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- Thread starter Double M
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Thanks for the kind words. They are much appreciated. Chris and I have fun on the show and off the air. He is a great coach and such a good talent to be so young. Thanks for listening to us. You can here more from me soon with my upcoming airshift.. Any feedback is always welcome. I am available for radio work.
off the subject but........I'll never forget the look on futrell's face .The fire alarms kept being pulled and someone asked what he would if there really was a fire and he couldn't use the elevator, and another student said "Don't worry Futrell I'll yank you up out of that chair like a toothpick and get you outside" the look on his face was priceless !
O
Old School
Guest
There is no finer profession than radio to provide you more laughs, joy, and stories to tell your grandkids. "Let me tell you about my airshift the night Elvis died..." or, speaking of Elvis, the late-night phone calls from Sam Phillips back at WLVS. "Now, Jim, you know I love you, son. But we got a problem..." I'll always love my Sam Phillips stories. Or, the great parties we used to throw at WRVR. I'll never forget the grand opening of Mud Island and the wine party extravaganza. And then there are the stories about working at the glass-cage-studios of WMQM in the lobby of that Midtown building next to Methodist hospital. Or when I worked at another religious station in Collierville where the only living being I saw during an entire 6-hour airshift was a cow that occasionally wandered along the fenceline outside the front door of the station!
I could also go on and on about the great stories I have from my days at WQOX. I, like Radiosaur, was there way-back-when. I started in '74, staying until graduation in '77. No CDs. No carted music. Just 45s cued on the turntable. Jim Futrell, Carol Koch-Cristianson, Joe Dyer, Janice Knapp and others were our teachers. (I hear we lost Janice a few years ago, too. In fact, it was Jim F who called to tell me.) Anyway, you get the picture...
Radio can give you great memories. I stayed with it for 20 years myself, mostly because I loved everything about it. (Yeah, it's also nice for me when the cute checkout girl at Kroger recognizes my voice...) However, I learned rather early that I wasn't a very good jock; I was much better reading news. Still, it left me with a feeling that people enjoyed (and respected?) what I was doing. It gave me a sense of service. It made me feel fulfilled. That's why I stuck with it as long as I did. Heaven knows I wasn't making a great living.
But radio will never be the same as before deregulation and convergence. It won't provide its employed masses with a really good living anymore, either. Unless you are the next Rick Dees (or other wonderfully gifted people I worked with in Memphis), you have to be prepared to do a little work on the side. A Saturday remote; some agency voicework -- whatever it takes to help make ends meet.
Unfortunately for me, the industry is now more about business and less about serving in the community interest. But that's okay, too. Times change. When it no longer serves your own interest, you have to move on.
At least we "old schoolers" still have memories of what radio was really meant to be.
Wow. Is that a sour outlook, too?
I could also go on and on about the great stories I have from my days at WQOX. I, like Radiosaur, was there way-back-when. I started in '74, staying until graduation in '77. No CDs. No carted music. Just 45s cued on the turntable. Jim Futrell, Carol Koch-Cristianson, Joe Dyer, Janice Knapp and others were our teachers. (I hear we lost Janice a few years ago, too. In fact, it was Jim F who called to tell me.) Anyway, you get the picture...
Radio can give you great memories. I stayed with it for 20 years myself, mostly because I loved everything about it. (Yeah, it's also nice for me when the cute checkout girl at Kroger recognizes my voice...) However, I learned rather early that I wasn't a very good jock; I was much better reading news. Still, it left me with a feeling that people enjoyed (and respected?) what I was doing. It gave me a sense of service. It made me feel fulfilled. That's why I stuck with it as long as I did. Heaven knows I wasn't making a great living.
But radio will never be the same as before deregulation and convergence. It won't provide its employed masses with a really good living anymore, either. Unless you are the next Rick Dees (or other wonderfully gifted people I worked with in Memphis), you have to be prepared to do a little work on the side. A Saturday remote; some agency voicework -- whatever it takes to help make ends meet.
Unfortunately for me, the industry is now more about business and less about serving in the community interest. But that's okay, too. Times change. When it no longer serves your own interest, you have to move on.
At least we "old schoolers" still have memories of what radio was really meant to be.
Wow. Is that a sour outlook, too?
R
RoyBoy
Guest
I worked in Memphis radio (in a number of formats) during the 80's and early 90's.
As well as I can remember, here are the Pros and Cons:
PROS:
Fun job, ability to be creative, B-List local celebrity, lots of friends, people recognize your voice in public, cracking jokes and playing sound effects, signing autographs, remotes, sponsoring events, free concert tickets, free Chick Fil-A coupons(you will need them), free music demos (you will need them), groupies, most popular guy at the sponsored concert, prize give-aways, contests, live concert introductions, all request (call-in) shows, producing creative spots/promos, celebrity interviews, casual dress, girls girls girls...
