Great topic – I’ve really enjoyed reading the responses.
I would absolutely choose radio as a career again. However, I would pursue it with more focus and I would make better job decisions than I have.
I’ve been in radio since 1970, my career punctuated, of course, by periods of unemployment. I still get a rush being on the air live. Listening to an aircheck after a good day behind the mic still brings an exuberant joy. I still find it rewarding and fun to create a spot from the writing to the final audio processing.
I’ve worked at stations that I’ve loved (WGAN, Portland late 70s – early 80s, The Wave in Los Angeles early 2000s). I’ve had many experiences that brought me enormous professional satisfaction (doing 3 airshifts from inside the Abbey Road studio on the 30th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper).
Like everyone, though, I’ve experienced the frustration of unemployment. I’ve also been completely at a loss for what to do when I did not at all fit in with the culture of my workplace. I’ve known the punch-in-the-gut of being suddenly let go after 5 years for no clear reason - just “we’re going in another direction.” (Clear Channel).
I’ve said to co-workers over the past several years: “don’t fall in love with your radio station, because more often than not, radio will break your heart.”
It’s easy to blame the turbulence of our business for “not being where we’d like to be.” I, however, take most of the responsibility as I look back at key poor job decisions I’ve made over the years:
• I’ve quit very good jobs for stupid reasons
• I’ve turned down very good job offers for the wrong reasons
• I’ve changed jobs for reasons not career-related, like a woman or wanting to live in a particular place
• I didn’t recognize the value of a professional radio “mentor” when one was available to me early in my career
I was single until age 52, so I was able to freely roll the dice for much of my career. Perhaps too freely. Results have been mixed. I’ve had big jobs at small stations and I’ve had small jobs at big stations. I’ve yet to have the big job at the big station.
Today, I’m the production guy at a 4 station group in market 131. I haven’t fallen in love with these radio stations, but I am still in love with the craft.
Every single day brings an opportunity at creativity! It could be giving a good, meaningful read to well-written 60 sec copy. Maybe whippin’ together some fresh, hi-energy imaging for our country station. It could be writing new imaging for the soft AC. Maybe just layin’ down one great bit on the air while filling in for one of the air personalities.
Considering what a tough time this is for us old-schoolers, I’m very grateful to have this position and these daily opportunities at creativity. At age 58, I feel I’m doing the best production of my career. I also believe – and you guys might think I’m naïve – that there’s a better, more challenging, more satisfying job ahead.
Despite the bumpy, uneven road of the past 41 years, the joy has an edge over the despair. Yes, I’d absolutely choose radio again.
Nick Seneca
I would absolutely choose radio as a career again. However, I would pursue it with more focus and I would make better job decisions than I have.
I’ve been in radio since 1970, my career punctuated, of course, by periods of unemployment. I still get a rush being on the air live. Listening to an aircheck after a good day behind the mic still brings an exuberant joy. I still find it rewarding and fun to create a spot from the writing to the final audio processing.
I’ve worked at stations that I’ve loved (WGAN, Portland late 70s – early 80s, The Wave in Los Angeles early 2000s). I’ve had many experiences that brought me enormous professional satisfaction (doing 3 airshifts from inside the Abbey Road studio on the 30th anniversary of Sgt. Pepper).
Like everyone, though, I’ve experienced the frustration of unemployment. I’ve also been completely at a loss for what to do when I did not at all fit in with the culture of my workplace. I’ve known the punch-in-the-gut of being suddenly let go after 5 years for no clear reason - just “we’re going in another direction.” (Clear Channel).
I’ve said to co-workers over the past several years: “don’t fall in love with your radio station, because more often than not, radio will break your heart.”
It’s easy to blame the turbulence of our business for “not being where we’d like to be.” I, however, take most of the responsibility as I look back at key poor job decisions I’ve made over the years:
• I’ve quit very good jobs for stupid reasons
• I’ve turned down very good job offers for the wrong reasons
• I’ve changed jobs for reasons not career-related, like a woman or wanting to live in a particular place
• I didn’t recognize the value of a professional radio “mentor” when one was available to me early in my career
I was single until age 52, so I was able to freely roll the dice for much of my career. Perhaps too freely. Results have been mixed. I’ve had big jobs at small stations and I’ve had small jobs at big stations. I’ve yet to have the big job at the big station.
Today, I’m the production guy at a 4 station group in market 131. I haven’t fallen in love with these radio stations, but I am still in love with the craft.
Every single day brings an opportunity at creativity! It could be giving a good, meaningful read to well-written 60 sec copy. Maybe whippin’ together some fresh, hi-energy imaging for our country station. It could be writing new imaging for the soft AC. Maybe just layin’ down one great bit on the air while filling in for one of the air personalities.
Considering what a tough time this is for us old-schoolers, I’m very grateful to have this position and these daily opportunities at creativity. At age 58, I feel I’m doing the best production of my career. I also believe – and you guys might think I’m naïve – that there’s a better, more challenging, more satisfying job ahead.
Despite the bumpy, uneven road of the past 41 years, the joy has an edge over the despair. Yes, I’d absolutely choose radio again.
Nick Seneca
