Providence- New Bedford... Give them a chance!!!

[BostonWizz]

I am upset! Let me tell you why! I work in Providence. I see young kids out of college looking for work on a regular basis! Why doesn't any station give these kids a chance?- Why dont they through them on weekends.? Most stations besides WFHN is voiced tracked. Good for JR. -- ( But I would question some of this talent he has hired... Mikey V? God Awful!)-- J-Rod- belongs in a Rock Station. - I could go on forever! But why doesnt any stations in the area hire part timers.

I got an email the other day from a local guy, trying to get into radio.- He asked me.. What should I do? I've been trying to long to get into... **** station. I said " Keep your head up"/ Your time will come.

So, can someone tell me why WFHN is the only station to give a new talent a chance?- Why doesnt Tony Bristol give someone a chance?-

Cudos to FUN 107... Thumps down to others/ ( not just providence)

 

[aqualung]

I think PRO-FM's J-Buff is still in school and this is his first commercial radio job so they hire. I haven't heard Mikey V but J-Rod sounds OK and when there's no work around then you work the formats that are hiring even if you'd rather work rock. As far as Fun107 hiring inexperience then there's your answer. For the most part markets like Fairhaven, Cape Cod, then Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, etc are where the inexperienced should be looking. Sticking to your guns and insisting on Providence ain't gonna work and probably shouldn't work. Sad but true and some of us know the score. Even if you land a weekender the chance of moving up full time is limited especially with the lack of full time jobs now and a dismal looking future for them. Best to just get the career going in a small market.

 

[BostonWizz]

The inexperienced it is!!! But hey!! We all need to start somewhere! Im in Providence.- I am a fulltimer!- I just see some people not given the chance! If you live in Cranston- Why should one travel to Maine or CT for a weekend gig?-- Jay Buff, try's to hard.-- How did he land his gig in Providence... He must know Tony Bristol! In a different way!!

 

[Runrigger]

Let's say I'm a PD. I'm not, but have been. I have a weekend slot open & a few inexperienced people want it. All I have to go by is voice & my impressions of the person him or herself. Don't throw computer skills at me. As far as the personality end of it, you won't really be putting it to use until you get comfortable anyway & even then I probably won't want a weekender to do bits & crack too many one-liners.

Then I find that Mark Ambrose, Chris Eagan, & even Bruce Palmer are available. Granted the job may be temporary for anyone looking for full time, but who do I hire? Do I want someone to can jump right in or do I want aceta?

I know there are some who feel it's radio's responsibility to groom new talent & I would agree if we were living in the land of milk & honey, but we're not. Experienced people are out there looking either for part time for now or maybe permanently. What I don't like is that smaller markets up north should be providing more of a training ground instead of being just as voicetracked as bigger markets. When I'm up there, which is pretty often, even during weekday full time shifts I have to sit for 20 minutes to even hear the jock talk live or tracked.

And what about interns? Every station has them. Are they being given a shot?

 

[itsmeohya]

I am upset! Let me tell you why! I work in Providence. I see young kids out of college looking for work on a regular basis! Why doesn't any station give these kids a chance?- Why dont they through them on weekends.? Most stations besides WFHN is voiced tracked. Good for JR. -- ( But I would question some of this talent he has hired... Mikey V? God Awful!)-- J-Rod- belongs in a Rock Station. - I could go on forever! But why doesnt any stations in the area hire part timers.

I got an email the other day from a local guy, trying to get into radio.- He asked me.. What should I do? I've been trying to long to get into... **** station. I said " Keep your head up"/ Your time will come.

So, can someone tell me why WFHN is the only station to give a new talent a chance?- Why doesnt Tony Bristol give someone a chance?-

Cudos to FUN 107... Thumps down to others/ ( not just providence)

..Well no one really knows why people do the things they do. Mikey V is the younger brother of big time dj Frankie V. so, I can see what JR was doin with that..as to how he sounds, he is still young and inexperienced and is still learning. arent people allowed to grow with a station and get better with a format? Lets be serious. Here you are trash talking someone who is tryin to break into the radio industry, weather it be for full time or part time and your trash talkin him. How would that make him feel if he read it? Really nice. As for J-Rod, he used to be on a rock station KKB, but we all know what happened to that. Fun 107 is in the same building, so i can see how he ended up there. And I dont think he sounds that bad. He is a rock guy, but he isnt failing at a top 40 format. like i said give people a chance. maybe they cant move or they cant afford it, who knows maybe they just want to do it part time. I just think it's childish how people talk bad about others that are trying to make a living and do what they enjoy. Besides. I am sure there are many people on many other stations that i will not name that shouldnt be there,because they dont fit in. But hey thats just my 2 cents.

 

[wknd92]

The inexperienced it is!!! But hey!! We all need to start somewhere! Im in Providence.- I am a fulltimer!- I just see some people not given the chance! If you live in Cranston- Why should one travel to Maine or CT for a weekend gig?-- Jay Buff, try's to hard.-- How did he land his gig in Providence... He must know Tony Bristol! In a different way!!

