This is one I pose to you? I have never met an engineer that wasn't an ------? They treat everyone at the station like they are gods gift to broadcasting, they think they know everything there is about anything including sales and programming. And most hardly know their own damn job. If I ruled the world, we would have a lot less engineers.
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Question: Why are some Engineers not nice? (mod edit)
- Thread starter ildj2009
- Start date
Hope you know how to keep stations on the air, then.
Look, I won't deny some engineers may not have social skills. But, the vast, and I mean vast, majority of the engineers I've known have been some of the greatest people I've met in this business.
I'm sorry you apparently haven't had the same fortune.
Look, I won't deny some engineers may not have social skills. But, the vast, and I mean vast, majority of the engineers I've known have been some of the greatest people I've met in this business.
I'm sorry you apparently haven't had the same fortune.
Probably because:
1. They are grossly underpaid for what they're worth
2. They have somewhere around 15 stations (on average) to manage, and typically don't have time to put up with people's stupidity
3. Without them, there would be no station.
1. They are grossly underpaid for what they're worth
2. They have somewhere around 15 stations (on average) to manage, and typically don't have time to put up with people's stupidity
3. Without them, there would be no station.
R
radio2100
Guest
Not all of them are. I work with one of the best guys in the business. Nice and helpful. No attitude at all.
S
spark gap
Guest
ildj2009 said:
You need to pull your head out of your own A**. These guys are usually overworked, under appreciated, and over time learned not to suffer fools like you well.
Mr. Spargap...I disagree. Many are lazy, and don't do their damn job. They are over paid, in most cases. Rude, Crude and need to get a real job. Radio Engineers are lazy most of the time. And most of the time are lacking a true education to get a real gig so they are stuck replacing tubes in transmitters. And make sure there is paper in the EAS machine, SO sad too bad the truth hurts.
Not totally sure if you're being sarcastic here, but if not you really need to spend a day with one.
Just because you don't see them in the office everyday between 8-5 doesn't mean they're not working. A lot of their time is spent at transmitters or in the field doing whatever management has asked them to do. Some prefer working at night, as to work without being interrupted by the staff.
As to being overpaid, they are paid for what they're worth. Most of the time they're underpaid, but the real question is how much do you value being on the air? Without an engineer there is no station.
Just because you don't see them in the office everyday between 8-5 doesn't mean they're not working. A lot of their time is spent at transmitters or in the field doing whatever management has asked them to do. Some prefer working at night, as to work without being interrupted by the staff.
As to being overpaid, they are paid for what they're worth. Most of the time they're underpaid, but the real question is how much do you value being on the air? Without an engineer there is no station.
S
spark gap
Guest
Radio info Man said:
I am guessing you are an idiot. As for education, they probably have more than you. People in programming and sales were generally "C" students in college and high school (don't knock it radio is a great way for a "C" student to make a good living), engineers were nerdy "A" students.
They have become guarded in the tasks they will take on. In our company the engineers refused to take over responsibility for the computers in the office, unless they had a direct connection to the audio chain, etc. or monitored a transmitter...as they were smart enough to know that computer maintenance was a slippery slope leading to more work and no more money.
Broacast engineers are a special breed. The graduates of the tech schools now gravitate toward IT engineering as the jobs:
1. Pay more
2. Have better hours
3. Are a lot safer (do you have any idea the kind of power running in the back of a transmitter, or through a phasor in an AM Array (do you even know what that is?)?)
Grow up.
By the way I have held a first class license with broadcast endorsement, designed automation systems from the circuit board up, programmed numerous stations, been general manager, sales manager and am now employed as VP of Business Development for a pretty major, publicly held, broadcast company...so I am pretty familiar with all aspects of a radio station.
P
PaulBWalkerJr
Guest
I've run into some engineers wh oare assholes, but thats usually because Stupid DJ's ask stupid question.
At the last place I worked, the Chief Engineer(doubled as the AM station Morning Man) was always very busy, and sometimes.. not having a good day. However, if I asked him a genuine question about how something worked or what was wrong, he'd take the time to answer me.
