OFCOURSE I'M BROKE... I WORK IN RADIO.

[Cliff_The_Kid]

...Well maybe not for everyone. I can only speak for myself, but you can't expect much when you begin your journey in radio as a young man at the age of 20, working the phones at the front desk, and your starting position involves trying to explain to your boss why you may not be the best candidate for watching his pet poodle in the office while he's out to lunch.

By the way I'm from Texarkana, TX... which is close enough to Arkansas to bring up the question of inbreeding, but that's a different story. Seriously though, the question now is, does 5 years experience in local radio, 2 of those DJing for a morning show live, lend itself to finding some escalator in the near future that I can hop aboard and make the big time... or even just the big bucks. that will suit me fine.

I know this isn't the classifieds, but I figure what the hell?? I've been plowing away at this, barely scraping by for long enough and I deserve a break. If anyone would like an air check, I don't mind delivering it in a bottle which will include a wish on a napkin that reads, "Please give me a new home, I promise I'm housebroken." Or if anyone has any better suggestions as far as moving up in the radio business (if my head hits the ceiling I won't sue), then feel free to share those with me as well.


Sincerely,

Cliff

ps, here's a recent podcast I put together for some friends in Portland (I take full credit for production credits and also quick wit, going covertly under the name: Milton Wallows):

http://www.borrowdeer.com/brambleradio/episodes/brambleradio29BRS.mp3

 

[MikeShannon914]

I wish I could say the prospects are good for you, but I think you may know the answer to that already. To be very honest here, creativity is no longer a required calling card...in fact, it's discouraged. On-air careers for jocking, news, etc involve taking direction, reading liner cards, and fading so much into the wallpaper that management DOESN'T notice you. This is not the career choice you might have envied growing up. The opportunity to be creative AND make money is no longer there. The few that are doing it now will not be replaced when their time is up. Yes, there are some (Stubie Doak, doing production funnies at WBAP, along with Russ Martin, Kidd Kraddick, etc) who are paid well BUT are the exception to the rule. Two recent conversations I've had about broadcast schools in the area (Connecticut School of Broadcasting, Univ of N Texas) have revealed that those folks are teaching liner card reading, NOT real radio, as liner card readers are what is in demand. Yes, you might be able to survive over the years "doing as you're told," but the industry's fickle and not secure...and I don't see that changing. I advise people these days that, if you love radio, do it as a part-time gig...and go get a REAL job that pays, has benefits AND has job security. Sorry I can't have a more positive answer for ya. All the best to you.

 

[jo-nathan]

I co-sign to what the gentleman above my post said. This is an awful time to be in radio. I spent almost seven years in the biz and got out about six months ago. I hate to admit this but I'm glad that I got out. I'm not stressed out anymore, I don't worry about pissing somebody off and I also don't have to worry about whether or not I'm feeling creative today. I just left a call center job (it was good doing that while looking for something better) to take on management training with Enterprise Rent A Car. The money's awesome (starting out, I'll make about $10K-$15K more than I did in radio) and the hours are fantastic. Trust me bro: Save your sanity and find something else. I developed anxiety problems because things were so bad... I don't wish that on anyone and it's not worth it to go through that for a sake of a job that used to be fun and isn't anymore. You can thank the suits for that.

Heh... funny, I'll be wearing suits to work everyday now.

Jonathan

 

[Cliff_The_Kid]

thanks alot guys for letting me know what you think. like i said, i'm at that point where i need to either move up or get out, and i think you made the decision easier. i was hoping for a bit of honesty anyways, because false incouragement wouldn't do me any good.

peace.

 

[SmokeRing]

i'm at that point where i need to either move up or get out, and i think you made the decision easier.

Have you thought about taking your wit and creativity into talk radio? You should try getting a producer gig with a talk show.

 

[henry]

I'm sort of in the other guy's situation - but I'd like to know if News Radio is just as awful right now. I'm on track to a journalism degree with a year's experience doing news on a college level (full-market FM stick in a medium market).

I concur on the music radio side. I just quit my board op gig. Wasn't worth the stress and feeling than upper management hates you. (The PD is awesome though, but I feel like they're abusing him too.)

 

[bwild]

How old are you? If I were back to where I started 20 years ago, I'd go to college instead. I can say that with no hesitation at all. I'm happy to report that I'm making more than I did then, but I'd be making a lot more if I had a college degree and had chosen another career. That being said, look for a smaller market, that's where the fun still is. Don't misunderstand, you're still not going to make any money, but you can be more creative being a somewhat big fish in a smaller pond than trying to bust your way into the bigger markets for the same money. There are still a lot of smaller markets looking for experienced, hungry guys like you.

 

[Bored Op]

I can only echo what others here have posted. I got my first gig at 17 - starting out at the daytimer in my hometown, to working some fairly decent sized markets - and after 29 years, I got out last month. Radio is the only job I've ever had, and I was pretty freaked at the fact that I was going to have to look into something else to do for a living. Salaries are not what they used to be, not to mention the fact that most places won't offer any benefits to speak of anymore. You also have to show up for work everyday not knowing whether or not you're going to be the next person broomed out the door. The business is a shell of it's former self and to be quite honest, I don't miss it nearly as much as I thought I would.

