So...

[John-Summers]

I started this topic because I was so tired of seeing the much-maligned Miss Kolvak at the top of the list.

Not long ago I saw that an old radio friend had been let go in a Clear Channel purge. He and I grew up in the same neighborhood and played midget baseball together. He was the catcher - and a damn good one - and I was on the bench most of the time. He is a talented man who has done radio all his adult life. And he is one of the many talented personalities I know - in this area and beyond - who are on the street. Many are pushing 60. Who would have thought at 20 or 30 that our way of making a living - insecure as it was - would virtually disappear, like manufacturing buggy whips and high-button shoes. I still do radio on Saturdays in Baltimore, just because it's fun and it pays a few bills. During the week I work behind the scenes at a local TV station. The work is creative and I enjoy it, but it's only a little more secure than a radio job.

I wonder what people who have spent their lives in the radio business are to do once they are pushed out. Heck, you can't even get a job as a clerk in a state liquor store these days! Some of you have moved beyond radio. What advice do you have? Where does someone who has done radio all their lives go once it's over?

 

[johnnyu]

I thought Tammy did an excellent job.

 

[RayThomas]

A worthwhile topic raised by my friend and media jack-of-many-trades John Summers. About 30 years ago I found myself working for barely-above-poverty wages at a station that had a history of guys who did mobile DJ gigs on the side. Owning a primitive (even for the time) sound system, I started booking bar jobs, weddings, birthday parties, anniversaries, etc. on the weekends and within a very short time had paid off all my bills, upgraded my sound system, and was never broke again. For me, this plan continues to this day. The mobile DJ business is indeed a lot of hard work, yes you give up your Saturday nights, but it is really a lot of fun and financially rewarding. I regularly make as much on a Saturday night as I made all week at the radio station. The best part is, if the radio job goes away, the DJ business continues on. Use the knowledge of music and public speaking skills you gained in radio to develop your own business nobody can take away from you...

 

[karlyle]

I got of the radio biz in July 2000 voluntarily. I saw the writing on the wall...too many stations being gobbled up by the likes of Clear Channel, Cumulus, etc...friends already losing thier jobs or being pushed to "part-time" status, syndication beginning to replace overnight/7p-Mid shows, creativity getting curtailed to just "card-reader" status...and I didn't want any part of that. I found a career and a company that I have been with ever since, and while I lament the passing of my radio days, I know I made the right decision. I'm pushing 50 years old and to be an un-employed radio person at that age is not a situation I wanted myself or my family to be in. While I agree with Ray that the mobile DJ business can bring a nice income, I didn't want to be hauling equipment around every weekend, losing time with my family and friends because my Saturdays were totally shot with travel, set-up, gigs and tear downs...once in a while isn't bad, but I couldn't even see myself doing that for an extended period of time.

My advice for those that might be fearing for your radio lives is to get out while you can, your choice, your terms and find something that can sustain you for the remainder of your working life. You can still do mobile stuff on the side, maybe find some part-time work like John Summers has (although those gigs are few and far between as well) or maybe just build yourself a studio in your basement and satisfy the urges by entertaining friends once in a while. Do I miss being in radio, behind the mike?? Absolutely...did I make the right decision? I think looking at all the posts of people losing thier jobs answers that....

 

[DXDXDX]

Perhaps a radio person should treat the business like sports. No matter what the sport, the time will come when you and the sport will part ways either at your choice or otherwise. Having said that, a guy should always be planing their life after radio and learning whatever needs to be learned so that you can move into another field and it doesn't need to be broadcast related. You should also consider something which is extremely marketable. A good salesman will always have a job, for example. Sales is something you can learn while you're still in radio. Yes, you can LEARN the skills. You can get a part-time job nights or weekends in sales. Check the paper. My suggestion is for you to get out a piece of paper and list on it a number of jobs you'd like to have, no matter how ridiculous it may seem. For example, maybe you're 55 and never been in an airplane but you'd like to be an astronaut! You won't ever get that job but it will get you thinking about other possibilities within the space program that you can get. I'm only using 'astronaut' as an example. Another example, maybe you would like to be an attorney. At 55 its doubtful! But, in thinking about the profession you may think of "paralegal" which you can achieve and still have contact with the legal system. The key here is to get you to think.

I've always thought it was sad to see a veteran jock put out to pasture and then goes thru a series of non-radio jobs because he took those jobs out of desparation.
This could be avoided by planing ahead.

What I've done is that I've always have had an interest in various other fields and moved forward to learn what it takes to get into them. In case of "fire" I can market myself in several ways not because I'm smart, better than someone else, rich or any other thing...but because I took the effort to learn, well in advance of the need. For example, I got into police work long ago while I was on the air daily.
These days I wouldn't want to go back into being a cop but I can see myself as a dispatcher, police PR guy etc if need be.

In summary...

1. Make that list and think about it.
2. Pick something highly marketable. (It may be quite honorable to become a mechanic who specializes in Ferrari wheel bearings but what good is that if nobody in your market owns one!)
3. Be willing to put forth the effort to learn.
4. Be willing to put forth the effort to work part time to get experience and learn more.

 

[Multiplexor]

I thought Tammy did an excellent job.

......at making it sound like paint drying on the air....