Conneticut School of Broadcasting

[musik187]

Anyone have opinions of this school or does anyone know anyone that's had success with it at any level? I'm a bit skeptical and the brochures can only say so much about it and are only beefing it up, of course. However I'd like to know the real deal from people out there. I'm just wondering if it's worth the money to pursue.

 

[biggladman]

Before spending the money, try volunteering at a local college station or even comm station (if they need promo assistants, ect.) The experience will be similar, not cost anything and you'll have the chance to get some first hand experience.

 

[musik187]

Thanks Andrew

Sounds like a good idea and I've tried here and there to get that experience but it's very hard to get in at commerical stations. I could try college ones instead but I always took for granted that those positions were only open to students, however I'll inquire. I'm just really ready to jump in somewhere and start getting my feet wet with real experience.

 

[RADIO TRUTH]

In today's world, all broadcasting schools are the biggest scam in the world. Broadcasting schools, as well as any other trade schools, rely on pell grants which are given to economically underprivileged people. Without the
pell grants, all broadcasting schools and all other trade schools could not survive. To get a pell grant, the only qualification is to be poor. There are no qualifications for having any communication skills or education of any kind. What this means is that most broadcasting school students are semi-literate, if, even that proficient. They rarely, if ever, get jobs. If you are actually paying cash to go to a broadcasting school and have had any education and are literate, you are in the minority. Your classmates will be functionally illiterate. Also, in a shrinking industry (radio broadcasting), where even seasoned pros are getting fired every day and stay unemployed, what chance do you think a broadcasting school graduate has to get employment in broadcasting?
In today's broadcasting environment, even working in college radio won't help that much, even though you will be in better shape than going to any broadcasting schools. If you really want to work in media, get into video production or get educated to become a meteorologist. There has always been a need for weathermen with a meteorology degree.

 

[RADIO TRUTH]

One other thing, since you can't spell "Connecticut" correctly, you might fit the pell grant profile.

 

[musik187]

One other thing, since you can't spell "Connecticut" correctly, you might fit the pell grant profile.

RADIO TRUTH - Thanks a lot for the input. I was appreciately it greatly until your extremely rude and uncalled for remark about my spelling capabilities in the second note. I'll refrain from saying a lot more than that since I try not to be a rude person in general. My apologies if I'm trying to type these things at work while ten other things are going on, people make typos here and there. Why you would even think of commenting on something like that is beyond me but take care.

 

[musik187]

oops sorry Professor TRUTH, i meant "APPRECIATING" ... my bad

 

[K-Tel]

CSB is not a bad school if you know what you really want to do (Radio or TV). Call your local non-profit stations first and ask about volunteer opportunities. CSB will teach you how to get your foot in the door, but if you can skip the cost of a broadcasting school while picking up a few things, you might be better off.

 

[wesdev224]

Anyone have opinions of this school or does anyone know anyone that's had success with it at any level? I'm a bit skeptical and the brochures can only say so much about it and are only beefing it up, of course. However I'd like to know the real deal from people out there. I'm just wondering if it's worth the money to pursue.

When I was considering a career in radio, I called and annoyed every broadcaster I listened to for advice. They all came back with basically the same thing. Schools are a waste of time. Better to call your local, small town radio station, and ask if there are any entry level jobs they would consider you for. Don't expect to get hired for an on air position right away, but always keep reminding the PD or production director, any one responsible for on-air content, that you want to eventually get on the air. Make yourself available to do the jopbs that no one else wants to do. This will endear you to most of the staff faster than anything. Above all, even in your most frustrated of moments, don't give up on yourself or those around you. It's not a guarantee, but then nothing rewarding in life ever is. Good luck! Oh, and have a back-up plan, just in case.

 

[murcuryvapor]

One other thing, since you can't spell "Connecticut" correctly, you might fit the pell grant profile.

Or you could be president.

 

[murcuryvapor]

Anyone have opinions of this school or does anyone know anyone that's had success with it at any level? I'm a bit skeptical and the brochures can only say so much about it and are only beefing it up, of course. However I'd like to know the real deal from people out there. I'm just wondering if it's worth the money to pursue.

Robin Quivers and Artie Lange are both graduates. Which means you should pursue a Real Estate license.

 

[cabradio]

Robin Quivers and Artie Lange are both graduates. Which means you should pursue a Real Estate license.

They might be graduates ( I am taking your word for it, as I do not follow their careers ) BUT, I doubt it was the CSB Certificate that got them their jobs. I would bet (like most radio successes) it was being at the right place at the right time. I also would bet they would have been hired irregardless of the certificate. I can almost guarantee you no one has gotten a radio gig BECAUSE they went to a broadcasting school, unless there was just no one else to consider. If a PD did hire strictly on a CSB certificate, please let me know, because that PD was probably also a CSB Grad too.

