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Concerning Air Checks

C

classic1

I recently asked my PD for an aircheck session. Yes, you read that right, I ASKED for an aircheck session. I must be a glutton for punishment. Haha!! Well, I was not thrilled with the result. I was hoping for an honest, open, and to be blunt, brutal breakdown of everything I am doing wrong, and need improving on, and anything I am doing right, and what I can do to keep improving on those strengths. I was more or less given a "You sound fine. Have a great day." That ain't gonna cut it with me. So my question is, would it be wrong to send my aircheck out to other PD's outside of my area and ask for their opinions? Letting them know upfront that I am not looking for a job, but just their opinion on my work and what I need to improve upon. Would this be a good thing, or would I be cutting my throat?
 
Depends...if you know a PD or larger market air talent, send it. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't. It's less because I'd be concerned word might get back to my PD but because you probably wouldn't hear from the PD anyway.

Also, I don't know what your situation is, but, if I can't better myself in my situation (regardless of industry), I've found it's usually best for me to move on. So, maybe you wouldn't be wrong to start sending out packages looking for a new challenge. Granted, if you have family in or some other ties to the area, you may not have that option, but, if you don't, it could be something to think about.
 
If you want my honest opinion, I say If your PD says your fine, then so be it,,, if the PD is happy with your work, then why worry about it. I actually would not go behind the PDs back and send out airchecks to other markets, given that they probably wouldnt listen and reply anyway, and that,, to be straight forward,,, dont stick your neck out,, if your happy at the station you are at, and the PD is happy with you, why lose sleep over it. Its just not worth the hastle if your PD says your ok....
 
If you have friends who work in radio elsewhere, I don't think it could hurt to send it to them. But as far as sending an aircheck to some guy out of the market that you just happen to find online, don't bother. (S)He probably won't listen anyway.
 
PD's are very busy, and busier than ever right now with multiple stations and shoestring staffs. Sending some PD you don't know an aircheck to critique is just adding more work for them, so no, they won't ever listen to it. I salute your desire to improve and to get some good feedback! That desire is what helps make excellent jocks!
 
Mid West Clubber said:
If you want my honest opinion, I say If your PD says your fine, then so be it,,, if the PD is happy with your work, then why worry about it. I actually would not go behind the PDs back and send out airchecks to other markets, given that they probably wouldnt listen and reply anyway, and that,, to be straight forward,,, dont stick your neck out,, if your happy at the station you are at, and the PD is happy with you, why lose sleep over it. Its just not worth the hastle if your PD says your ok....
Click to expand...

See the problem Mid was that his tone of voice and his attitude was quite dismissive. Almost like "Don't bother me." That's why I thought about getting the opinions of others.
 
You did convey the underlying tone of "I don't care what you sound like". Not a good feeling.

Positive reinforcement is important ... constructive critique is good. Perhaps he's too stressed out doing the rest of his job to take the time to nurture and develop. Perhaps he's just not the nurturing and developing type.

Are you getting any other feedback from other jocks and management? Comments about "I liked that bit you did"? Anything? The PD isn't the only one at the station that can give feedback (although I wouldn't shop around for it - just listen to what others are saying about your show and follow the conversations).
 
badstevie said:
PD's are very busy, and busier than ever right now with multiple stations and shoestring staffs. Sending some PD you don't know an aircheck to critique is just adding more work for them, so no, they won't ever listen to it. I salute your desire to improve and to get some good feedback! That desire is what helps make excellent jocks!
Click to expand...
i have to agree with badstevie, plus there is a good chance your aircheck will never be listened to, EVEN if they have a job opening, so good luck getting a 'Free Critique'. if you can't get a critique, my advice is listen to as much Good Radio as you can from people you admire in or out of market- Don't Copy- but emulate the trait that makes them a PRO.
 
Just a great memory.... Bad station, frustrated, but only been there a couple of months..Paychecks bounce.. I send a sad sam letter with an air-check downriver to John Long at 56/WHBQ and beg for a 'hearing and a chewing out'.. He liked the 'chewing out' statement and gave me a three page breakdown, teardown and then pep talk.. Kept me in radio.. I had the blessing of returning the favor when his daughter volunteered as a intern and part timer in Columbus.. I did not know she was his daughter until she mentioned her dad was a legendary 70's top forty program director... That's how I got a great PD to listen.... CHEW ME OUT!
 
It's true that program directors are busy people these days. But if they want to get the best out of what few people they have, they need to make sure that those people are living up the standards that they themselves make. I completely understand trying to balance everything that goes into being a program director, but your radio station is a reflection of you. And if one of your jocks sounds unusual, overmodulated, undermodulated, or just plain awful, it reflects badly upon you. The bottom line is that if you want your station to sound the way you think it's supposed to sound, you have to find the time to do airchecks.
 
skippertthomas said:
Just a great memory.... Bad station, frustrated, but only been there a couple of months..Paychecks bounce.. I send a sad sam letter with an air-check downriver to John Long at 56/WHBQ and beg for a 'hearing and a chewing out'.. He liked the 'chewing out' statement and gave me a three page breakdown, teardown and then pep talk.. Kept me in radio.. I had the blessing of returning the favor when his daughter volunteered as a intern and part timer in Columbus.. I did not know she was his daughter until she mentioned her dad was a legendary 70's top forty program director... That's how I got a great PD to listen.... CHEW ME OUT!
Click to expand...
Columbus,IN or Columbus.OH?
 
Meridith volunteered for me A WUFM/88.7 Radio-U"... And the bouncing paycheck station was along Mississippi River.......French Named town...
 
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