this board. They throw out the typical false bravado and posture along the lines of, "You're just jealous because you're not in radio," or the like. However, any sensible person would translate that to, "You only WISH you could be a sack boy again and live the dream." Uh, no, thanks. I'll happily pass and give you a straight shot at "ascending to the top," whatever that might ultimately be. (Best guess: insurance sales.)
Now, go on back to sitting on that stool and making enduring, smug comments between songs, so the rest of us can have something to "guffaw" about on the elevator (if we're even paying attention, unlike most of today's listeners).
At the same time, be sure to keep an eye on the clock, and those advancing years.
And I'll continue to give a little extra to the bell ringers every Christmas.
