coping with the stress of losing a job in radio

[shiftless]

I was recently, in November, part of the recent cutbacks. I know this is radio, and to be let go is part of the business.No offense to the radio station, I worked for since they gave me a great oppertunity, and I loved being on the air practically every minute.Plus I worked with some very talented people and people who have taught me a lot about the ways to become a good jock.I got to talk about the music which is one thing that enjoyed the most. I was hoping those of you who have gone thru this before, might advise me as how to recover, pull up bootstraps, and find another job in this market.

 

[ThePickleReport]

Start knocking on doors and let people know you are interested.

 

[Savage]

The bad news about radio: you get fired a lot.

The good news about radio: nobody who's any good at this, is out of work for long.

(Implicit in #2, above: if you're not very good at this you should look for another line of work anyway. If you're so sensitive that you find being canned upsetting, go get a job at the Post Office.)

In 41 years in this biz I have never seen anyone who is truly talented (and who doesn't have some "issue" like having substance abuse problems) out of work for longer than a few weeks, unless they're waiting out a noncompete, in which case (except in weirdly rare cases) they're collecting a paycheck anyway while they enjoy an extended vacation.

When you're out of work, you have a new job description: your new job is - FINDING A NEW JOB. This is your temporary fulltime occupation, 40 hours a week (and give yourself some OT while you're at it.)

Work the phones, websites, network with the buds and contacts you've made. Send mp3 files. Lobby programming people. Set up a hireshiftless.com website and blog about it, and be sure you have some fun with it.

If you work at this 40 hours a week as I suggest, two important things will happen: you'll be too busy to feel sorry for yourself. And more importantly, you'll have a great new gig before you know it.

Good luck and believe in yourself!

 

[Mike Sheridan]

It hurts I know but trust that all of us have been where you are right now. Do not take any time off, get the resume and aircheck polished and get right back out there. So much depends on being in the right place at the right time. Ask former coworkers if they know of any spots open. Most are very willing to help. Many openings never get posted so it doesn't hurt to ask.

In the 20 years I did on the air I managed to only have to collect one weeks worth of unemployment. I had some less than desirable jobs at less than desireable stations but I was able to keep working....it wasn't easy sometimes! Most of what I consider the good positions were not posted and someone put in a good word for me.

 

[Mark Giardina]

There is plenty of good advice here and I would heed it. Most important don't feel that you are worthless because you got fired. Broadcasting invented the term "downsizing" years before corporate America did.

Back in January 1990, I was out-of-work for 9 months before finding another radio job and I got that position because I knew someone. That job lasted for 14 years until I decided to get out of the business and try something else.

Well come March of this year it will be four years that I've been out of broadcasting full-time and I will be the first to tell you that should an opportunity arise I would be more than happy to return. I found out the hard way that it's not just about money, but doing something one enjoys. Unfortunately for me the need for local news isn't as important as it once was so my options are few.

I'm sure you will find something; just don't give up hope. And the best of luck to you.

 

[Element9]

This may sound cruel, it's not intended to be. When I first read your post and your moniker, I thought of Wease. I hope you moniker does not reflect your work ethic and attitude. Seeing you have but one post, I suspect not.

Take my observations with a grain of salt, afterall, free advice is worth what you pay for it. Daddy used to say, "Never give advice, wise men don't need it and fools won't heed it."

Now then.

Radio isn't your life, it's what you do. If radio defines who you are and what you're all about, you're screwed. Savage's advice has value and to a large degree warrants serious consideration, yet with all due respect to Bob, it's not that easy.

Radio today is not what it was five years ago, certainly not what it was 41 years ago. Finding another job in radio will be more difficult than ever. Be prepared to apply at Home Depot. Be prepared to uproot yourself. Be prepared to take a pay cut.

We read more frequently of Clear Channel, CBS, Emmis and Entercom casting out employees of all stature, jocks, PDs, GMs. It's disconcerting because it speaks volumes as to where the business is and where it may be going.

Only a few weeks ago, an advertisement appeared in one of the trades seeking a PD for a major group's radio station. The ad explicitly stated the PD would be responsible for the typical PD duties, yet not for directing an airstaff, but for gathering and producing phone calls from listeners from which morsels would be extracted that would image the station. In fact, there is no airstaff.

Imagine that! No jocks, not even voice tracks from jocks in another market or another station in the cluster, but listeners' phone bites as content.

