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Is This What Radio Has Come To?

Geez, some of the responses to quitnow's post (which is, quite frankly, the best post I've ever seen on this board) means you wouldn't pass the "bruised ego" test.
 
How do you figure that? Respondents have only asked that he identify himself so needy local radio professionals could follow up on his generous and benevolent proposal. They can make it a point to call him up every week to see if there's an opening, and we know he'll take the calls because his post was so honest and self-aggrandizing. Where are the bruised egos? He proposed a situation to help local radio talent and if we're lucky our resumes "might" end up in his wonderful concerned and helping hands.

So, again, quitnow, who are you and how can the local talent contact you personally and take you up on your proposal? I'll be the first to call you.
 
Sorry, I've been on the road and didn't see the responses.

I didn't mean to cause such a stir! But this is what I'm talking about...I said EVERY local station is looking for local people. You ask who I am so you can send me stuff, and I say send stuff to the station you think fits your work. Show PD's you're egar. But, don't apply for a job at a station because it's you're favorite. It's a dream for many, but take me. I'm an active rock guy but I would not fit in on a rock station. I don't look or act the part.

Someone also said something about being a busy PD/OM with 5 stations to oversee, I get that. It is true, too. Sometimes things get so busy there is no time to return calls and as time goes on and the packages get burried further down on the desk they do get lost. Really, they do! Have you ever seen a PD's desk? That's why I said be presistant. Make a follow-up call or better, send a follow-up email; "Dear, _____ I'm _____ and I sent you a package about a week ago regarding possible work. Please let me know if you didn't get it. Thank you (not thanks, this is formal) for your time. I hope to talk (not hear, not speak) to you soon. Sincerely, _____." You may get a response. If not, it's nothing personal, you may not fit the station and the PD has a WTF mindset about you (see below).

To those applying for a gig, some simple rules to follow (excuse the station/format references, I'm shooting for extremes)...

1) Don't tell a PD that you can do better than someone who is on the air. The PD will decide that. If you really are, you will be replaceing that person. Also, if you're part-time, don't go into their office and say you deserve better. There's a right and a wrong way to do things. Tell a OM, PD or GM that you have a goal to ______ and that is a much more effective way to tell someone where your interests lie. They may even give you the line to run with and leave it up to you to take it and run (ego bruising aircheck/brainstorming sessions).

2) Don't tell a PD how great you are and then send a subpar aircheck that doesn't support your claims. If you're good at running phones, show it. If you're good at content, show it. If hunting down local info and being topical to things here, show it. Also, don't send an aircheck to a station that doesn't fit what they do. 104.1 doesn't run phones, so guess what you shouldn't send them? Is that a bad example because they're not even local? Anyway...Mix is a format that would probably like to run more phones, so guess what you should put in their PD's hands? Right!

3) Don't apply at a station that doesn't fit your strong points (see above). Like it or not, stations have certain sounds to them when it comes to talent. This is nothing new. If you sound up-beat and hyper, maybe 'NOE isn't the station you should send something to. Yes, you may like it more than B97 but what station do you fit on?

4) Send a proper cover letter and resume, and if you say "references upon request" you're out! Sorry, those are the general rules any more for any business. It's about calling around and finding something out about you BEFORE you're called. That said, if you get a call or email, be truthful. More than likely the person on the phone or sending the email knows something about you already.

5) Lose the egos. Yes, it comes with the job ("I'm on air!"), but this is what makes dealing with long distant talent a dream (sorry, it's true). PD's don't want someone to tell them they're wrong. It's THEIR station. Even if they are wrong, you're the talent. As talent it's your job to follow station formatics and do things in a manner that the PD feels they should be done. Agree with it or not. Also, Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Christmas, Mardi Gras...yes, they are holidays for FULL TIME staff. When you get a part-time gig, be ready to work those days. Don't say you didn't know that was part of the gig. The more PD's have heard that, the more they've gone to voicetracking, syndicated shows or rolling imaging and music.

Again, who I am doesn't matter. Who you are and what you can bring to my station does. I hope you see some packages from some of you.
 