 

[instigator]

Radio has changed so much. 13 years ago i was like you...wanting a full time radio gig trying to live my dream. I had a 3 year stint in Atlantic City sent tapes all over and recieved offers...for no money in places I really didn't want to move to. my station passed me by for 2 promotions, i wasn't making enough money to survive, and the clamps of "sound like this" ""read this" were closing in. i needed a change so i started a mobile DJ business and started doing a lot of club work. It is much better money and you control your destiny a little more...but the radio bug never ever goes away. there is not a day that goes by that by that i dont wish my radio dream would have come true.Recently i joined Z889 NJ for a once a week airshift. it never goes away but its extremely hard to have a career in radio let alone ever raise a family.

 

[lbates]

Get that education so you have something to fall back on. radio is NOT the land of opportunity as it once was.The economic levels have never been worse.Originality, creativity have given way to hogonization. News onthe radio is tabloid or slanted ,particularly to those on the right. Use your skills to teach kids speech,debate,etc. radio is dying ,though not soon but its on life support until someone liek a McLendon ,Stortz,etc can make it vibrant and alive once more.

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

Today's radio is all about shutting up and doing what you're told. They could care less how much talent a guy has. All they want is someone to come in and do the spots they are handed in the production room then if you're not just going to voice track it, go in and do their "show" which consists of reading liners and giving traffic or weather reports, etc. Creativity be damned. Be good at making yourself "useful" around the place. If you can get a well-rounded education in things like web design and get good at production. If you can hack doing some sales, get good at that too. Like computers? Get some IT classes under your belt. You get the idea.. The more things you can do at least half-way decently the more likely you'll be the guy they keep and fire the guy that can only be a jock. Today's radio isn't about the QUALITY of the job, it's the quantity of the jobs you can do. As long as a guy understands that concept he'll probably either stay employed or land on his feet nicely.

 

[Cliff_The_Kid]

Today's radio is all about shutting up and doing what you're told. They could care less how much talent a guy has. All they want is someone to come in and do the spots they are handed in the production room then if you're not just going to voice track it, go in and do their "show" which consists of reading liners and giving traffic or weather reports, etc. Creativity be damned. Be good at making yourself "useful" around the place. If you can get a well-rounded education in things like web design and get good at production. If you can hack doing some sales, get good at that too. Like computers? Get some IT classes under your belt. You get the idea.. The more things you can do at least half-way decently the more likely you'll be the guy they keep and fire the guy that can only be a jock. Today's radio isn't about the QUALITY of the job, it's the quantity of the jobs you can do. As long as a guy understands that concept he'll probably either stay employed or land on his feet nicely.

Yeah i realized that also as far as quantity goes. Thankfully I had an interest in recording my own music for the past 5 years which has really helped with getting better at production, using Adobe Audition and mixing. I still have a lot more to learn and from all of the post I've read, I think I'm definitely going to move in the direction of college and maybe go for some production classes. I just really like the idea of sitting in a rotating chair behind a microphone, doing my breaks, and going home. But like everyone said, those days are over and you have expand in order to move up.

Thanks again for the replies. I honestly thought I was gonna get hassled for even posting this originally but this has actually been really helpful.

 

[Dr. o Fun]

Cliff,

Work hard and love what you do. Over my 20+ year career in San Diego I wrote traffic reports, produced and directed talk shows and NFL Football games, and audio production and loved (almost) every minute of it. I got out four years ago when the station and I couldn't come to an agreement on terms.

Since then, and upon moving to Texas, I started my own radio advertising firm and love that aspect of radio, too.

In other words, find what you like and create your own opportunities.

Best,
dr

 

[Big Jay]

I'm saddened by this thread..but it's so true. I especially feel bad for the gentleman who said he'd been in the biz for 29 years and had to get out because it wasn't happening anymore. HE said he's happy about it. I've been doing it for 38 years...been sitting the bench for a while (as we all do from time to time) and I still can't get it out of my head or heart. I am looking at VARIOUS ways to make a living including radio, but reality is biting. My resume is TOO good for many markets, as the PD's think I want THEIR job, so they don't hire me. Others only care about your last gig and not your career as an barometer. Also not an accuarate reading. Look at my time at KLIF with Hilarie. The old regime was fighting the new regime, and it got ugly at times internally. We just ignored it all and did our thing. Management tried to change our act. They KNEW what we did when they hired us..and THEN told us to go back to the way we were from where we were HIRED. Huh? In the end it didn't matter. Talk radio takes at least 2 years to make an impression on people because you have to evolve a friendship or at least familarity with each and every listener. I digress.. My advise to young people getting into the biz...be ready for a lot of heartache..but even THEN if you love it, do the best you can and learn from what ever pros are still left in the building. Develop your own style, and run with it. If your talent allows, it'll happen. And sometimes even that ain't enough. It's who ya know. And then THAT person gets blown away because of 'budget cuts'. I agree it aint' a fun time to be a talent in this biz no matter what part of the country you're in. But I still have that glimmer of hope left in me that says keep on keepin' on...and BE BIG!!!
Former KLIF Morning co-host, (2001) Jay Sorensen

 

[early]

Big Jay, I think along the same lines as you do. After 10 years hosting a successful morning show in I was given the "we're going in a different direction" speech. Then 4 other staff members were cut the same day and I knew that it was a budget thing. But as you say Jay, the fire is still lit, and the passion for radio goes on. Some of the big "leaders" of the companies are now watching Wall Street more than they are watching their own streets. However, as the search goes on for the next opportunity, which we all know will come at some point, we'll all be ready for it.