So this is what it's coming to, Missy Mathers from Winston-Salem calls the station, the PD intercepts her call, chats her up while recording the call, has her read a station liner. In turn, he produces it and it plays dozens (if not more) times between certain songs on her favorite CHR station in that market. Little Missy becomes a regular phone-dj and with a little coaching from the PD and the help of Pro Tools and Prophet, becomes a radio star in her own home town... at no expense to the station. Welcome to the new paradigm of radio. Less is more.

To many of us, radio lies somewhere between a hobby and a religion, treat it as neither and you'll maintain your sanity and hopefully find gainful employment.

You never know when opportunity may knock.

 

[KeyDemo]

Always remember, while your in the thick of it, that your next gig will probably be better than the last. We usually rebound in brighter colors. The pain and discouragement you're experiencing now will stretch you. More often than not, when things are status quo we don't grow. So, see your journey as an opportunity to grow.

Never give up! Best of luck to ya, too.

 

[Savage]

After reading Element 9's post I realized I left out a couple of caveats - so indeed my advice did sound a little simplistic.

You shouldn't be out of work for long. This does NOT mean that your next job will be your ideal gig, nor even the equivalent of your last gig nor even one you might want, long-term. It might well be: just a job to keep the checks coming and the career stoked. Most of us have taken temporary posts so the career and reputation don't get cold. A radio career is perishable. If you "hold out" for your dream gig your stock will drift downwards. Management will wonder, why has he been out of work so long?

Another condition - I note that you seem to be insistent on staying in Western New York. This is a mistake. First of all, note that Buffalo (like Rochester) is a no-growth market. Be prepared to relocate where the opportunities are.

 

[nightfly61]

I know how you feel. I was just cut after 15 years, 12 of them full time on air. I'm in the same boat. ClearChannel didn't "fire" me & the new owners didn't hire me- so I guess I'm stuck in "off-air cyberspace limbo" or something. If you have a sound system look around your local bars & see if they need a club deejay. I make more in one night than I did in 1 week at my last station. If you don't mind dressing up, weddings are huge money & this is the time of year to get your name out to do 'em. At least it's a good standby gig to pay the bills plus you're still in touch with equipment (I guess it's in my blood to be comfortable w/ headphones on & always cueing something up to keep the chops up). I'm also in the process of turning my livingroom into a recording studio & if it takes off, an ad agency. I'm also using this time to ask myself "is it really worth it" for someone my age to go back searching for work in such a downsized business working for about what high schoolers make at McD's. Keep airchecks to 3 minutes, shave off all but maybe 1/2 a second of song you're intro/outro-ing and make sure & put a killer phoner on there. Good Luck.

 

[garnet]

Hardest part for me, and I spent the last 14 years in a top 20 market...10 of them mornings, is taking into account moving your family(if you have one) 1000 miles away to make half the money your were making...very few pay moving expenses...its a different time...unless you're on top of your game, you're in a rough way...some of us were at the top of our game 5 years ago...now, we have all the experience, but honestly, some of us are going down in market size, not up...and do I want to move to Toledo with my wife and kids to make $35,000 a year, doing two or three jobs...not sure...

 

[Bob_Hudson]

The good news about radio: nobody who's any good at this, is out of work for long.

That USED to be true provided you did not mind bring a frequent customer of U-HAUL, but it certainly is not true in today's radio. I know very good jocks on both coasts with great attitudes and reputations, fabulous backgrounds, etc. who are out of work or relegated to deadend jobs such as traffic reporters working split shifts reciting the same old traffic jams day after day (reminding me of the guy who had a job shoveling up elephant poop in the circus. A friend asked why he didn't quit that boring, stinky, nasty job, and he replied, "What and give up show business????").

Pay scales keep going down, the number of radio jobs - on and off the air - has dropped dramatically and a lot of that happened while the business was supposedly booming! Now the story is one of declining ad revenues and, industry-wide, no clues about how to reverse the perception of radio as a fading medium with little or no attraction to younger people.

If you are young and single and want to roll the dice with radio, make it your goal to get a morning show gig (and not as some second banana). Increasingly the morning show is the only live show on many stations and it's the one day part where stations still recognize that a particular talent can make them some serious money.