I am not looking for a job. Just a station to listen to thats free to pull me away from XM. But..will it ever happen? I am looking for a music driven station to listen to. And not some personality to listen to. Preferably a Jack fm type station. My favorite format at the moment is the AM classics format of Sunny XM :eek: I just dont like the fact that its clear channel with commercials ::)
 
smashedcd said:
I am not looking for a job. Just a station to listen to thats free to pull me away from XM. But..will it ever happen? I am looking for a music driven station to listen to. And not some personality to listen to. Preferably a Jack fm type station. My favorite format at the moment is the AM classics format of Sunny XM :eek: I just dont like the fact that its clear channel with commercials ::)

Sorry, smashed. I was replying to the 3-4 people who asked how to get local talent on local radio. Someone like you, as much as they don't want to hear, don't want local talent on air.

From http://www.merriam-webster.com/: Talent; a special often creative or artistic aptitude...that means more than giving, "I am, this is, and call letters." Sorry. If that's what you want, Ipods and XM exist for you. You, and not to your fault, are the result of the delivering of bad radio over the years. As one hat works in the industry, I apologize. Granted, I try not to drive you away from FM radio, but if you feel that's where you get your satisfaction, I respect your decision.

I know "radio people" are screaming at me right now, but we don't have this person already. My favorite line to people who complain about my station is, "I thank you for listening, but this is why there are multiple channels. If you don't like what we're doing, I encourage you to switch stations." It seems insane until you look at the studies on complaining. Almost all say, most people who complain just want someone to hear them out. With the given statement, you hear them out and you express that they are choosing to listen to you without being confrontational. More than likely, they don't leave you. As our friend, smashed. He knows what's going on on FM, yet he's an "XM" listener. If that's all you listened to, how do you know what's out there. Cume ratings are built into ratings bonuses for some OM/PD's too. If you don't have the TSL, you better have the Cume.
 
Been away a while -- little 3rd-grade girl nextdoor wasn't home to show me how to turn this computer back on after I'd accidentally unplugged it. ;)
Bob Walker, everything you said was nailhead-center. But you need to put it in some of the NOLa print sheets, so general listeners can know what's going on.
Johnny M: your post took me back to a chickenskin moment in 1977. I played something by Bruce on NOE-FM, then said "I understand The Boss says, if he's real good, says his prayers every night, and doesn't make any rude noises in church...when he dies...he'll go to Acy's Pool Hall." Next thing I know, I'm getting a call on the business line (maybe from YOU, memory's not that precise anymore) saying the owner of Acy's wants me to drop by "for a talk." Ya have no idea how scared I was I'd never get out of the Irish Channel a-freakin'-live ... so when I
was actually treated to two of y'all's FREE sandwiches, it was one of the biggest reliefs of my life -- and one of the best damn meals, too.
Sadly, if anything like that happened now, there's probably no way it could even be related the next day, on the air. :(
 
quitnow is a corporate robot: who could he be??

Do the initials "A.H." sound familiar, with OM and PD credentials, as he admitted? He gives all the right corporate posts in his "sweet" delivery, and then crawfishes big time when asked to identify himself so locals can take him up on his offer for their humble resumes to "maybe fall into his hands." What an insult. Get some onions. Your mama would be proud of you if you did.

He indicated earlier that local stations would like local talent but they can't find any. Then he turns around and says "Sorry, smashed. I was replying to the 3-4 people who asked how to get local talent on local radio. Someone like you, as much as they don't want to hear, don't want local talent on air." What a crock decreed by the self proclaimed God Almighty of radio.

Figure out who he is and flood this guy with calls. Ask him how many locals he has personally fired.

Never trust a smooth talker from out of town in radio management.
 
Quitnow is sounding like a gorilla trying to defend the Planet of the Corporate Apes.
 
The difference between then and now is people's lives have changed. They live minute-to-minute, not hour-to-hour. Listening patterns have changed. Most people listen to radio in the car now and they are already heading somewhere and they want to get to that place ASAP. No unscheduled stops.
see...........thats the problem with radio today. the big corps have it all figured out. they ASSUME everyone only listens to radio in their cars going from point a to point b and vice versa. maybe in some cities but not here, not now! this is where they have gone stupid. they have forgotten about the people that try to listen to them for long periods of time, especially on the job......

