Local radio morning man?

[Preacherdude]

Wondering if anyone would have any advice for a former Christian radio morning man and PD who would like to do a local, family-friendly morning radio show. Doesn't have to be Christian music, but wouldn't consider anything out of character for a Christian.

I spent 17 years at a large am/fm combo, and have no interest in big business battles or ratings wars. Seems as though good, local oriented radio is a dying art. I think I'd be in heaven at a small market station interested in local content, information, and clean fun. I am a pastor and a morning gig would be a good supplement for my family and me, not to mention scratching a radio itch I haven't satisfied in about six years. Moutnains, foothills, and upper piedmont preferred.

Any ideas?

 

[Z-100]

If life is quiet and peaceful now, I wouldn't put myself through the misery--:>

 

[uppendowndadial]

I second.

 

[Matt]

I am a pastor and a morning gig would be a good supplement for my family and me, not to mention scratching a radio itch I haven't satisfied in about six years.

I was once a PD at a Christian station, and I had a morning announcer who was also pastor of a church in the community. He was an exceptional talent, but constantly had conflicts between his radio responsibilities and his church responsibilities. After about 10 months, he found the combination unworkable and left the radio station to take up a home-based business.

The biggest areas of conflict centered around his congregants who were facing surgery or had deaths in their immediate family. When someone in his church went into the hospital for surgery, he felt he should be there to pray with them before they went in, and sit with the family until the doctor came out. Invariably this was in the early morning, which meant I would have to fill in for him that day.

Deaths in his church were more of a drain, because if he was responsible for the funeral service we would not see him for 72 hours.

When I felt the call to ministry and to the pastorate, my experience with this situation led me to the conclusion that an airshift of any sort would not be compatible with the needs of pastoral ministry...even a "tent-maker" pastorate. For the eight years I was a pastor I stayed away from radio.

As an Assistant Pastor with more limited church duties, I have found my position at the television station to be a workable situation. It ties me down for very few specific hours, and my employers realize that my pastoral duties are the kind of "community involvement" that results in good will for the station.

I won't tell you not to pursue an airshift in your situation, but my experience in its time demands led me to feel that such a thing would be impractical.

Later....
Matt Smith, WGSR-TV
Assistant Pastor, Sandy Cross Wesleyan Church
Reidsville, NC

 

[Preacherdude]

Thanks Matt. Good advice.

I had several full-time pastors working for me in my PD days. There were many conflicts. I think you are right on the button with your thoughts, Matt.

At this point I am a bi-vocational Associate Pastor mainly working with music, youth, and young adults. Right now the ministry work does not overlap with my full-time work. The radio idea would just get me back into a medium I enjoy and actually allow me to move away from full-time employment. I currently must travel a lot, many overnights in hotels. I'd like to be able to sleep in my own bed!

Probably right about staying out of radio. But you know how this radio bug works. If you ever get bit, you are hooked for life!

 

[jtudor]

Probably right about staying out of radio. But you know how this radio bug works. If you ever get bit, you are hooked for life!

I will give a big AMEN to that my friend.

The radio bug bit me over 40 years ago, and though I am out of the business now, I find that I need a periodic fix.

Fortunately I am able to scratch that itch every four years when I pay for the opportunity to serve the Boy Scouts of America as part of the National Jamobree Staff. We assemble and operate an FM radio station for the 4th largest (temporary) city in Virginia as QBSA. What an opportunity that is, and it keeps me from missing a daily fix of radio too much. There is no jukebox or rating wars involved there, just good old radio and working with young men, giving them great oportunities.

Best of luck to you, I hope you find something. I woudl love to find a morning gig on a community oriented station, even a morning news gig woudl be great.

Sigh maybe one day!

 

[TheStoker]

Preacherdude, the business is in such a "make no sense" mode now, I wouldn't mess with it. Not worth it.

 

[tothedj]

To Matt Smith, i'm glad you are balancing your schedule between ministry and
television, i know it can get tough sometimes, especially being General Manager.
I'm aware the responsibility of a pastor is overwhelming, and know some who
have programs on WGSR-TV that you talk with on occasion which are quite busy
with church activities.
And to those of you searching for a radio station that are "family friendly" these
days, not many of those are, especially in the secular field.
The problem today is their putting too much emphasis on making money for the
owners, and don't care about the employees or even the equipment that will need
replacing, that's why radio is in trouble and will continue to head down the wrong
road for quite sometime to come.

 

[eacalhoun1]

Something you might consider, preacherdude(John)...

A station in OUR area where I worked 3 different stints since 1988 has had a local pastor on its airwaves regularly for about 30 years. I'm not mentioning any names here, because I'm really not sure of the financial arrangement, but I think he is paid something. However, he does a DAILY one-minute "Thought for the Day" as well as area church activity announcements. Both of these run about 3 times a day on both an AM and an FM which have always run secular programming, save for Sunday mornings. John, I could envision a number of stations in our area who might agree to something similar. However, to "sweeten" the arrangement for a prospective station--i.e, to get YOU on their payroll--you may have to express a willingness to "babysit" some ballgames or remotes. I like your idea of a family-friendly morning show(on a secular station), but I'm sadly uncertain of how much demand there is for such a show. I really cannot envision that on most country stations in our area, but I could see that work on some of the "Timeless Favorites" satellite stations we have: WTOE, Spruce Pine; WSVM, Valdese; WTZQ, Hendersonville. Now, something that could work on most any secular AM station in our area would be an EARLY Southern Gospel show(5a-6a or 7a). I could see THAT on WBRM, WTOE or WKYK and many others.

Just some thoughts...

Eric

 

[Preacherdude]

Something you might consider, preacherdude(John)...

A station in OUR area where I worked 3 different stints since 1988 has had a local pastor on its airwaves regularly for about 30 years. I'm not mentioning any names here, because I'm really not sure of the financial arrangement, but I think he is paid something. However, he does a DAILY one-minute "Thought for the Day" as well as area church activity announcements. Both of these run about 3 times a day on both an AM and an FM which have always run secular programming, save for Sunday mornings. John, I could envision a number of stations in our area who might agree to something similar. However, to "sweeten" the arrangement for a prospective station--i.e, to get YOU on their payroll--you may have to express a willingness to "babysit" some ballgames or remotes. I like your idea of a family-friendly morning show(on a secular station), but I'm sadly uncertain of how much demand there is for such a show. I really cannot envision that on most country stations in our area, but I could see that work on some of the "Timeless Favorites" satellite stations we have: WTOE, Spruce Pine; WSVM, Valdese; WTZQ, Hendersonville. Now, something that could work on most any secular AM station in our area would be an EARLY Southern Gospel show(5a-6a or 7a). I could see THAT on WBRM, WTOE or WKYK and many others.

Just some thoughts...

Eric

Great ideas. I will check them out. Sure would love to do a little radio again!

Isn't it a shame that few folks want to do a good clean, family-oriented, fun program anymore? Seems to me the obligation in that license for public service isn't held in very high regard these days. There are bound to be a few owner/operators left who want to do good and serve the community. I'd sure like to meet one and help him or her be a good influence in the community.