CONS:
No job security (be ready to change stations every few years - most everyone in the business has been fired at least once). High Expectations/Low Pay - I was told - we wish we could pay you more but this job traditionally has a low salary - but we still expect the ratings to be good. Very Little Respect - most owners consider on-air talent to be a cog in a wheel. As the saying goes, shake a tree and dozen dj's will fall out. A dozen people begging for your job and offering to work for free doesn't help. My two favorite examples: a co-worker was asked to pull weeds in the front lot while a 30 mintute program played on the air. Another station asked weekend employees to clean the bathrooms during breaks and also wear a tie.
Have I left anything out?
As well as I can remember, here are the Pros and Cons:
PROS:
Fun job, ability to be creative, B-List local celebrity, lots of friends, people recognize your voice in public, cracking jokes and playing sound effects, signing autographs, remotes, sponsoring events, free concert tickets, free Chick Fil-A coupons(you will need them), free music demos (you will need them), groupies, most popular guy at the sponsored concert, prize give-aways, contests, live concert introductions, all request (call-in) shows, producing creative spots/promos, celebrity interviews, casual dress, girls girls girls...
CONS:
No job security (be ready to change stations every few years - most everyone in the business has been fired at least once). High Expectations/Low Pay - I was told - we wish we could pay you more but this job traditionally has a low salary - but we still expect the ratings to be good. Very Little Respect - most owners consider on-air talent to be a cog in a wheel. As the saying goes, shake a tree and dozen dj's will fall out. A dozen people begging for your job and offering to work for free doesn't help. My two favorite examples: a co-worker was asked to pull weeds in the front lot while a 30 mintute program played on the air. Another station asked weekend employees to clean the bathrooms during breaks and also wear a tie.
Have I left anything out?
Double M said:
Hello and welcome!
Don't listen to the naysayers. Radio is a wonderful career, as long as you can roll with the punches. The biggest negative is the lack of stability, one day you're on the air, the next you're gone, unless you leave on your own first. Most of us have worked at half the stations in Memphis at one time or another... we stay because we love it. We love it or we wouldn't do it.. what sane person would LOL.
I think you're right about retail. There's a field I really hate. Playing floor clerk or cashier to grumpy customers. Yuck. Playing with grumpy listeners... that's fun!
Most people can make a good career in this business as long as they can do voiceovers, news or something other than just announcing songs. A good mic, mixing board and Adobe Audition at home goes a long way if you wanna do stuff on your own.
I been doing radio since 1980. Nope, I won't probably ever get filthy rich, but one never knows when the winds of fortune will blow your way. I'm sure Rick Dees never figured he'd have the career that his turned out to be when he started at WHBQ all those years ago... So keep at it and don't let the negativity on this board kill your interest
-SW
Very very early in my career... (age 15) I think....
While doing my Saturday afternoon shift at a little Ms. Delta station where you never really knew what would happen next...
The station owner came through the control room going to the Tx room follow by his son (the assistant) to apparently tweak something that he should have been leaving alone in the first place... (dare i say fix because nothing was ever fixed in this place.... The next thing I know simultaniously there is a big crash sound and darkness (I remember watching the lights on the cart deck fade out slowly). A bit terrified at what they might have done in there I just sit still behind the control board quietly listening for signs of life when I hear "G-- D----T!!!! (asst's name) git me a flashlight in here now". I failed to mention this station was also gospel and preaching 50% of the day and R&B the rest. So when the asst. returned with a flashlight I learn the transmitter is basically turned over on the owner.
The same station had probably the worst audio chain I have ever heard.
Loud buzz from lack of ground in every piece of equipment.
little or no audio from the Left Channel for most of the stations existance.
Left and Right Channel limiters were not chained together for stereo operation.
Not to mention the distortion because you were instructed to literally PEG the meters or bury them even (a rule I always broke) at least till someone walked through and cranked the pot up on me
1 turntable started very slow. (while I worked there I was the only person I ever saw actually queue a record anyway)
usually only 2 cart decks worked ( which was a pain as they sold spots for a couple bucks each and set up about 30 spots an hour.. you had to play 3 or 4 after almost every song.. that was how the owner wanted it)
No headphones.
Telephone in the control phone actually rang.. (complete with a bell inside..)
http://www.smallbiztechnology.com/graphics/telephone-rotary.jpg
one of those but dirtier
I never saw a single record in the building that had a sleave on it.