I've learned, that if thru your actions and words.. you show engineers you have a genuine interest in learning and want to know how things tick, they'll teach you. If you ask just to be a smart ass, they're going to shove that attitude back in your face.
When I was in Florida, i worked for one of the nicest engineers I've ever known. He answered any question I ever had and even if I asked the same question 3 or 4 times, he'd answer it.
If we didn't have engineers, we wouldn't have radio stations and you wouldn't have a damn paycheck. grow up and show the engineers in your world some respect.
At the last place I worked, the Chief Engineer(doubled as the AM station Morning Man) was always very busy, and sometimes.. not having a good day. However, if I asked him a genuine question about how something worked or what was wrong, he'd take the time to answer me.
I've learned, that if thru your actions and words.. you show engineers you have a genuine interest in learning and want to know how things tick, they'll teach you. If you ask just to be a smart ass, they're going to shove that attitude back in your face.
When I was in Florida, i worked for one of the nicest engineers I've ever known. He answered any question I ever had and even if I asked the same question 3 or 4 times, he'd answer it.
If we didn't have engineers, we wouldn't have radio stations and you wouldn't have a damn paycheck. grow up and show the engineers in your world some respect.
"I have never met an engineer that wasn't an ------? They treat everyone at the station like they are gods gift to broadcasting, they think they know everything there is about anything including sales and programming. And most hardly know their own damn job. If I ruled the world, we would have a lot less engineers."
If just about every engineer you come into contact with is like that, you may have to take a good hard look in the mirror and maybe make a reality gut-check with yourself. You can learn a great deal from engineers, and I have worked with not just the best, but some of the most intelligent ones in the business. I'd rather hang out with the engineers than the sales guys any day...if you do more listening and less talking, you'd be surprised at some of the knowledge you can gain from them. Check the attitude.
If just about every engineer you come into contact with is like that, you may have to take a good hard look in the mirror and maybe make a reality gut-check with yourself. You can learn a great deal from engineers, and I have worked with not just the best, but some of the most intelligent ones in the business. I'd rather hang out with the engineers than the sales guys any day...if you do more listening and less talking, you'd be surprised at some of the knowledge you can gain from them. Check the attitude.
P
PaulBWalkerJr
Guest
Kenhawk, I definately a gree with you... you said it even better then I did!!
Hello. I am one of those radio engineers. I take great offense to your remarks, and frankly, I am surprised that they have not been deleted from this board.
But, you seem to have a question. Here is my answer. I am generally a nice guy, although not perfect. I am also a busy man. I take care of over ten radio stations in 3 states, many hundreds of miles apart (in a previous employment I took care of about 30 stations). I am responsible for everything between the microphone and the antenna at the top of the tower. Also, I do some computer maintenance for these stations. I also need to make sure our stations are within compliance of the law (federal, state, and local). I also must ensure that safety measures are followed. I am sure there is more, but I am so busy sometimes I forget.
I have a college education, and plenty of self, continuing, education along the way.
I have been known to bark out an order. However, that is only after I have told someone to do something 3 or 4 times. From your attitude, it seems you may be a human unit that would need an especially loud bark.
But, you seem to have a question. Here is my answer. I am generally a nice guy, although not perfect. I am also a busy man. I take care of over ten radio stations in 3 states, many hundreds of miles apart (in a previous employment I took care of about 30 stations). I am responsible for everything between the microphone and the antenna at the top of the tower. Also, I do some computer maintenance for these stations. I also need to make sure our stations are within compliance of the law (federal, state, and local). I also must ensure that safety measures are followed. I am sure there is more, but I am so busy sometimes I forget.
I have a college education, and plenty of self, continuing, education along the way.
I have been known to bark out an order. However, that is only after I have told someone to do something 3 or 4 times. From your attitude, it seems you may be a human unit that would need an especially loud bark.
Z
zach_morton
Guest
As an engineer...I always "try" to help everyone out as quickly as possible...however, there are some things that don't seem to be noticed...things like the fact that I am working on the transmitter, or some other mission critical item that surpasses the fact that you can't browse ebay or a porn site. Yes...I'm aware that there are people out there that actually use business machines for what they were designed for...business...but there are also alot of them who don't. We are not assholes by natures ...ok, some engineers are...but by and large, we are all just a bunch of guys who enjoy the job we do.