Wizz...if you are a full timer, then you know the score. No need to single Tony out, why isn't anyone over on Oxford opening the doors to give new people a chance, either? The industry has changed in the last 15 years where weekenders-P/T need to get their feet wet in New London or Groton or New Bedford or the Cape or Nashua etc...the days of being brought in to do weekends in hopes of a F/T position opening up is very low. (Gio over 30 years, Davey-15 years, Paul & Al over 15 years, David Jones (sans his trip up north) over 20 years, Charlie over 20 years, Geoff close to 20 years, Tanya 15 years).
J-Buff sounds fine to me, no need to throw out an anonymous jab as to why he's there that you can't back up....

 

[RadioPonte]

Need to say a few things! I am currently working at a small station near Providence. I've been trying to land a weekend gig at a Top 40 station for a bit. I have something in the pipeline, but who knows if that is going to come true. JROD- is a friend of mine. He works very hard at Fun; Probably one of the best the station has for dependable and experienced person. The dude just had heart surgery. He couldnt wait to get back on air. Talent, and how he sounds is overlooked when he works hard, and is dependable.- And works hard to sound good!

Jr is a good man! He gives opportunities to many young people. As for Mikey V.. Give the kid a chance.- Young, Inexperienced... But we all were there once. I'm still there!- I am waiting for my phone to ring for a weekend gig as well!



Think_____________ before you sound stupid!

CP

 

[RadioPonte]

The inexperienced it is!!! But hey!! We all need to start somewhere! Im in Providence.- I am a fulltimer!- I just see some people not given the chance! If you live in Cranston- Why should one travel to Maine or CT for a weekend gig?-- Jay Buff, try's to hard.-- How did he land his gig in Providence... He must know Tony Bristol! In a different way!!

Wizz...if you are a full timer, then you know the score. No need to single Tony out, why isn't anyone over on Oxford opening the doors to give new people a chance, either? The industry has changed in the last 15 years where weekenders-P/T need to get their feet wet in New London or Groton or New Bedford or the Cape or Nashua etc...the days of being brought in to do weekends in hopes of a F/T position opening up is very low. (Gio over 30 years, Davey-15 years, Paul & Al over 15 years, David Jones (sans his trip up north) over 20 years, Charlie over 20 years, Geoff close to 20 years, Tanya 15 years).
J-Buff sounds fine to me, no need to throw out an anonymous jab as to why he's there that you can't back up....

I dont think its the fact that Oxford Street isnt given people chances. I dont think they can!-- Its a hire freeze!

 

[xtreme11678]

The inexperienced it is!!! But hey!! We all need to start somewhere! Im in Providence.- I am a fulltimer!- I just see some people not given the chance! If you live in Cranston- Why should one travel to Maine or CT for a weekend gig?-- Jay Buff, try's to hard.-- How did he land his gig in Providence... He must know Tony Bristol! In a different way!!

first off.... i think jay is one of the best sounding weekenders in this market now.... and to my knowlege hes been with pro for a few yrs now because thats also the station he interned at so apparently the PD thought he was good enough for weekends.... and full-time work all summer
and ive noticed as of late pro-fm also hired lauren for weekends she sounds new to radio... but also pritty good... shes been doing 6-10a on saturdays and sunday afternoons.... and we all know chris eagan is doing weekends at pro.... so it appears to me that tony bristol has been hiring weekenders
and as far as fun... like a few other people here... for a market like fairhaven... i think theres alot of potental talent there.... they sound fine for a small market top 40 station....

 

[wknd92]

Lauren's been working at Traffic net for a while now and Chris is a proven talent RI talent, so why wouldn't Tony bring them in and cut down on the extra V/T for Davey, Austin & Jessica on Friday, makes sense...I know there is a freeze over on Oxford, I think the original poster is trying to throw the Trail under the bus for the failings of Oxford St.

 

[xtreme11678]

Lauren's been working at Traffic net for a while now and Chris is a proven talent RI talent, so why wouldn't Tony bring them in and cut down on the extra V/T for Davey, Austin & Jessica on Friday, makes sense...I know there is a freeze over on Oxford, I think the original poster is trying to throw the Trail under the bus for the failings of Oxford St.

ur right but as i see it.... theres no reason to throw the trail under the bus.... cause they seem to be doing the right things as of late... (now they just need to do something with 99.7 lol)
and as for louren.... i thought her voice sounded fimular thanks for the info

 

[Rick]

Just figured I would throw in my 2 cents. Fun 107 is not the only station currently live on weekends. Lite Rock 105 is LIVE and not tracked on both Saturday and Sunday, 10am-6pm.

 

[Moonstruck]

Not to try calling anybody out here but it seems to me the original poster is looking for work himself. How many full timers in Providence are really that familiar with who weekends at Fun 107 and how many would be that worked up about newcomers not getting enough opportunities to post it on a message board? When you say you full time in Providence it becomes a process of elimination and most I can think of are eliminated. I hope the original poster finds something but no PD is going to read this and think "yeah that's right. I need to give someone his first break."