Essentially, what the certificate does do, is buy your way into a fraternity (not that there is anything wrong with that if you can afford it, but it will take you many years to get that investment back!). If a CSB grad is in a hiring position, and you hook up AT THE RIGHT TIME, it could be to your advantage. $10,000 is a lot of money to pay for a "possibility" where the odds are far more in your favor if you simply volunteer or intern at a real station (whether it be commercial, college or a pbs). If you are intent on paying someone, offer to pay the PD half that to train you! What PD would say "no" to $5k to train someone for a few hours a week for 10 weeks? Do you get a certificate? No, but I'm sure you'd get a quality reference from a real radio station.

I have had a few quality interns that worked for me who had graduated from CSB, but it most definitely had no bearing on my hiring them. I actually would prefer people that had real radio experience. And that is essentially why I hired those CSB grads; it was to give them real radio experience because that certificate is not enough to make it in the real world of broadcasting.

 

[theengineer]

I completely disagree with Charlie Profit. There is a place for CSB.

In a previous life I was a PD of a couple of small market stations in upstate NY. I hired several CSB graduates because of their CSB experience. They understood they'd be working for no money and the worst hours, but they did know how to take meter readings (requried at that time), which end of the microphone you spoke into and had some vague concept of how the business worked (that the commercials paid the bills) we hired them. They were are good choice from the applicants that consisted of the high schoolers who split their time between us and McDonald's and the local radio gypsies who managed to work at (and get fired from) every station in a 75 mile radius for a variety of reasons. Some of them had potential and begain to rise .. others did not and eventually found their way into something more suitable for their skills.

This was 25 years ago, and there are not nearly as many of those jobs left, but some of them are still out there, provided you're willing to live in places you've never heard of with a population less than your HS graduation class. A little experience is better than none. As long as you understand it's an entry-level job in a small market and that you're going to get the worst shifts and jobs on the planet CSB can help you. If you expect to step into NYC radio there is really nobody that can help you.

Today, nobody is willing or able to invest time to train people. Any training at all is a plus over others who have none.

 

[Starscream]

Thanks Andrew

Sounds like a good idea and I've tried here and there to get that experience but it's very hard to get in at commerical stations. I could try college ones instead but I always took for granted that those positions were only open to students, however I'll inquire. I'm just really ready to jump in somewhere and start getting my feet wet with real experience.

What? I know a lot of stations always have openings for internships and/or PT promotions assistant openings. If you're hungry enough, you'll go for it.

Don't expect to be drive time your first week, and expect minimum wage. But as I said, if you're hungry enough, you can handle it.

 

[Ozman]

In today's broadcasting environment, even working in college radio won't help that much, even though you will be in better shape than going to any broadcasting schools. If you really want to work in media, get into video production or get educated to become a meteorologist. There has always been a need for weathermen with a meteorology degree.

I appologise about my bad spelling ahead of time but here my Take and remember this is IMHO
Going to Lyndon State College for 4 years, I can answer the weather & radio question a bit. Unless you plan on getting a Math Degree as well as a Meteorology degree, forget about Meteorology. It takes a lot of time in Math and Physics. The biggest suggestion I have is get a genral studies degree at a community college 1st as a money saving Measure. WWLR where I have lived on the radio over the last 4 years Is where I went originally for Meteorology. Over time, Math and Physics killed me. I have looked into CSB but you will learn more having fun doing your own radio show and talking to townspeople and listeners on a 3,000 watt radio station playing whatever the hell you want to play as long as you find they like it since our station WWLR is run as a Club and not a major for the school. No rotation or set playlists ETC... My show being Rock a format everyone likes but does not exist in the NEK VT. Talking to townspeople to tell them when you are on and people who call in, you can always ask how to improve your radio show and on air Talent If your still at the college level. of course going to College in VT there is really not anything else people can listen to that rock atleast because they are now getting sick of satellite radio with the same narrow playlist.

-Mistakes I have made in 4 years of college
- Wish I got a general Studies degree from community college to save a lot of money while taking 1 class part time at say WCSU to be on the radio
-Try to get an Internship ASAP I have had trouble until now because LSC my college did not have any major I could put it under until now with their new Music Business Industry Major (MBI)
-Wish I did Television Studies (TVS) instead of Meterology (Met) with the radio. this way I could try to be the guy on TV without having to go through the Math and Physics Crap.

Good-luck to you and remember this is Just IMHO
-OZ

 

[RADIO TRUTH]

I have a friend who is of average intelligence and he graduated college with a degree in meteorology. He had to take and pass every math, science and physics course that there was. Upon graduating with the meteorology
degree, he got a job with the CBS Television Network almost immediately. He has been there now for over 25 years. There is still a crying need for tv weathermen that have a degree in meteorology. Average people can do it and if you have the guts to stick out and get the education and the degree, the prize is that you will have no trouble getting a job as an on-the-air tv weatherman and you don't even have to spell well.