I came from the programming side of things a few years ago, and was given an opportunity to do what I really like. So before you judge all engineers, don't lump us all into a stereotype. We're not all bad.
I came from the programming side of things a few years ago, and was given an opportunity to do what I really like. So before you judge all engineers, don't lump us all into a stereotype. We're not all bad.
T
tjthedj
Guest
As a one-time station owner (in the pre-computer days) I too take offense at the firt post.
Try to be a station owner in BF Egypt, 40 miles from Timbuctu - and your transmitter goes off at 5am. The engineers I knew were right to work, on the job.
OF COURSE they were crabby. YOU have that kind of stress and see what you'd do. Expensive, sure, but they were well worth it. Also, most had a good sense of humor.
Now first poster, go back to "playing radio."
Try to be a station owner in BF Egypt, 40 miles from Timbuctu - and your transmitter goes off at 5am. The engineers I knew were right to work, on the job.
OF COURSE they were crabby. YOU have that kind of stress and see what you'd do. Expensive, sure, but they were well worth it. Also, most had a good sense of humor.
Now first poster, go back to "playing radio."
Amen to all you guys. More often than not, the radio people most deserving of the expletive our boy chose to describe engineers, are on-air people. I don't use the word "talent", because that to me is a label that needs to be earned.
My thoughts match many of those who are backing up engineers so I won't repeat.
Some engineers, like many others in radio, have huge egos, whether they know their stuff or not. However, many of the engineers I've worked with, including those I currently work with, are great people, easy to talk to, know what they're doing, and willing to come out to fix a problem at all times.
Regardless of whether your engineer has an ego problem, it's probably best just to dismiss the manner in which they communicate and let them do their job if they in fact do a great job for your station. Remember, many of the things they do is common knowledge for them and they probably don't like explaining how something works to someone who has no clue of what they're talking about. So, why waste their breath, right? It should be a given that if you don't piss off the engineer, the overall on-air quality of your station will sound a lot better than it would if you're always picking a fight with them or, worst of all, not paying them. Engineers make good money for a reason...they're responsible for everything that goes from the mics to the boards and how it gets over the air, plus other technical issues with production studios, etc. So, unless you know how all that stuff works, I suggest staying on good terms with them.
Some engineers, like many others in radio, have huge egos, whether they know their stuff or not. However, many of the engineers I've worked with, including those I currently work with, are great people, easy to talk to, know what they're doing, and willing to come out to fix a problem at all times.
Regardless of whether your engineer has an ego problem, it's probably best just to dismiss the manner in which they communicate and let them do their job if they in fact do a great job for your station. Remember, many of the things they do is common knowledge for them and they probably don't like explaining how something works to someone who has no clue of what they're talking about. So, why waste their breath, right? It should be a given that if you don't piss off the engineer, the overall on-air quality of your station will sound a lot better than it would if you're always picking a fight with them or, worst of all, not paying them. Engineers make good money for a reason...they're responsible for everything that goes from the mics to the boards and how it gets over the air, plus other technical issues with production studios, etc. So, unless you know how all that stuff works, I suggest staying on good terms with them.
Granted, I have worked with a few nice engineers, that actually get it. But, on the other hand I've worked with some real dumb ass low lifes too. Why is it they must treat people like they are idiots? A Good Bedside maner is very important. But, Engineers believe they only work for the GM. WRONG! They works for us sales people, air talent, news department, I would say the public too. If too many peopler aren't happy, the GM won't be happy and the Engineer will be out on his ear. That's the way it works! Sorry, for you engineer hacks that are rude asses. And SPARKY get a clue, dude.
S
spark gap
Guest
ildj2009 said:
Like I said in an earlier post; "I am guessing you are an idiot". I will ponder your well thought out response, and hope that you don't work for us.
TTFN
[EDIT-namecalling]
The reason they are not nice...they get sick and tired of having air talent not listening to them!
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