fltalk
Since you specifically mentioned one of my stations in your earlier post, I wanted to take a few minutes to respond to you. Hopefully you, (and others that might read this) will find the suggestions and advise helpful.
First of all, I've received the resumes and CD's that you've sent over to the station. You've done a nice job in packaging your materials and getting my attention. Your one-page resume was well written and
speaks well of your work and attitude.
Congratulations for finishing the BTN program. The program takes folks like you with an interest in broadcasting and places them in a radio facility where you can "learn by doing." It's a great first step, and the experience you picked up working with Matt and his crew at WWBA & WHBO will be invaluable as you take the next steps in your broadcasting career.
But, completing the BTN (or CSB) program is just that... the first steps into a very competitive business. It's also a business that's contracting... not expanding right now.
I took part in a career seminar at SPC last month. There was a representative from Cable TV/Local Government access, News/Public Relations and me. We each discussed the employment and career opportunities in each our our industries. I had to be honest with the students, and opened my comments by saying that I work in a business where there are far fewer jobs that there were ten years ago.
The consolidation and computerization of this industry has cost thousands and thousands of people their jobs nationwide. In 1979 when I began working here in Tampa Bay, there were at approximately 30 radio "business units" where someone could be employed. Today that number is down to less that a dozen. (Far less than that if you rule out the foreign language stations and companies!) Instead of 30 traffic managers, 30 engineers, 30 business managers, 30 production directors, 30 copywriters and sales assistants all working in the market... consolidation has claimed most of all those jobs. And instead of concentrating on one station, these few remaining folks are responsible for several stations.
On the other side of the building, computerization, automation and voicetracking have taken their toll as well. Instead of every station being manned 24/7 by jocks, or board operators... well you know the story.
It's not pretty... and those of us who've managed to survive consider ourselves very lucky to have stayed in the business we love. My friend Tedd Webb said it best... you could fully staff an amazing radio station here in Tampa Bay with all the experienced, unemployed people right now.
So it's a business and an industry that's in a reduction mode right now. That's the stream you're trying to swim into, and it's not going to be easy.
If it's allright, let me offer some thoughts. On your resume, your stated objective is: News/Talk show host.
That's a terrific goal, and after listening to your CD again before I typed this, I can see and hear your passion and desire to sit in the host chair.
But you gotta understand a few things.
Please understand that I just can't hire you (or anyone) to be a talkshow host with absolutely no real experience. That's not to discount what you've done so far, but you're not prepared.
Take a moment and look around at the folks still hosting talk shows right now... (and yes, the number of people hosting local shows has dropped dramatically over the past few years!)
Long-time radio vet Mark Larsen was the Program Director of Oldies 93 when it flipped to Power 93, and he eventually migrated over to WFLA, and years later to WWBA.
Jack, Tedd and Sharon each came to WFLA's morning show with long sucessful radio careers.
And the guy you clubbed like a baby seal in your earlier post, Brian Fasulo, had a successful run in TV before making the transition to radio.
Even here on my Christian Teaching and Talk station AM 570 WTBN, Bill Bunkley hosts a one hour program each afternoon at 4pm. While this may be his first radio hosting position, he brings years of service in the business and political worlds and offers a unique Christian perspective to the issues of the day.
fltalk, you just can't finish a coorespondence broadcasting school course and expect to be embraced immediately by the industry as a talk show host. You're going to have to pay your dues in the industry first.
If it's what you really want to do... great... persue it !!!
Because I'm going to let you in on a secret. Eventually the cycle will repeat itself. It happened before and it will happen again.
Radio was ALL local in it's very early days. That gave birth to the networks and network stars and local radio disappeared. (sound familiar?) After TV came along in the early 50's, radio suffered badly. It took years to recover and it did so by reverting to local programming and issues and suddenly local radio hosts and jocks were the rage, and radio was rejuvenated.
We're taking a hit again right now with i-pods, satellite radio and internet radio.
But eventually, someone in a corporate position will figure out how much money can be made by hiring a local board operator/producer, and matching him up with a local talkshow host. They'll focus on local issues and the flood gates will reopen. Local radio will be reborn.
And by that point in your career if you have solid radio experience, andmore importantly, an original twist as an on-air personality that is not duplicated elsewhere, you could be the one to fill the chair.
But now's not the time.
Take my advice and remove "News/Talk Show Host" from the Objective section of your resume. You're not ready, the industry is not ready. At this point in your career, you just want a foot in the door doing anything!
And at the same time, consider buying that hour of time on a station like WTAN or one of the radio networks jsut to get some experience. Launch a website with podcasting and openly embrace the new technologies. Find or create a demand for a unique local radio product and sell it.
Then when the cycle turns back to local radio, you'll be ready.
In looking back over your resume, the "political consultant" experience outside of radio jumps out at me. Have you thought about exploiting that experience ??? Have you considered offering your expertise as a local political media expert to stations during the election cycles ???
I have a file with resumes and CD's of people who want to talk about Iran, Iraq and the horrible Democrats. But I can tell you right now that I don't have one single resume or CD from a guy who can intelligently discuss local political campaign statagies and candidate management. Think about it !!!!
Finally, in a later post you mentioned your family and financial situation.
Here's where I have a REALLY big beef with the coorespondence and radio/TV trade schools. In my opinion, they're NOT being fully open and honest with you. At 19 with no family obligations, it's difficult but not impossible to get into radio and pay your dues. (You'll be eating Mac & Cheese and working at another job as well to pay your bills.) But at 38 or 39, with three kids, a dog, two cars, a mortgage or two, ailing parents and a wallet filled with overloaded credit cards it's a totally different story. It's going to be impossible for you to go to school for 16 weeks, come out with a "diploma", and then suddenly get a full-time job in radio with a comparable income to what you're making now.
In my opinion, these schools are doing a horrible disservice to hard working adults who "always wanted to be in radio" by not leveling with them and telling them the truth. (I guess the truth will cut down on their bottom line and profits!)
IT SUCKS, but fltalk, that's the truth.
Quick story...I can tell you that from 1989 to 1991, I worked as a career counselor at the old Columbia School of Broadcasting here in Tampa. (Don't laugh, I had two mortgages and three kids and needed the extra work!) I always tried to be up front and honest with the students I worked with. Those over 30 who insisted on signing up for the program generally failed... not because of a lack of talent, but because they could not take the financial hit. Those who succeeded were just out of high school or under 25.
For a brief time in 2005, I worked in the Clear Channel building over on Gandy Blvd. During that time, I ran into at least a half-dozen of my former "students." Every one of them came to the school in their early 20's, and have now spent over 15 years in the business. I'm proud of their accomplishments and contributions to the industry.
So there you go. I haven't conducted a formal interview with you yet, but this is exactly what I would have said during the course of the conversation.
I wish you the best, and if there's anything I can do to help, e-mail me at
[email protected].
Mike Serio