 

[Coronaextra]

I think it's really about who owns your station. I started in a small market and became a jack-of-all-trades. I went to DFW and Susquehanna in production for four years until Cumulus came. Never really cared much for the Big D, so when I got the chance to move back to the ski town where I had started in radio, I jumped at it, and here's the deal:

Mom and Pop owned. I make a lot more money than I ever did in Dallas without the salespeople headaches, I have a booming freelance business, and I get to be crazy creative on my afternoon drive show. It's the best of all worlds. I've never been happier career wise.

Radio isn't all gloom and doom, but big market radio isn't all it's cracked up to be. I'm proud to say I worked for the Wolf while it was on top, it looks great on my resume, and I have no desire to ever try to be in a big market again working for the corporate giants. I'd rather live in a smallish town where they still do radio right. I'm not alone in this. I'm 35, and the youngest person on our airstaff...all of whom have worked in big markets and for the big companies. We all agree that this is so much better.

 

[longtimelistener]

I started in the biz when I was 15 at a 1,000 watt daytimer. Over the years I worked for Gordon McLendon, RKO, ABC, Susquehanna (as well as CBS & ESPN TV) on-air and (briefly) in management.

Today there are so many talented veterans and so many eager newcomers but so few good jobs it makes me very grateful for my career but very sad for what radio has become.

When a JACK-FM can get equal or better ratings than a KRLD or a Lonestar 92.5 with only a computer and an $8 per hour board-op, there is very little incentive for any of the conglomerates to hire & pay a staff to create a more entertaining product than the "McRadio" we hear so much of today.

 

[little1]

When a JACK-FM can get equal or better ratings than a KRLD or a Lonestar 92.5 with only a computer and an $8 per hour board-op, there is very little incentive for any of the conglomerates to hire & pay a staff to create a more entertaining product than the "McRadio" we hear so much of today.

Isn't it possible that Jack is presenting a valid option to the listening audience? I hear a lot of people slam Jack, but they have some funny imaging and I never know what to expect when I'm listening.
(Now that's a good/bad situation, good that they're not predictable, bad in that if it is some of the crap they play that I don't like, I'm gonna punch out)

Now compare that to the same stale tired formatics on KRLD. And oh wow, news on my radio, with 22 minutes of spots an hour, when I can get all the news I want, in much more detail without sitting through any ads. EVer hear of the internet? You should check it out...

And all news was a viable format back when their only competition was the newspaper, and there weren't half a dozen 24 news formats on TV. But I heard them promoting their buisness news hour at 6pm. Uh, guys, ever hear of CNBC? Buisness news around the clock? Why should I wait around for you to give me the news I want, when I can get it on my schedule? Okay, granted, if I'm in my car, and can't watch TV they're a valid option, but as soon as I get home, isn't the TV, with a LOT less conmmercials the more likely choice?

And as for Lonestar, which one are we talking about? The old one, who actually played some Texas/outlaw country, or the new one, which is a pale imitation of a generic classic rock station with Willie doing imaging?

Either way, let's examine what Lonestar tried to do. They took a station that was getting in the mid 2's, and got rid of a lot of the 'mass appeal' classic rock songs. And replaced them with semi-obscure, non mass appeal songs by 'marginal' artists. Ever consider that THAT is why Jack is beating them. Because they took a bunch of songs and artists that the vast majority of the audience either wasn't familiar with or doesn't like and added them to the rotation.

And hey, I love the Old 97's. But there's a reason they play the Gypsy Tea Room and not Reunion or AAC. They're just not that popular.

You seem to be classifying Jack as non-entertaining "McRadio". And see their beating of KRLD and Lonestar as a symptom of what's wrong with radio. I'd argue that the real problem is what is wrong with KRLD and KZPS. They're just not that entertaining.

 

[spymovie7]

Well, my advice to you is to change your tune, and say, "I work in MEDIA." The Media includes Radio, TV, Live Theater, Movies, Magazines, Books, Recording Arts, etc. Each has its own Industry trade publications to help you get started with Opportunities Advertising. There are Talent Agencies, but you don't have to have one.

Take someone like Dan Rather, for example. He has "All Of The Above" on his resume. So do many others.

Getting started working in Radio is kind of like a teenager getting started working at the neighborhood McDonald's. True, some may make McDonald's a lucrative career, but others might wind up working at the finest Steak Restaurant in town.

Everybody has to start somewhere.

 

[Brokenhearted Bill]

Why any youngster would go into radio today is a total mystery to me. The job market continues to shrink and the pay and stability is even worse than it was forty years ago.