 

[Ozman]

Your really have to Live your life doing homework if you want to be a MET major. I have had several dj's have to quit being on the radio and miss the radio because the Met Homework gets to be way too much to do anything else.
Getting on TV as a weatherman is not as easy as you guys think. If your lucky you will first by on a TV market 200+ and the cost of living will catch up with you before anything. there is other met departments as well, Private Industry, National Weather Service track. The Job market has been tough even for the best Meteorology Students.
even before considering on on air TV talent you have to talk to people in the industry at weather conferences. There are 3 I know of
http://www.sneweatherconf.org/index.shtml
http://apollo.lsc.vsc.edu/ams/NESC.html - hosted by our school
http://www.ametsoc.org/meet/annual/

~OZ

I have a friend who is of average intelligence and he graduated college with a degree in meteorology. He had to take and pass every math, science and physics course that there was. Upon graduating with the meteorology
degree, he got a job with the CBS Television Network almost immediately. He has been there now for over 25 years. There is still a crying need for tv weathermen that have a degree in meteorology. Average people can do it and if you have the guts to stick out and get the education and the degree, the prize is that you will have no trouble getting a job as an on-the-air tv weatherman and you don't even have to spell well.

 

[CrankyYankee]

Having never attending the CS of B, I can't say anything about them one way or the other. But take a look at what you get from them: A basic introduction to the business of broadcasting and a souvenir of your time spent at CS of B(aka a diploma...no college credits, but a certificate suitable for framing to be sure).
Trying to get some intern time at a station and learning something about as many differnt aspects of the biz would be a better spending of your time without the expense of giving your money away. Now, I'm going to make a suggestion that might make you think I've lost my mind. You'll get as much and probably better training than you'd get at CS of B, in the military. That's right, the U. S. Armed Forces. Many folks in the biz today got their first taste of broadcasting with Armed Forces Radio & Television. IF you can get into the Defense Information School and IF graduate, you are just about guaranteed a job in broadcasting during your time in.
O.K. so you have to wear a uniform keep yourself in good shape for a few years. But Uncle Sam will pay you to learn the ins and outs of broadcasting. Granted, it's not for everybody but it's an option worth checking out.

 

[cabradio]

I completely disagree with Charlie Profit. There is a place for CSB.

In a previous life I was a PD of a couple of small market stations in upstate NY. I hired several CSB graduates because of their CSB experience. They understood they'd be working for no money and the worst hours, but they did know how to take meter readings (requried at that time), which end of the microphone you spoke into and had some vague concept of how the business worked (that the commercials paid the bills) we hired them. They were are good choice from the applicants that consisted of the high schoolers who split their time between us and McDonald's and the local radio gypsies who managed to work at (and get fired from) every station in a 75 mile radius for a variety of reasons. Some of them had potential and begain to rise .. others did not and eventually found their way into something more suitable for their skills.

This was 25 years ago, and there are not nearly as many of those jobs left, but some of them are still out there, provided you're willing to live in places you've never heard of with a population less than your HS graduation class. A little experience is better than none. As long as you understand it's an entry-level job in a small market and that you're going to get the worst shifts and jobs on the planet CSB can help you. If you expect to step into NYC radio there is really nobody that can help you.

Today, nobody is willing or able to invest time to train people. Any training at all is a plus over others who have none.

I appreciate the honesty, and professionalism in your disagreement! Let me just bring attention to something you said:
This was 25 years ago. My experience with CSB grads goes back only 5-6 years. The problem I had with too many (not all, but too many), was that they come out of the school thinking they have a COMPLETE understanding of the biz; that they were already "skilled" and "experienced"! They didn't think they should start at the bottom. It's arrogance, and that's a symptom of the generation.

Thom Chute of WATR graduated from CSB. He is a true professional, and a genuinely nice guy at that! So, it is wrong for me to clump ALL CSB grads into my generalization. I can only speak of my experience. But I would still advise AGAINST going to CSB because you can get an internship WITHOUT the CSB credentials. It is a matter of being persistent. That's how I got into the biz: being persistent, patient and available! And several of my (non-CSB) interns have actually gone on to bigger and better because of the experience I gave them!

One CSB student actually admitted to me that the "teachers" for his class were often absent, so his class would have to combine with another class, and as such, the actual "hands-on" experience was limited because there were too many students all vying for the equipment.

 

[MarcB]

I'm a graduate of the CHARLIE PROFIT SCHOOL OF BROADCASTING I enjoyed my 2 1/2 years I was involved with the station he was Managing - running the board, helping him out on his talk show, and I even liked the office work part. Besides being a radio geek I like computers so that's why I didn't mind the office work. Then I was able to buy some air time inexpensively from him after the station was sold and flipped to a time-brokered format and I had fun playing radio for 2 hours on occassional Friday nights. Circumstances at the station changed and my contract was canceled. I was supposed to become involved with the station again last May, but circumstances changed and I couldn't. I hope some day I'm able to play radio again, but even if I don't get chance I'll always remember the fun times I had at Charlie Profit's stations.