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remote broadcasts using a cel phone

A wiser person than me once told me that a live remote or promo is nothing more than an opportunity to screw up, and usually a successful one. Add the vagaries of Cellphone coverage to the mix and you're practically guaranteeing a screw up.

I've noticed that big city programming honchos are increasingly steering chain-owned stations away from live remotes on the grounds that the audience doesn't really care, they just want the music.

That IMO is a half-truth and further proof that the big chains don't understand small market radio. Discuss...
 
I know people who have worked for companys that have remotes everyweekend and its just the jock going out in a van with MORE then 1 station logo on it, doing the breaks on thier personal cell with NO give aways...oh and even though the station is getting paid in the hundreds the jock was getting really low pay. My one friend wasnt getting anything, when he complained he was told that it was part of his job.
 
Here's a story for ya!

I was working at WPNH, and it was, I believe, the only remote I ever did. It was analog cell phone from on the outskirts of the White Mountains. Tricky reception to say the least. The remote itself however, was a blast! It was at the Pirate's Cove Mini Golf course. I got to play a free round to plug it, so the listener not only got the normal "here's-the-deal-down-your-throat" routine, but also could be mildly entertained while I described how the game play was for me personally. And yes, I drove my personal vehicle to the event, which was a Honda Civic Del Sol with personalized plates that said "WPNHDJ" on it. That was it. The station didn't even HAVE a company vehicle at the time. (A little later on they got an older model Chevy Astro van with a simple logo on it.)

But here's a pointer: Never expect the sales staff to give you what you need on time. Rip n' read sucks, whether you're doing news, weather or remotes. It really is up to the air talent to find what they feel is interesting to their audience, complemented by the important details the sales staff is supposed to provide. The more you know, the better you can ad-lib and be entertaining with it. Then, a professional will make every attempt to make sure he's got a solid signal before he phones up the station. Even so, I dropped out a couple of times, but I regained it without too much lost.

Of course, I got the easy remote to do that with. Recreation is always fun. The guy that got stuck with the bank remote I was originally going to do didn't have such a good time with it. But then again, if you were interested in CD's and money-market funds, you'd be golden anyway.

And then there's the hiring of newbies... I still chuckle to this day when I think of "Buzz Lightyear" Seeley when he was doing a live remote at US Cellular with our GM. I was behind the board and all of a sudden I hear him say at a point where he was at a loss for words... "F***ING". :eek: :-X OOPS. ;D
 
Good point!

justareporter said:
"trade" has been abused for years which is why so many large groups stay away from it. Frankly I have never had a problem with it so long as **someone** is policing the accounts.

I am reminded of the story of a radio talk show host at a fairly large station whihc was doing an ad 1x per day for a loca **high end** car dealer. Nobody thought anything of it until this nitwit wrecked the car when a cigarettte fell in his lap and he drove into a guardrail...or something.

In any event, turns out the station didn't have a trade. Old loud mouth had set up his **own** trade without bothering to tell management.

I pass this story along to note that people are only as honest as you make them. Trade isn't bad....it is the staff people who abuse it.

They'd steal pencils if they worked in a pencil factory.
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Granite, these stories sound very familiar to me ...

granitestate said:
and as if personal use of cellphones isn't bad enough, how about the mileage issues or trade account abuse?

i once heard about a station with a station vehicle but the new management decided to sell it. however, management then expected the employees to drive their own cars to events, without paying them mileage. some even had mileage in their contracts!

then there was another station i heard about where the station manager and sales team had access to a trade account for gas and blew through $8,000 worth of gas in about two years. after they all quit, the account was audited and it as revealed that the station manager had a boiler installed in his house and had two years worth of oil delivered to his home and to the home of a female "friend." last i heard there was a legal proceeding going on about that one.

anyone need tires? there was a rumor going around last year that a big chain of radio stations in the state had blown through so much trade from a tire company chain that the owner laughed at a sales rep. from a competing station pitching him spots saying that he was owed so much by the big radio chain, he wouldn't have to buy radio spots for years.

all off the books of course. and what the shareholders and the i.r.s. don't know, won't hurt them, right?
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I like all the great points in this thread and excellent tips given out.

On a sidenote, I can't stand those paid programs that use fake cell phone calls. you know the ones, where the host does a mock radio show and a fake guest calls in. Then they pretend to be on a phone the whole time. It sounds awful and we all know it's fake, so just use a studio. Like make it sound like they're on mic
 
Bottomline: No matter what your personal opinion of what is good or not good for the client, or what you think the quality should be, every remote that I have ever done, with a marti or cell, the client was very happy. Each and every time I worked damned hard...I've always prepared over and above...most every break I found someone to interview to breathe life into the dullest situations...remotes are still an essential part of a station's connection to the community. And yes, my paycheck was always a bit fatter at the end of the week. And people do listen to remote broadcasts and respond, otherwise this thread would be non-existent.
 
ret vet said:
A wiser person than me once told me that a live remote or promo is nothing more than an opportunity to screw up, and usually a successful one. Add the vagaries of Cellphone coverage to the mix and you're practically guaranteeing a screw up.

I've noticed that big city programming honchos are increasingly steering chain-owned stations away from live remotes on the grounds that the audience doesn't really care, they just want the music.