heres one example --havent you noticed in new orleans particularly after katrina, people are attempting to listen to radio longer because it provides some sort of entertainment, especially at places like the construction site? go to a few construction sites. stop, get out of the car and listen to what those people are listening to. a majority of them have radios and they will tell you they like having music out there with them but its the same songs every few hours with some songs playing at predictable times..............
by playing the SAME 20 or so songs people get burned out.......FAST! because of this people start to tune out and not listen. peoples listening habits are forced to change and therefore they would rather listen to their cds, ipods or satellite than be force fed the same monotonous crap every day.
another example --my kids dont listen to radio because of the 'broken record' syndrome. its way too repetetive! BROADEN THE PLAYLIST! grow some huevos and dont be scared to play something that hasnt been played in a few years! sure there will still be repeats, at least it might only be one or two more times a day, not 10 times a day. make use of those request lines and websites to invite the publics opinions to help you (the pd) work with your airstaff to shape THEIR radio stations.

The way remotes are done has changed too. They were events back then...there was usually something other than the jock and a sale going on. Anymore, that's all there is and it's usually at a car lot...so what's the point? I don't like going to a lot when I want to buy a car, let alone just to say hi to someone and have every sales person ask me if I need something.
.......then stop having remotes at car dealerships! get together with your sales and promotions teams and get out there and find fun places (that target your audience) that will invite you to come out and broadcast live. or wait.........you might not be able to find fun places cause those establishments that once had your station playing, arent listening anymore because of the monotonous programming being spewed from your frequency...........

Now local talent...Ask any programmer in the area how hard it is to find good, local talent here. They will all tell you if it's here they don't want a job because they never call and ask if there are openings. Or, when there are, they don't send anything in. That is a CONSTANT complaint at every station in town. You wonder why "outsiders" come in to work, it's because they apply for the jobs. The companies that bring talent in from out of town for live shifts pay thousands for them to move. They could save that money if there was talent in this town that would step forward and apply for a job. You can call for local ownership all you want, that doesn't change the problem. Local owners would have to select from those who apply for the jobs too. If no one local applies and fits what they're looking for, they won't be on-air there either.
have you ever stopped to think that maybe.......just maybe the local talent doesnt want to work at their local stations because of the way they sound or they way their run?? theres got to be better and the stations can be better. heres one possible way..........the pd should try sit down with his/her airstaff every few weeks to discuss whats going on at the station, whats coming up, and what WE AS A TEAM could do to entice the listener and keep them here longer!

brian "sawtooth" mcmullen
 
I agree with you Brian. These lazy out-of-town management slugs would rather excuse things away with smokescreens and corporate mantras so they don't have to do them. It's called less work for the money. Or maybe just ignorance on how promotions can be set up to be executed successfully in this market. Weekend remotes could certainly be rejuvinated, as could the weekday/night excitement of a fun sound on the air all the time with live dj's, ad-libs and fun instead of LINERS then LINERS then LINERS but these owners and programming apes have no interest in working for that end, are too greedy to pay, or too stupid to understand how to present radio at its best.

That's just one example of their laziness and a key reason why they have destroyed radio in this market. Either they don't care or they hire stupid people who would be lost if they had to make a programming call out of the blue from their own heads.

In return they offer you boring, repetitious computerized radio ... and condescending and humiliating chances to send in resumes to work for minimum wages for control freak Frankensteins like "AH" *if* your honestly submitted resumé happens to fall into his god-like hands.

Go ahead, call them as he said. After they put you on hold they will come back and say he's "in a meeting." Leave your number but don't hold your breath for a return call. It's all a lie to make them look like such good guys who just happen to be too busy for you at the moment.

People...beware of these monsters. quitnow is nothing more than a management book quoter who sings a sweet tune. They lie, use you, then fire you. Like Bob Walker says, don't report any corporate stations to the ratings services and run them out of town financially. And send quitnow back home to his momma.

People like him talk a lot to try to make you think they know it all, but these are the people who have destroyed radio.
 
Quitnow's remarks about car dealers was unwarranted.Hell if it wasn't for car dealers,half the radio and 3/4ths of TV stations would be off the air.Best not to bite the hand that feeds you.i agree with beernuts, radio is so dam vanilla today.lacks the excitement it had years ago.
 
Yep mightynine, and you can thank book-fed programmers like quitnow. And by the way, mightynine, why don't you apply to the programming Frankenstein? You might make a good pair.

In local radio, talent in or out the business, there's the good, the bad and the ugly. That why some posts spotlight the warts on the face of local radio talent.

