I worked in the industry there for about 7-8 years, but have been distanced from it since 2005. One thing I always wondered about the market- why is there such an extremely low turnover rate, in particular on Sandy Hollow? I know from having lived there for 25 years that stability is priceless in the market mindset there, and perhaps therein I answered my own question, but it seemed that few full-timers left on good terms for bigger and better things. I know that some PT-people I worked with at Radio Works have gone on to do some good things, and that people at the cloud had gone on to work in bigger markets, but many of the full-timers there came in on lateral movement or even moving smaller. Is it a personal preference issue? A few of us that felt (at that time we weren't getting recognized for our fantastic potential- silly us!) used to have an inside joke that Rockford made a habit of 'eating its young', as part timers were rarely considered for the few full-time openings that did come along. It took a long time for me to realize that maybe we just weren't ready, and that the dozens of unsolicited weekly airchecks from jocks elsewhere that had 10+ years each on us provided more than enough talent for the PD's to choose from.
Unfortunately for me, I learned a few hard lessons along the way because time spent on payrolls as a roofer and bank teller were scattered inbetween gigs on the mic. Believe me, I made mistakes, and in turn ate plenty of large slices of humble pie (rule #1- do NOT piss off your engineer- particularily if they're helping your station as a favor part time- whether you're right or you're wrong, they're right ;D). I learned that maybe PT'ers WERE being considered- just not me.
I got lucky and hit lightning in a bottle in landing a full-time opportunity there, but I guess I didn't take the ball and run with it, otherwise there's a good likelihood I'd still be in the business somewhere... although when I did leave radio for a 6-month span, it was partially due to the fact that two of my three best friends in the industry had just died. I lost my desire, and in turn I shamed their memory by likely pissing away my chance.
I wish I had been more forthcoming in asking questions about the dynamics of personnel while I was in the industry- towards the end, even after having logged nearly a decade, I still felt like an outsider looking in. Maybe if I had asked the right questions in '00, I'd know the answers to the questions I pose in '08. I know that many people from that market read this on a regular basis, and I sincerely hope that they don't see this as a slight. I honestly wondered what the draw to stay in Rockford was, as I felt more than a couple people there are more than capable of taking a shot at the moon- if that's what they wanted.
I know I posted a question back in there somewhere within my inane ramblings... any thoughts?
Unfortunately for me, I learned a few hard lessons along the way because time spent on payrolls as a roofer and bank teller were scattered inbetween gigs on the mic. Believe me, I made mistakes, and in turn ate plenty of large slices of humble pie (rule #1- do NOT piss off your engineer- particularily if they're helping your station as a favor part time- whether you're right or you're wrong, they're right ;D). I learned that maybe PT'ers WERE being considered- just not me.
I got lucky and hit lightning in a bottle in landing a full-time opportunity there, but I guess I didn't take the ball and run with it, otherwise there's a good likelihood I'd still be in the business somewhere... although when I did leave radio for a 6-month span, it was partially due to the fact that two of my three best friends in the industry had just died. I lost my desire, and in turn I shamed their memory by likely pissing away my chance.
I wish I had been more forthcoming in asking questions about the dynamics of personnel while I was in the industry- towards the end, even after having logged nearly a decade, I still felt like an outsider looking in. Maybe if I had asked the right questions in '00, I'd know the answers to the questions I pose in '08. I know that many people from that market read this on a regular basis, and I sincerely hope that they don't see this as a slight. I honestly wondered what the draw to stay in Rockford was, as I felt more than a couple people there are more than capable of taking a shot at the moon- if that's what they wanted.
I know I posted a question back in there somewhere within my inane ramblings... any thoughts?