If you are married, do your family a favor and recognize that while radio was fun, it's not something that's going to position you as the breadwinner over the years. The best thing you can have for a long career in radio, is an understanding wife with a good career in some other business.

What saddens me to see friends approaching 40 who still have families and keep chasing yet one more shot at grabbing radio's brass ring only to see themselves once again the victim of mass firings. Most folks who stick to that will find that by about age 50 radio will toss them out once and for all and they are ill-prepared and too old to effectively transition to something else.

Which gets back to my belief that morning radio is the only place to be: I had fun doing morning and made okay money, but I used the rest of the day to learn other ways to make a living.

 

[cee]

That USED to be true provided you did not mind bring a frequent customer of U-HAUL, but it certainly is not true in today's radio. I know very good jocks on both coasts with great attitudes and reputations, fabulous backgrounds, etc. who are out of work or relegated to deadend jobs such as traffic reporters working split shifts reciting the same old traffic jams day after day (reminding me of the guy who had a job shoveling up elephant poop in the circus. A friend asked why he didn't quit that boring, stinky, nasty job, and he replied, "What and give up show business?").

Pay scales keep going down, the number of radio jobs - on and off the air - has dropped dramatically and a lot of that happened while the business was supposedly booming! Now the story is one of declining ad revenues and, industry-wide, no clues about how to reverse the perception of radio as a fading medium with little or no attraction to younger people.

If you are young and single and want to roll the dice with radio, make it your goal to get a morning show gig (and not as some second banana). Increasingly the morning show is the only live show on many stations and it's the one day part where stations still recognize that a particular talent can make them some serious money.

If you are married, do your family a favor and recognize that while radio was fun, it's not something that's going to position you as the breadwinner over the years. The best thing you can have for a long career in radio, is an understanding wife with a good career in some other business.

What saddens me to see friends approaching 40 who still have families and keep chasing yet one more shot at grabbing radio's brass ring only to see themselves once again the victim of mass firings. Most folks who stick to that will find that by about age 50 radio will toss them out once and for all and they are ill-prepared and too old to effectively transition to something else.

Which gets back to my belief that morning radio is the only place to be: I had fun doing morning and made okay money, but I used the rest of the day to learn other ways to make a living.

Bob - very well put. My feelings exactly. You can work your butt off and have a great attitude and all that good stuff and still find yourself out of the business by age 50. Everything you've described happened to me -- and so many friends of mine who worked in the business.

I also loved radio. I had one gig where I couldn't wait to get to work and hated to leave. Unlike most workers, I would noticed my shift was up in, say, 15 minutes, and I would be disappointed that all the fun I was having was about to end for that day. But you pay for your thrills(need I say more).

I do believe in the old saying that when one door closes another door opens. This was true in my case. The only thing I would add is that it can take awhile before you find that new door. No matter how much radio talent you may have, everyone has other talents and interests that they can develop a bit more. For anyone considering a career change, I advise you to do a lot of career research and work with a job counselor on a regular basis(Rochester Works, Buffalo Works, Juneau Works, etc. are free federal programs - use them). To pay the monthly bills, consider a lower paying survival job for the short term while you chart your long term career course. Also, a lot of downsized people these days get into self employment(again, get regular counseling - Small Business Adminstration or whoever). If you look into new opportunities and they don't pan out for some reason, don't get discouraged - there's something besides radio you can be satisfied doing for a living.

If you can find a radio gig in this day and age - and make a decent living - more power to you. While my luck ran out several years back, I hope yours doesn't. If you can't find radio work --.or you're getting fed up - there are always other satisfying things to do with your life. Finding that new career is hard work, but it pays off in the end. Take it from me.

 

[yugoidar]

Plenty of good advice in these posts! But, perhaps the most realistic in today’s radio environment is that of Element 9 and Bob_Hudson.

The fact of the matter – there are hundreds of very qualified people in the radio business that have lost their jobs and the competition for those jobs that are open is very stiff. When it comes to the radio business today, it’s definitely is a buyers market with far more supply than demand.

I think that sometimes radio talent fails to realize that some of the skills that they have acquired along the way are often transferable to other jobs. I know -- it’s radio, it’s in your blood and you hate to leave the glory and recognition behind, but the reality is you would be doing yourself (and your family?) a favor by getting a real Monday through Friday job and playing radio on the weekends if you must. Then again, weekends are probably voicetracked!

Good luck!

