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Suggestions for a guy trying to catch a break on-air?

The_Dude said:
What would that other side be? That's the attitude my former PM has, and he's still in.
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That is the dilemma facing young people today. Somewhere some university is teaching some (currently) obscure new discipline which will be "tomorrow's hot ticket". Actually, there may be 3,000 new hot tickets jobs-of-the-future which you have never heard of.

There has been a lot of medical care in our household in the last year. PET scans. CT scans. MRIs. Now there is Physical Therapy. As we run this gauntlet, I "interview" the techs. How long you been doing this? What did you do before? (For those who are older than the technology they are practicing) Where did you get your training? How long does it take to get trained?

One of the problems of a radio career: Your boss can hire a dufus off the street and have him/her up-to-speed in a matter of weeks or months. No government specified training or certificates required. Find an industry that is growing rather than treading water or shrinking, and get yourself trained. Some careers require that you relocate to places that may not be your favorite. Medicine is EVERYWHERE.
 
Do you understand your station's automation software? Do you understand your traffic/logging system? Could you change out a sound card if you had to? Do you have a basic understanding of relays and switchers? You'd be saving the owner $100/hour not having to have the CE come by.
How about sales? Could you make a small sale if you had to?
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Find a small market station. Owned by a local company, work there foe some time, build up your resume. Learn ALL aspects of the business.

It might be a AM playing polka music, but that is okay. Learn all formats.
 
With that spirit you will find a station. Let the search begin :)
 
I'll add a little here. Radio still has a presence. But things have perminantly changed from the way it was. Don't be too concerned with how the station looks. I know of several quite successful stations that have horrid looking studios, and a lot of sinking ships with very pretty operations. The key is to not let your ego try to put food on your table. It won't. Be concerned with making a living..but don't be obsessed with it. Be happy..many times that can be done economically. Musiconradio said it right..(get OUT of Albany) find a smaller market station, owned by a small group or an individual. In that same town, get a real job of some kind..working at a tractor supply, or a grocery or a tire place or something to get you enough to pay for the rent somewhere. Get to know the peopple in town that matter..And do radio as a hobby. You will get paid, but don't depend on that entry level position to keep your bills paid.

Investigate the voice/production business. There are quite a few people doing commercials for smaller market stations, some for 5-10 bucks a throw, but you can do enough of this stuff to pay for a place to live. And the equipment to do it is (again) not impressive with lights and meters, and big cabinetry..it is a decent used laptop with something as simple as WavePad, some kind of Internet connection (even the free wifi from a Red Roof Inn)..a quiet room, and a decent USB mic. You CAN make money doing this. And you are right. Any format, any station..to learn it is a good thing. If you can manage to find a station that runs live programming, that much the better. But commercial production will always be needed whether its small market terrestrial, or Internet radio..or doing voice tracks for a local realtor's "talking house" system. Sit and think a little about how "non broadcast" businesses could use you.

BTW you would be SHOCKED to know how much money can be made doing a professional voice track for a local "talking house" presentation..but that's for another thread. I still do voice work for those state run TIS statns, and for State Fairs, and events..it's decent money and easy to do...and I have been doing this for 40 years now.
 
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