Coming to Dallas

[Yahola]

And without a job in hand, as my wife got a job offer to good to pass up. I've
started researching the area, but any help would be appreciated.

Since I've spent more than a decade working classic rock overnights in Memphis, that's where I started looking around in Dallas. That led me to Clear Channel's stations (easy to find since that's my current employer) and Susquehanna.

So what are the other big owner groups, how's the radio climate, and who ought I get to know in order to get in the door of Dallas radio? I don't really expect to walk into a full time gig; I've worked part time radio and part time retail before and don't mind doing it again for awhile. I'd also be happy taking an off-air position to get in the building.

Thanks,

Wes

 

[jeffdfw]

> And without a job in hand, as my wife got a job offer to
> good to pass up. I've
> started researching the area, but any help would be
> appreciated.
>
> Since I've spent more than a decade working classic rock
> overnights in Memphis, that's where I started looking around
> in Dallas. That led me to Clear Channel's stations (easy to
> find since that's my current employer) and Susquehanna.
>
> So what are the other big owner groups, how's the radio
> climate, and who ought I get to know in order to get in the
> door of Dallas radio? I don't really expect to walk into a
> full time gig; I've worked part time radio and part time
> retail before and don't mind doing it again for awhile. I'd
> also be happy taking an off-air position to get in the
> building.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Wes
>
Honestly, this is an awful market. You'd better learn to like country music, rap or start speaking Spanish real quick. ;-)

 

[Yahola]

> >
> Honestly, this is an awful market. You'd better learn to
> like country music, rap or start speaking Spanish real
> quick. ;-)

Well, I had to learn most of what I learned about classic rock after getting on the air (if they weren't Rush, Styx, or one of a handful of other bands, I probably didn't know much bout 'em), so I could do the same with country. Plus my working country radio would be good for my father-in-law, his appreciation of the irony would be good for his heart!

 

[grantchester]

> > >
> > Honestly, this is an awful market.

Can you fog a mirror? Then you can work part time in Dallas Fort Worth.
The best idea is to call every program director and assistant program director in town, offering your part time services. Then, when you prove yourself, you can move into a fulltime slot. It's a lot better to grow a career in a market, than to come in on top, and then get blown out.
There will be many opportunities in the market in coming years. Programmers will realise it takes professional broadcasters to reach listeners. If you're in the right place at the right time, you'll move right in.
But be ready to work for 10 bucks an hour for a while.

 

[Yahola]

> > > >
> > > Honestly, this is an awful market.
>
> Can you fog a mirror? Then you can work part time in Dallas
> Fort Worth.

Good to hear.

> The best idea is to call every program director and
> assistant program director in town, offering your part time
> services. Then, when you prove yourself, you can move into a
> fulltime slot. It's a lot better to grow a career in a
> market, than to come in on top, and then get blown out.
> There will be many opportunities in the market in coming
> years. Programmers will realise it takes professional
> broadcasters to reach listeners. If you're in the right
> place at the right time, you'll move right in.
> But be ready to work for 10 bucks an hour for a while.

I'm good with 10 bucks an hour, and don't mind working the weird hours and sudden fill ins. I've done it before and pretty much expected to do it again given the circumstances of my move. Glad to know the market isn't sealed tight. Thanks.

Still working on assembling my list of stations, owners, and PDs. Any places to avoid like the plague?

 

[theshadow]

> Any places to avoid like the plague?

Maybe not avoid like the plague, but constantly
be on guard, and watch yourself for backstabbers
everywhere. It's sad that this market is like
that, but very good friends suddenly become
very real enemies. Not sure how Memphis treated
you, but Dallas is not always quick in the
media world to adopt to outsiders, and to welcome
with open arms. There is a ton of stuff that
is done very backwards here (and Texas in general),
and it's far from being a progressive, cutting edge
radio market (far too many conservative suits in a
Bible Belt environment). But eventually...given
time and patience, Texas grows on you like a fungus.

Some more advice...

If you can't get a PT gig in radio, watch especially
for the backstabbers and idiots in the traffic biz.
One is basically run by a guy who sits back, does
nothing in particular, and lets a mother/daughter
duo do basically whatever they want to do, running
the studio like a couple of mother hens. The other
major player uses a fly by night aircraft repair
service, and could care less about their employees,
and if aircraft crashes (which they have done - twice).

Other than that ....Welcome to Texas , pardner'...

 

[Yahola]

> > Any places to avoid like the plague?
>
> Maybe not avoid like the plague, but constantly
> be on guard, [snip] Not sure how Memphis treated
> you, but Dallas is not always quick in the
> media world to adopt to outsiders, and to welcome
> with open arms. [snip]But eventually...given
> time and patience, Texas grows on you like a fungus.

Memphis treated (and continues at this writing) to treat me very well. But life is change so I'll almost certainly be in Dallas by summer. I'm looking forward to it and part of the reason I've started this and other threads is to start letting the place grow on me before I even get there. Hopefully I can be seen as less an outsider and more a newcomer (how's *that* for splitting hairs for better connotation!).

>
> Some more advice...

Duly noted, thanks.

> Other than that ....Welcome to Texas , pardner'...

Thanks, glad to be getting there.

 

[BrainDeadPrez]

> Any places to avoid like the plague?

Yes. Infinity, Clear Channel, Susquehanna/Cumulus, ABC/Citadel, Mortensen, Crawford, Univision, Entravision, Ken Jones/Metro Broadcasters, First Broadcasting, Radio One, Service Broadcasting, and Salem. Did I forget anyone???

If Infinity offers you a FT position with a contract and more than $30K a year, RUN.

Average jock pay: Infinity-$15/hour. Susquehanna-$10/hour. Clear Channel and ABC are somewhere in between there.

Don't move to Fort Worth. Taxes on a $100,000 home are nearly $4,000 a year (compared to about $2,700 everywhere else around DFW.) I wouldn't make any long-term decisions on housing until you've been here a while. (read: RENT first.) It's a fickle market, and fully subject to all the corporate crapola found in the largest markets. And we haven't even seen the fallout yet caused by Citadel's and Cumulus's new acquisitions. The landscape here could change for the worse at the drop of a hat. No one here knows what to expect just yet.

 

[juliefisk]

> And without a job in hand, as my wife got a job offer to
> good to pass up. I've
> started researching the area, but any help would be
> appreciated.
>
> Wes, if you really don't mind an off-air position, I heard that Clear Channel is looking for someone to head Promotions for KZPS & KDGE. Call 214-866-8000 & ask for Duayne Doherty (I think).
Best wishes. Forgive us crusty radio folks in DFW. We tend to get a little surly.