 

[therealjm12]

Interesting replies by all. I spent 20 years jumping from station to station. Sometimes getting fired on Friday and starting at the station across the street on Monday. Those days are gone forever. My last full time gig I was demoted to part time, and then out the door. No reason giving. Ratings were great- no problems that I knew of. But that is the norm for radio. That was almost 20 years ago. At that time I decided to get a "real" job outside of the biz. It is the best decision I have ever made in my life. I have a great retirement plan and benefits. I, also, have been very fortunate in staying in radio part time. That's good for my ego and pretty good for my wallet. But, every week when I go in, I expect it to be my last. In fact, my station is getting a new computer system as I write this. So I guess the advise you have been getting to get out of the market or a "plan B" job is the best.

 

[dittohead1]

The most important lessons I learned were after I was fired and I had time to concentrate on my family. It made me a better, more humble person and a better personality when I was able to get back in the game. Now, I make more money than I ever have, I own a home for the first time, and I have more job security than I ever have.

 

[Remaster]

It's like a lot of people here have said.....hang in there.

I've been out of work once and it was defeating as hell. Know that you'll work again (it's not like they'll NEVER EVER be another position you won't be up for) Taking that into consideration, spend the interim doing something out of character and treat it as a life experience. When you're back in the saddle, the crap radio days will be fewer and far between and you'll have done something "else"...like a GASP! "real job" to look back on and further appreciate the regular workforce.

 

[umtrr-author]

This isn't radio specific because I've never been in the business (see "A More Formal Hello" on this board), but I have endured a six month "forced vacation" when the small company I worked for imploded. I landed on my feet and I'm happily employed now without having to relocate, through a combination of skill, patience, and, I must hasten to add, dumb luck.

One of the most important bits of non-radio-specific advice I can give is "take reasonable care of yourself." Mr. Savage is right, finding another job is your job now, and it's a grueling job, much harder than actually working a job. I don't think a lot of people realize this. (Certainly I didn't.)

So you need to take the time out to do something for yourself, preferably something that does not cost anything. Hit the local library, borrow a DVD and enjoy it after hours. Take a walk, observe what's going on in your neighborhood. Do a bit of writing or whatever allows you to "use what you have." Chances are, "what you have" is quite a lot.

One other thing... be open to receiving help from sources you never expected... and the cold shoulder from those from whom you expected a hand. I found this out the hard way. "We'll do lunch" means none of those three words sometimes. But a lead from someone on the periphery of my circle of friends led to an expenses paid interview in another city with a major "celebrity" in the field I was in (said field does not really have celebrities, but you know what I mean).

Best of luck to you!

 

[oaktree]

Here's another $.02 ...

Looking here for advice, kind and sensible that it is, only puts a "comfort factor" on what's going on in your head. You read these and then another day goes by. It becomes easier to wallow in the suffrage of radio has done that way. Now that you've read that from many of us hardened veterans, here's an idea or two:

1. Evaluate who you are and what you do (or did) in radio. What is it that you did? How good were you? What time did you work? And what shape was the station? How did you leave it?

2. Once you understand how you feel about yourself and that inside, you know you did more than "talk about the music," but were a tireless, prepared member of the air staff, who made a contribution to the betterment of the station ... realize you got terminated, fired, kicked to the curb, let go ... whatever. It's never nice. It's not anything but getting canned. Period. If you left on good terms, get a letter of recommendation from the GM and any superior. See who your friends in "oh, I'm really sorry to have to tell you this" land really are. Getting that letter can say a lot for and about you ... and is truly justified. Just be honest with yourself in asking for one ... do you deserve one? If so ... be confident enough to write a nice letter and politely ask for one. That simple. If you hear nothing, either you know it wasn't received well or that someone dropped the ball. Then, pick up the phone and ask for "the man" by name. You have, at least, nothing to lose.

3. Stop looking for a "job" in radio. Jobs are everywhere. People who have passion and desire don't want to be board-ops for the rest of their lives (no knocking board ops.) Start thinking "career." You'll get no where in this day and age looking for a radio "job." Start looking for what the short and long-term benefits you can provide a radio station in this day and age ... and let it be known that you're not looking for a job, but a continuation and advancement of your career. "Job seekers," as a rule, get put in one stack ... those with ability, talent, passion and an on-going function are career seeksers with a definition of who they are and what they want to do.