Records were dropped in a metal rack when not being played.
just like this http://www.whs57.com/memorylane/records_rack_hb.gif
While doing my Saturday afternoon shift at a little Ms. Delta station where you never really knew what would happen next...
The station owner came through the control room going to the Tx room follow by his son (the assistant) to apparently tweak something that he should have been leaving alone in the first place... (dare i say fix because nothing was ever fixed in this place.... The next thing I know simultaniously there is a big crash sound and darkness (I remember watching the lights on the cart deck fade out slowly). A bit terrified at what they might have done in there I just sit still behind the control board quietly listening for signs of life when I hear "G-- D----T!!!! (asst's name) git me a flashlight in here now". I failed to mention this station was also gospel and preaching 50% of the day and R&B the rest. So when the asst. returned with a flashlight I learn the transmitter is basically turned over on the owner.
The same station had probably the worst audio chain I have ever heard.
Loud buzz from lack of ground in every piece of equipment.
little or no audio from the Left Channel for most of the stations existance.
Left and Right Channel limiters were not chained together for stereo operation.
Not to mention the distortion because you were instructed to literally PEG the meters or bury them even (a rule I always broke) at least till someone walked through and cranked the pot up on me
1 turntable started very slow. (while I worked there I was the only person I ever saw actually queue a record anyway)
usually only 2 cart decks worked ( which was a pain as they sold spots for a couple bucks each and set up about 30 spots an hour.. you had to play 3 or 4 after almost every song.. that was how the owner wanted it)
No headphones.
Telephone in the control phone actually rang.. (complete with a bell inside..)
http://www.smallbiztechnology.com/graphics/telephone-rotary.jpg
one of those but dirtier
I never saw a single record in the building that had a sleave on it.
Records were dropped in a metal rack when not being played.
just like this http://www.whs57.com/memorylane/records_rack_hb.gif
Well, at least you could hear the buzz in the equipment. At WRBC in 1968, the on air studio had a window unit air conditioner unit mounted above the control room door. Want it quiet when you rolled up the mike pot, turn it off! Talk about sweatin' to the oldies! When you went for comfort, the VU meter jumped to -5 when you hit the mike...sounded like a Peterbilt grabbing third heading up a grade.
What? And leave show business?
R
RoyBoy
Guest
More Memories from the Collierville Radio Station...
Early one morning, I flipped on the old 1950's transmitter and only 3 of the 4 tubes lit up. The first 3 were overheating because the last one was off. I called the owner (who was also the engineer) and told him about it. He said to just open the door and take a screwdriver and stick it into the slot where the 4th tube was and jiggle it around. I told him that I didn't feel comfortable doing that and that I was too young to die. He drove over (he was about 5 minutes away) and fixed it.
One weekend afternoon, I was in the middle of a break when the owner walked into the control room with a power drill and drilled a hole in the side of the board. He did this while I was on the air! It was a little difficult to keep my train of thought going through the noise and smoke. I always wondered what the listeners were thinking.
Once in a heavy snow storm in the 80's (over 12 inches), the owner told me to go on home because of the bad weather. The owner (who had a high squeeky voice) took over the weekday afternoon drive shift. Not only was he laughable on the air, but when it came time to do the weather - he bent the microphone down to the little portable NOAH weather radio and turned it on. I laughed so hard I almost hit a telephone pole on the way home.
One more, the owner once paid a teenager (to save money) to cut the grass at the station. I would guess it was 2 acres or so. There was a 300 foot tower on the property with guy wires everywhere. He warned the kid to be careful with the bush-hog and not run into any of the guy wires. You can probably guess what happened. It took about 45 minutes before he ran into one and the entire tower came down accordian style in a crumple. I'm just glad I wasn't there when it happened. It cost the owner over $10,000 to have it re-assembled.
I've got a million of 'um.
I guess that's one more PRO for radio - great stories.
Early one morning, I flipped on the old 1950's transmitter and only 3 of the 4 tubes lit up. The first 3 were overheating because the last one was off. I called the owner (who was also the engineer) and told him about it. He said to just open the door and take a screwdriver and stick it into the slot where the 4th tube was and jiggle it around. I told him that I didn't feel comfortable doing that and that I was too young to die. He drove over (he was about 5 minutes away) and fixed it.
One weekend afternoon, I was in the middle of a break when the owner walked into the control room with a power drill and drilled a hole in the side of the board. He did this while I was on the air! It was a little difficult to keep my train of thought going through the noise and smoke. I always wondered what the listeners were thinking.