That IMO is a half-truth and further proof that the big chains don't understand small market radio. Discuss...
Click to expand...

Agreed. The reason why the audience doesn't care (or why the corporations don't think they care) is the fact that they don't get to know the DJ's anymore. The only reason the DJ's go on air is to give the "voice tracked forecast." It's not their fault, it's the big wigs that tell them the only reason you should ever talk is to give the time and forecast. Before big corporate radio the DJ's would entertain the listeners, and the listeners considered the DJ's friends. This bond was shown when the listeners actually came out to see the DJ's at a live event. Now the listener doesn’t have that connection, and it shows when a live event happens. (Little to no turnout.)
 
Not only is the on-air quality poor...but I'd hate to be the advertiser SPONSORING THE RADIO station that is broadcasting LIVE from my store or business?

Technologically...replaying the sound of a transitor radio is easier and cheaper...but do you think most listeners would put up with it? ???

argytunes
 
I guess you can take a note and remind yourself of that opinion when you own a business and you're approached by a sales rep to consider a remote...in the meantime, our clients are happy with the turnouts and quality and my paycheck is still a bit fatter.
 
I had to do a remote on cell a phone. In some places you just have no choice. It looks real getto, but it sounded OK. I like the sound of the VoIP but up here in the woods you don't have that option very often. Hell I'm lucky if I get cell signal.
 
probuttonpusher said:
I know people who have worked for companys that have remotes everyweekend and its just the jock going out in a van with MORE then 1 station logo on it, doing the breaks on thier personal cell with NO give aways...oh and even though the station is getting paid in the hundreds the jock was getting really low pay. My one friend wasnt getting anything, when he complained he was told that it was part of his job.
Click to expand...

Cough, cough, Triple X, cough cough...
 
Wow! This is shaping up to be one of the longest threads ever. We need to hear from the radio slaves that put themselves out there every day...especially those that count on remotes to supplement the income. My only gripe with remotes are the free ones...once in a great while, if the purpose is a damned good one, I can live with it...however, we are talent, and should be paid accordingly. I tell everyone (especially sale peeps) that whatever the remote pays, to consider the prep time, on locattion time, and drive time to and from (avg. 6 hrs) and then figure the hourly wage. Hey, my weekends are precious, too. Everyone else is making a buck, right? No offense, but if you're not in the radio game, you have no idea what we go through.
 
I'm totally for the overworked and undercompensated hard working air talent making as much on talent fees as possible with live broadcasts. It's easy money, no BS there. I'm not sure how much 'prep' time announcers really put in for their 'easy c-note' or more. If you do that, then more kudos to you for taking it seriously. Isn't it great when you do not even need to pay a board op to sit there and the breaks and mic pot can be totally set up with the computer in advance.. Have to make sure that stopwatch works !! Where is your "6" hours of average drive time to and from a remote Nelz ?? Are you in the sticks ?
 
Just remember, the free pizza is for all the poor people in White River, not the talent. (Assume the remote is taking place on 12A in West Leb).
 
Hey Jo Jo,

As someone may have mentioned earlier, not all air talent will invest a lot of time prepping for remotes and subsequent breaks...I do. The client deserves the best we can give them. If you don't, then you're really stiffing the client and deserve a poor rating, which by the way, can reflect on air-talent in general. One bad experience for a client can sour them for future business, for all of us. You can always tell when a jock is just going through the motions at a remote...it's usually the same diatribe over and over again.

A good example of a great remote? I heard the Q's Flakes on location yesterday...they were having a blast...it made me want to go over there and join in the fun. All of their breaks were entertaining and informative. I have no use for 2-Way radio service, but it made me want to go there and check it out just the same.

The sticks? I do live in a farming community, but it's only 20 minutes (on a good day) from the station. But really, you need to consider your time as a whole, especially on the weekend. Generally (and my co-workers will attest), I arrive early to the station...I make sure I've gathered all the info I need...I gather and ops check the equipment (fix it if it needs it)...I give the vehicle a quick wash...and I arrive at least an hour or more before the first scheduled break. After the remote you gotta factor in the drive back, unloading, etc. Yep, average is about 6 hours for a 3 to 4 hour remote.
 
Jo Jo Kracko said:
Where is your "6" hours of average drive time to and from a remote Nelz ?? Are you in the sticks ?
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don't have to be in the sticks. two hour appearance at the Fryeburg Fair yesterday was 5.5 hours yesterday for me. 3 hours round trip to Fryeburg from So.Portland studios.

even a two-hour remote in the middle of the day effectively blows up an entire day. time from home to station. some in-building prep prior to leaving, including checking the vehicle and supplies. then the drive to the location - arrive early enough to set up and take a look around to find out what's what - even with copious notes, clients usually like to add five things to the list-o-things. then actual remote time. breakdown (including "orderly" repacking of remote gear so next person doesn't have to dig through piles-o-stuff like the empty mcdonald's bag and dunkin donut cups to find a mic), return to station and filing of appropriate paperwork. then, by the time you're home, it's a 6+ hour day, easy. most saturday, 2-hour remotes i do, i leave home at 9 at get home around 3
 
BenKarlow said:
Just remember, the free pizza is for all the poor people in White River, not the talent. (Assume the remote is taking place on 12A in West Leb).
Click to expand...

Yet another little memory from my old days. So true. LOL!
 
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