 

[RadioPonte]

...I know there is a freeze over on Oxford, I think the original poster is trying to throw the Trail under the bus for the failings of Oxford St.
[/quote]

I agree. I think Tony does a great job. I've meet Tony a few times. Its tough! But wouldnt you be? Has is incharge of cid.providence. Experience comes before new talent. Oxford street- different story, and its out of their control

 

[RadioPonte]

Not to try calling anybody out here but it seems to me the original poster is looking for work himself. How many full timers in Providence are really that familiar with who weekends at Fun 107 and how many would be that worked up about newcomers not getting enough opportunities to post it on a message board? When you say you full time in Providence it becomes a process of elimination and most I can think of are eliminated. I hope the original poster finds something but no PD is going to read this and think "yeah that's right. I need to give someone his first break."

EXACTLY> You read what was on my mind. Experience comes first!

 

[McRadio]

What is this "if you live in Cranston you shouldn't have to go to Maine or Connecticut to weekend" malarky? Ok maybe Maine is a stretch especially in the winter even though you can get there in a couple of hours depending on area, but Connecticut is no stretch. This is the attitude of entitlement that bugs me. I'm sure there are quite a few who post here who can give us details on all the things you shouldn't have to do that they did when it came to sacrifices in the radio business......
Believe it or not there are PDs who won't hire experienced but unemployed jocks for weekends thinking they're only looking for something until they land a full time gig. I can almost see that but still, radio doesn't feel it owes the ones who have been doing it a while a cushy life so people looking for an "in" should expect even less. You insist on doing radio in your own backyard? Start up an internet station.

 

[MarkAmbrose]

I am upset! Let me tell you why! I work in Providence. I see young kids out of college looking for work on a regular basis! Why doesn't any station give these kids a chance?- Why dont they through them on weekends.? Most stations besides WFHN is voiced tracked. Good for JR. -- ( But I would question some of this talent he has hired... Mikey V? God Awful!)-- J-Rod- belongs in a Rock Station. - I could go on forever!  But why doesnt any stations in the area hire part timers.

I got an email the other day from a local guy, trying to get into radio.- He asked me.. What should I do? I've been trying to long to get into... **** station. I said " Keep your head up"/ Your time will come.

So, can someone tell me why WFHN is the only station to give a new talent a chance?- Why doesnt Tony Bristol give someone a chance?-

Cudos to FUN 107... Thumps down to others/ ( not just providence)

Whatever happened to paying your dues ? I started at WKFD 1370, in Wickford, 1n 1978. This was a 500 watt DAYTIME AM station, that signed off when the sun went down (4:15pm in December). This was just a few months after completing my course at the Rhode Island School of Broadcasting. Both the station and the school have long since gone dark. I got hired by sending a 3" reel/audition tape to the PD, and got the gig. In the short time that I was there, the station was once robbed of every record it owned, and also didn't even have a working bathroom (when I left). Why should any young talent think that they should be able to walk right into a regular shift, at any Providence station ? You have to pay your dues, not just in radio, but in any job.

 

[RadioNut]

Easy answer.....in those days, paying your dues meant a good future. These days there are no dues cause there aren't any goals. Who wants to work for free and do overnight shifts to improve now?...no one because if you pay those dues you end up with a 10 dollar an hour job, if any, with cut backs to the left and right of you. So what has happened is that the job of a radio personality has been knocked down quite a few pegs on the totem pole as far as importance.

Now, tell me again why one would think they have to pay their dues.....for what?

 

[MarkAmbrose]

Easy answer.....in those days, paying your dues meant a good future. These days there are no dues cause there aren't any goals. Who wants to work for free and do overnight shifts to improve now?...no one because if you pay those dues you end up with a 10 dollar an hour job, if any, with cut backs to the left and right of you. So what has happened is that the job of a radio personality has been knocked down quite a few pegs on the totem pole as far as importance.

Now, tell me again why one would think they have to pay their dues.....for what?

That's how it was done, in the past. As for now, instead of expecting people to feel sorry for you, go out and get a real job. Who can support a family, or buy a house, when your future is always so uncertain ? Two minutes on this site will show anyone the future of a broadcasting career in a medium to small market. Why do you think that so many people are content to do it PART-TIME ? :

 

[McRadio]

Radionut, why do you think paying your dues in the 70s or 80s ensured a good future? You think it was automatic? First of all those AM suburban music stations where people could get their feet wet are gone. Now around here you cut your teeth at FM stations that actually have a decent listenership. In other words if it's your first job you're already at the kind of station where 20 or 30 years ago people had to try harder to land a job at. There are also so many people know hyping computer skills to get into radio and the result is people who are not all that strong on the air are landing there. My advice is to take the computer skills elsewhere. In this area if you have some experience and you're not where you want to be then you're not going to get there unless you move. Even then the situation isn't good anywhere else. The only jobs you will see stations actively searching for qualified people for will be the high profile drive time slots and even then they will be searching for people who will work for less than the ones they're replacing. Other shifts are relatively unimportant in terms of who is on the air, except in the minds of the jocks themselves, and they will be filled with that in mind.