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Do jocks take themselves too seriously?

G

gravelgertie

Guest
I've met a few jocks over the years, some down to earth but most take themselves way too seriously. My thoughts are, it's only radio....what's the big deal because most people don't give a crap.
 
Well since this is in the atlanta board I can tell you that since it is a larger market thye probably feel as though they are "the Chosen ones" to have made it that far, Thus making them untouchable.... but you are right the listeners do not give a damn
 
That's like asking "do doctors take themselves too seriously" or "do fire fighters take themselves too seriously." This is their profession and what's wrong if they want to take some pride in their work? They work hard and spend long hours to entertain you. Do you think it's a sin if comedians, musicians, or actors take their craft too seriously?

And I'm sick of hearing people say "it's only radio." Sure, there are the few who stumble into this business without any training or skill, but there are others who go to school, go through training, or spend years working to get that one break. And what about those who go above and beyond to research, get their facts before they open their mouths, the people who spend countless hours coming up with material to keep the audience entertained...

"It's only radio..." How would you like it if someone came up to you and said "it's only accounting" or "it's only cleaning toilets"?

And if people didn't give a crap, then why keep a radio in your car or home and why take the time to create an account on a forum specifically for radio and read about it all day?
 
I've come across many of the talk and music personalities in this town in various situations. Having worked in two previous markets, I have found that the larger the market the better the people working in it. These people that have ascended to a top 8 market are actually more humble, normal and less full of themselves than smaller market types.
I can tell you that the persona that gets attached to most of these people is many times incorrect. They are usually very down to earth and quite regular folks.
Steve McCoy, a gem.
Scott Slade, consumate pro.
Neil Boortz, shy in person and just as you hear him on air.
Stewart Brothers, even more fun in person.
John Kincade, works a room and engages everyone.
Clark Howard, most real person ever on radio.
 
I know Neal and Clark. You are right on target about them.
I also know Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly.
Hannity is nice, honest and gracious. O'Reilly is a blowhard.
 
Generally I've found the dumber the person, the more seriously they take themselves. I'm sure that applies to radio just like everywhere else.
 
KDRadio said:
Well since this is in the atlanta board I can tell you that since it is a larger market thye probably feel as though they are "the Chosen ones" to have made it that far, Thus making them untouchable.... but you are right the listeners do not give a damn
Click to expand...

Got some hate issues there do ya, KDR?
 
Regarding the comment by AMCM that jocks work hard and long hours to entertain us. You are correct as far as pertaining to people like the Clark Howard's of the world but many are just bulls**ters who want to be on the radio just to further their popularity. I can't do without the firemen or doctors but I can do without this thing called today's radio.
 
Yes most jocks take themselves FAR too seriously. I did that at one point in my career when I got mixed up my on-air ego (which is essential to doing the work well) with my off-air persona. I acted like some kinda B List rock star with my party habits and used my job to land women and all that garbage. The company I worked for encouraged me in that because it propped up my on-air persona of being "Atlanta's Dysfunctional Super Hero." But i was never rude to listeners either on the phone or at live remotes. In fact I still have several friends that I met whilst hoisting drinks in our area establishments. Most of us eventually learn that all we're really one trick ponies. Most of us would struggle with a REAL job .... would probably fail misirably, and learn to appreciate our good fortune in landing in this business instead of wearing our airshift exposure like some expensive suit ... and that's when we can tap into a new maturity level that actually makes us more accessible to the listeners that we would be nothing without.
 
Team Zoom said:
Yes most jocks take themselves FAR too seriously. I did that at one point in my career when I got mixed up my on-air ego (which is essential to doing the work well) with my off-air persona. I acted like some kinda B List rock star with my party habits and used my job to land women and all that garbage. The company I worked for encouraged me in that because it propped up my on-air persona of being "Atlanta's Dysfunctional Super Hero." But i was never rude to listeners either on the phone or at live remotes. In fact I still have several friends that I met whilst hoisting drinks in our area establishments. Most of us eventually learn that all we're really one trick ponies. Most of us would struggle with a REAL job .... would probably fail misirably, and learn to appreciate our good fortune in landing in this business instead of wearing our airshift exposure like some expensive suit ... and that's when we can tap into a new maturity level that actually makes us more accessible to the listeners that we would be nothing without.
Click to expand...

Very good post. I think a lot of us went through that phase.

In today's radio climate, though, I don't think you could still use your on-air "status" to pull the really good ass anymore. Glad I got out when I did.
 
That cracked me up about pulling the good leg! And it's true that we're damaged goods to a lotta women these days. It can still be a decent hook to meet someone, but then we have to rely on ...... gulp ...... our personalities! Ohhhhhhhh the HORROR!
 
Radio talent is a lot like most other performers. The bigger they are the nicer they are.

But many don't know how to be nice. So they tend to treat listeners differently than peers.

Generally all talent is pretty humble when isolated with another on air pro.
 
No doubt! Many jocks take themselves too seriously. The problem is that their profession becomes their identity and they lose sight of WHO THEY ARE. That's why you see so many talented people screw up their relationships with co-workers, burn their bridges in the business, and destroy their personal relationships.
 
Team Zoom said:
Yes most jocks take themselves FAR too seriously. I did that at one point in my career when I got mixed up my on-air ego (which is essential to doing the work well) with my off-air persona. I acted like some kinda B List rock star with my party habits and used my job to land women and all that garbage. The company I worked for encouraged me in that because it propped up my on-air persona of being "Atlanta's Dysfunctional Super Hero." But i was never rude to listeners either on the phone or at live remotes. In fact I still have several friends that I met whilst hoisting drinks in our area establishments. Most of us eventually learn that all we're really one trick ponies. Most of us would struggle with a REAL job .... would probably fail misirably, and learn to appreciate our good fortune in landing in this business instead of wearing our airshift exposure like some expensive suit ... and that's when we can tap into a new maturity level that actually makes us more accessible to the listeners that we would be nothing without.
Click to expand...
It's so good to hear from Crash Clark again. Welcome back, Crash! ;)
 
Nah! Least none of the ones at my station :)

I love 'em all!

Wooo! (Congrats to me for a pointless post!)
 
lipripper said:
Just look at Scott Shannon. Talk about an ego!
Click to expand...

Absolutely NOT true!

He went out of his way one day on a Saturday to stop by our remote and say hi to our whole staff.

Scott was just shopping, doing a normal thing, and saw our remote setup inside Sears. He spent some time talking to our DJ and several minutes talking to me about promotions and typical stuff (commute, kids, running errands, etc.).

He is genuine, nice, and very personable. No ego!
 
I used to take myself seriously when I first started out, but I soon realized that most listeners HATED a stuck up radio ego (the kind everyone around me in the biz had). So I went the opposite direction and began making myself the butt of my own humor and it worked. People LOVE an underdog. Unfortunately, underdogs weren't the kind of people radio execs wanted in the '90s, they just wanted even bigger radio egos.

It was confusing as hell, but looking at the biz now with everything falling apart at the seams, a monster ego is the very LAST thing people want to hear...unless you're Howard Stern himself and not the usual fifth rate knockoffs......
 
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