Once in a heavy snow storm in the 80's (over 12 inches), the owner told me to go on home because of the bad weather. The owner (who had a high squeeky voice) took over the weekday afternoon drive shift. Not only was he laughable on the air, but when it came time to do the weather - he bent the microphone down to the little portable NOAH weather radio and turned it on. I laughed so hard I almost hit a telephone pole on the way home.
One more, the owner once paid a teenager (to save money) to cut the grass at the station. I would guess it was 2 acres or so. There was a 300 foot tower on the property with guy wires everywhere. He warned the kid to be careful with the bush-hog and not run into any of the guy wires. You can probably guess what happened. It took about 45 minutes before he ran into one and the entire tower came down accordian style in a crumple. I'm just glad I wasn't there when it happened. It cost the owner over $10,000 to have it re-assembled.
I've got a million of 'um.
I guess that's one more PRO for radio - great stories.
Here's a good one - from my days in Jonesboro - our owner at the time LOVED to squeeze a penny til it begged for mercy.
How much would he pinch.
Well they actually bought a new AM transmitter from Harris up in Quincy IL - BUT- did not want to pay to have it shipped. So - they came to me and Phil the morning guy and offered us like $100 each to drive up there early on a Saturday to pick it up.
Let me tell ya - that wasn't no short trip either - we left about 5:30 am and got back about midnight. But at that time $100 was like ... well about a half weeks paycheck.
How much would he pinch.
Well they actually bought a new AM transmitter from Harris up in Quincy IL - BUT- did not want to pay to have it shipped. So - they came to me and Phil the morning guy and offered us like $100 each to drive up there early on a Saturday to pick it up.
Let me tell ya - that wasn't no short trip either - we left about 5:30 am and got back about midnight. But at that time $100 was like ... well about a half weeks paycheck.
O
Old School
Guest
radiosaur said:
Gosh, Tom, didn't everyone work there at one point of their Memphis radio career? Those that missed out on this wonderful opportunity to spin gospel LPs in the countryside:
a. missed radio in its most basic form;
b. probably never had the chance to be the only person in the entire station for hours upon end (which can be good or bad, but that's another story for another day); or
c. apparently either knew something I didn't or had much more talent to exploit than me. I was told I had to "pay my dues."
Zeke_Terry said:
Again, Zeke, you must have been worth more than me. In my earliest full-time slot in Memphis radio in the '70s, I could only dream of being paid a couple hundred a week! Wow, I must have really sucked!
But when I think back, even for the money they paid me, I'll never forget spinning records, pushing dollar-a-holler spots, and chatting with folks on the request line. There'll never be another business like it.
Well my time in J'town was from 1988 to 1998 - I left just a month before the Westside shooting incident. And I think the time that I had to go and fetch the transmitter was right around the late summer or early fall of 1990.
I've slept a bit since then so my timeframe may be off a bit.
I've slept a bit since then so my timeframe may be off a bit.
R
RoyBoy
Guest
More Collierville Stories...
I can also remember a time when Old Al bought a used power generator for use when the electricity went off. Unfortunately, he decided to test it while I was doing my afternoon shift. In the middle of the break, he cut off the power and the generator (which was as loud as a Harley Davidson motorcycle) started up right on cue. The problem was that he had put it in the transmitter room (about 10 feet from the control room) and not only was I having to scream over the roar to be heard, but the room was quickly filling up with exhaust fumes. I cut to a commercial and opened up all the windows and the front door (after checking for stray cows) so that I wouldn't pass out.
For those who knew him - Al Crain passed away back in 1997.
He gave a lot of beginners their first shot in radio.
I can also remember a time when Old Al bought a used power generator for use when the electricity went off. Unfortunately, he decided to test it while I was doing my afternoon shift. In the middle of the break, he cut off the power and the generator (which was as loud as a Harley Davidson motorcycle) started up right on cue. The problem was that he had put it in the transmitter room (about 10 feet from the control room) and not only was I having to scream over the roar to be heard, but the room was quickly filling up with exhaust fumes. I cut to a commercial and opened up all the windows and the front door (after checking for stray cows) so that I wouldn't pass out.
For those who knew him - Al Crain passed away back in 1997.
He gave a lot of beginners their first shot in radio.
Yep, Al was a character...when I first showed up to interview there his daughter was sunbathing in the front..er, field. Turns out she was also on the air and had an egg timer next to her to warn her when the tape was about over.
500 watts at 1590...could be heard for blocks in every direction....
500 watts at 1590...could be heard for blocks in every direction....
R
RoyBoy
Guest
'Saur,
When did you work there?
When did you work there?
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