Steve, ditto.
During my tenure there, 1998-1998, things weren't smooth sailing. I was there when KJCS broadcasted out of a shack behind the courthouse. Those years were full of drama and crises (lightning on the transmitter, mass exodus of airstaff with no automation to fall back on, etc). But in those years, we had a consistent programming direction, imaging, well prepared and researched playlists (not that we focus-grouped anything, but we did follow the charts and follow industry trends in the Library cuts and Rewinds), and we did have a sales staff, which was able to bring in enough sales to keep the lights on. There were probably expenses I didn't see (like engineering expenses and equipment expenses after having to repo the station), but the process still worked. I wasn't just a dumb intern (okay, maybe I was), but I still understand there is more than what a PT jock sees. The process worked.
Following my departure, things remained steady until the airstaff got real jobs and the PD quit. Then, the playlist began to ramble, the imaging became inconsistent, and a guy with five years sales experience couldn't even get an interview for the sales force. (Of course, my prior history probably still haunted me... despite the fact those folks moved on.)
You walked into a mess, and it was a mess after you left (despite your best efforts, if you effected positive change, it didn't linger).
The point is, if you put a good product on the air and support it with a competent sales force, under competent management, then a station like KJCS shouldn't fail (with the possible exception of too much debt service). I mean, if I can singlehandedly (yes, singlehandedly, I am the only guy who works here, on-air, sales and production) keep a 250 watt AM in a small West Texas town with 10 retail establishments, and no car dealer support on the air and profiting, then why couldn't a station like KJCS do the same?
That being said, I hope you're right about "it aint over." I may never see Nacogdoches again, and I don't even know why I care... but for some reason I do. If Mr. Vance ever resurrects the station, I hope it comes back under competent management who knows how to make business decisions, has some understanding of programming, and will see the value of hiring qualified, not just pretty, sales people.
All this being said, I was blessed to be able to work there. Many people will say many things about Brett Vance (the PD of KJCS from 98-00), but He knew programming. He knew how to image, brand-build, put together a tight playlist, hire and fire talent, the whole kit and kaboodle. He set a good direction, a great format, and had the ability to teach even the dumbest jocks how to execute it flawlessly. It was the best programming environment I worked in, and the things he taught me while I was there served me well throughout the rest of my career, which will soon end, by the way.