In picking from out of town you have the bad, the stupid and the stupider. Consider the clown voice of Kool 95.7 who referred to them as "Kew-el". This highly-touted jackass couldn't even pronounce "cool" in one syllable.

There's a lot of local talent that could do good to stations but most have been fired by the likes of the programming Frankenstein in order for these control freak egomaniacs to lift their management legs and mark their territory. But you might fit in well under his leg, mightynine. I'm sure he'd love to mark you too.

BY THE WAY, I know who quitnow is, and I find his screen name curiously in character with him, regardless of his slick and oily posts. He has a favorite hobby. Remember it:

"Quit now or be fired."
 
Beernuts, no one "marks" me, thank you very much. But hey - thanks for the unprovoked personal attack! I'm sure you're a pleasure to work with in your daily job.

But I do find it interesting that no outsider to you could ever come here and do good radio - considering how many people come to N.O. and are acclimated to the culture of this area after time. Sure, someone would screw up at first - but if they are a professional, and they have good coaching, there's a chance there - one you are not willing to give.

Now granted - if all parts in the chain are faulty, well, then, it ain't gonna work.

I mean, are you seriously going to judge someone on how they say "Kool"? What if I put a really talented DJ on who had an English accent? Would there be no middle ground for you there either?
 
Beernuts and Mightynine, before y'all do too much more manning-up on each other...let me take you back to the mid-late 1970s...
A NOLa rocker had been de-rocked by folks, some of whom might later be de-frocked, for a topless incident on a FQ ledge during Mardi Gras. Part of their morning team was a market veteran, supremely talented, and rumored to have an affinity for home decorating and flower shop management. The PD of one of the (then) two remaining rockers frequently mentioned this man's name, with a lot of (shall we say) un-manly descriptives thereafter. But then, out of the blue, ownership/management decreed that this man be hired and added to the morning show at Mr. Macho's rock palace. First full-jock meeting following that, we were all wondering how long it would take the PD to drop in one of his gay-bashing slurs. Not to worry. The new guy opened things by saying, "Friend from SF just called, to tell me they've again failed to pass a law legalizing marijuana. But their legislature also overturned an attempt to make public demonstrations of same-sex affection a crime. So, if y'all're gonna be riding down the LA Freeway with a joint in your mouth, it better have a big ass for backup." And from then on, we just boogied our tails off as a radio station trying to kick the other one's butt...and not worrying too much about what we'd thought about each other up until then.
Or, maybe you'll never have to worry about working in the same pond you've pissed in at every opportunity -- so, who cares?
 
My sincerest apologies, mightynine. I was off topic and wrong trying to drag you in with personal references. You had your say and I respect it. Again, I apologize to you and I respect your opinion and I had no right to take you to task for it. I was wrong and I'm sorry.
 
Hey - apology accepted. I have no problem with anyone tearing my opinion to shreds - just not me personally unless I give myself enough rope to hang myself with.
 
Who are those "local talent" people that should be hired? give us names, not just there is talent here but no one wants to hire them. Who are these talent locals that no one wants to hire?
 
I'll agree with quitnow and I'll use my real (o.k. radio) name.

In my year here, I consistently had ads posted in numerous places for part-time talent, and for most of the last 5 months, I was looking for a morning show too.

I was lucky enough to have a couple of local cats come to work for me. Thanks Jason and Chase. I had two locals apply for part-time who didn't really fit the station. Sorry, guys. Sadly, I didn't receive a single aircheck package from a local for one of the few remaining local morning shows in New Orleans.

Now, I realize my station had no numbers, but the salary wasn't bad, the benefits were solid, and it's full-time local, personality radio in your hometown.

Crickets.

As I read the earlier posts, what caught my attention was the need for some to have a phone call returned from a program director. Chances are, if he already has an aircheck and resume in his hand, you'll receive a response. You would in my case, anyway...a call or sometimes and e-mail.

Rather than call and asking if there any openings, why not just be proactive and send something without inquiring? Trust me, if I get a good aircheck from someone, even when I'm not in "looking mode," I'll pay attention.

O.K. Flame away.
 
Could you possibly be the programmer on the local station that, ironically, is getting rid of a long-time local personality on this very day?

Some stations just have "BEWARE" written all over them.

By the way, where did you advertise these openings?
 
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