My best to you, first. Second, "get a job" before settling on what you "think" working in radio really is. Get online and scour every trade publication you can stand to read in a day, everyday, weekends too. Don't pay attention to the "Job Openings" section. "Learn" the radio BUSINESS. Find out why people on-air right out of the box don't make much money and work the "graveyard" shift first.
Read why radio jobs are far more than the next great on-air gig. You far from that happening at first. Be happy if you can snag a part time gig overnights on weekends, but look around you and observe what's most important to the radio station. THAT'S the place you make a beeline for.
And, understand going in, that you'll probably hate what you see, but it will earn you a lot of points, can make you a lot of bucks and will be the best education you'll ever learn ... and offer you the most security in this day and age.
Don't turn down any opportunity to talk with a veteran in the sales department. Any interest in sales, goes right to the top of management. It means schlepping equipment to remotes, but also pays in one spot buy, probably more than any voice-track "talent" going and, with a few buys, will open doors to do production for your clients, get you to meet people in the community that can start a buzz about you on the street and you'll be in the GM's eye if you make any effort at all.
About six clients in, you'll be making more than anyone on the air, work fulltime hours and then be able to make the decision about whether to chuck it and taste what it's like to be on the air when the time comes.
They don't fire the sales staff very often. Jocks, board-ops, news people ... they are the first to go, especially the "new hires."
Learn management. Learn sales. After all, if jocks are a dime a dozen, sales people who can hold there own, stay out of the politics and be creative are God.
Hard work? You're damn straight it is. Frustrating as hell. But also, the most rewarding with the chance to advance quickly...and in a lot of places, including radio.
If it weren't for sales, you'd not have a career in radio. Without knowledge and talent, you have little chance. Look in the direction most people don't look ... and you'll EARN the chance to do what you want and stay out of trouble in a business that is more and more depending on $$$$ made each month to pay YOU first, then the rest of the staff, before they get canned for whatever stupid reason .... but usually because the station "isn't making any money."
Trust me. It earned me a great career on air and off for 35 years and counting.
And sell long term, not short. Inside of six months, you'll double or triple the salary of the most "popular" jock on the station ... and then, have a job that you'll be able to sell yourself on the air. An advantage that a lot of jocks just don't have because they don't know "the business" of radio.
Answer yourself this: In a small market (The Cape, Hyanis, Worcester, etc.) who would YOU hire? A guy who knows how to make money or a guy who knows how to talk up the ramp of a record, give the time, weather, temp and reads a liner card?
Give yourself a fighting chance. Go where the bucks are while you're looking for that chance to replace automation which is doing on air jobs more and more every day.
Save $12k ... sit up straight and spend $1200 on some decent clothes. You'll make money and learn "the Business of Radio" while "playing" what you think you really want to do, while you duck and hide from a GM who wants to cut expenses every time he / she passes by the studio. Better to be out on the street working instead of being kicked to the curb.
Good luck!