4. Here's the tough one: No doubt, you want what you want ... and it, apparently, is to be on air. As has been mentioned many times over here ... good luck. You'll need more than that with the competition for any good career moves out there. Other jock jobs will barely cover the bills and will, in fact, cause you to move anyway. If you have to move, move for a better position ... and know that it won't probably be what you want. If you get the opportunity and you take it for what it is and can be ... then do something with it and excel.

5. Want a career opportunity tomorrow that can make you a lot more bucks that you were making while still in radio? Walk in and say first off that you want to apply for a sales job. Without sales/revenue ... there are no jocks. Without jocks (live,) you have a really difficult time. Once you get in the door regarding sales, try to negotiate at least a part-time on-air gig. Maybe ... if you play your cards right ... you can do fulltime on the air AND sales. I bet there are GMs and Sales Managers who would kiss your ring. Tell them you want to learn. Then ... go sell yourself.

5 - "But I hate sales." Then, you're stuck, because on the air ... you ARE selling. You are selling YOU. If you can't do that, you'll be stuck in the "grind" and on the bubble wondering when the next shoe will fall and you'll be out looking for the next ... "gig." Learn what is needed before seeking only what you "want." You'll find doors open for you. "Jocks" are already out there competing against you. What you want is a chance to get before "The Man." In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if you went back to where you were, IF things were as good as you indicate, that you do the same "career wise" ... you be learning a most important segment of the business and end up with an air shift as well.

Take time to get to know yourself and where you want to be. The stress will lessen ... and while every hour seems like a lifetime...it's not. Just be consistent, put one foot in front of the other ... and take your time. Set goals for what to do ... an aircheck, a resume, a killer opening letter, phone calls and getting out there in front of those who can make decisions.

Good luck! We all know the feeling. Open up ... and things will work out. Most of all, know what you're into with this thing called "Radio."

 

[Bongwater]

For me, the worst thing about leaving radio was leaving radio. It's the feeling of being a child actor, one year you're on top, next you got a pink slip and can't seem to get anywhere. Then you get something and just when it feels like you're back on top, you're out again.

Radio is not known for it's sympathy to those sent out the door, nor for it's opportunities for those who are trying to get back in. So I quit the industry.

Because in the end, you got YOURSELF to think about. YOUR happiness, what matters to YOU?

Because some of us live and breathe radio and the brutal, but honest reality is radio is a dying industry. It's kinda like being a presser at a plant that presses up vinyl records in the heyday of the CD. A lot of them were older and knew nothing else and found themselves pushed out.

But life goes on. Because many of them found work at indie labels. Or started their own companies. Today, your talents can reach beyond radio. There's internet and other work for music related industries which have a greater reach than local radio.

I now work in real estate, yet every now and then, I still voice something for a public or LPFM station. So all is not lost. Plus many SMALL market stations can use bigger talent and it's actively sought after.

Personally, I prefer job security over anything. Funny thing about radio is it's an emotional industry. Getting fired anywhere else can be a joke....What? Is that all you can do to me?

But in radio, it's especially devestating because it's kinda like high school. The goal is to be the star something and it feels like you're the weakest player on the team and coach decides to eliminate you from the team. Your fate is sealed, the girls suddenly don't even want to be seen around you and it feels like everyone is talking and laughing behind your back.

Feels like the world ended, huh?

But buck up, you didn't come this far in life to let someone else decide your fate on a whim. Remember, YOU are the master of that. They are just using you for whatever you give them and if isn't good enough. f - 'em. Go somewhere it is. Do NOT let it bruise you in any way. How? Here's how; karma. Sooner or later - especially in radio, what happened to you will happen to the person who fired you so thoughtlessly. And it will just as humiliating for them as it was for you and by that time, you will more than likely have found yourself in a happier postion than they are when that day comes.

How fun it is to watch them down there sometimes (but I actually am a little nicer, I order them a few drinks and stick around until they get say things like "Lar....y-you're a good friend.....I love you, Lar......y-you're a real buddy..." with their forked tongues, then excuse myself "to the restroom" before the check arrives......)

 

[shiftless]

I want to thank each and everyone who has posted suggestions to this thread. We all know how hard it is, when you lose something you love to do.But as I read all the posts, I understand there is life outside of radio.I will take your suggestions to heart,again, thank you for your very kind posts.