The Basics then, The Basics now

[inthemorining]

There is a lot to be said for the good old days. It is good to see all the good memories and fun times for y'all at WIYQ. You are all better broadcasters because of it. The fact that mountaineer and I reminisced about backtiming that was a good memory....BUT......these days there are very few opportunities to learn the radio business from the ground up. I still think that experience of sweeping two songs (matching tempos properly) using the right jingle/stager whether it be in a segue or a shotgun out of a cluster......planning your show.....aircheck sessions with the pd.........sitting in the prod studio practicing breaks are all important. I realize this is 2005.....but when you have the intrinsic knowledge to know what makes it sound good its invaluable. I worked for Warren Bailey (a NH legend and NAB broadcast honoree himself) when he was group PD for Sconnix late 70s into the 80s...he taught me, and moved me up to the 9th Market Boston in 2 years. I currently fill in in mkts 65 and 12 a few times a year,and I am proud to work weekends on WOWY. But it all started in little Laconia New Hampshire 34 years ago......Warren now does mornings in Concord for Nassau and I am in the newspaper business. Believe me its fun in the major markets...the best part is the money....$30,000 is weekend jock pay with talent fees of course added in for mkts 25 and up(annualized)....however if you screw up a spot it aint ten dollar a hollar its $200 a minute.........good radio will always be good radio whether your driving em home on the Florida Turnpike or the Bud Shuster Highway...have a great weekend all. Adams

 

[mistermicrophone]

> There is a lot to be said for the good old days. It is good
> to see all the good memories and fun times for y'all at
> WIYQ. You are all better broadcasters because of it. The
> fact that mountaineer and I reminisced about backtiming that
> was a good memory....BUT......these days there are very few
> opportunities to learn the radio business from the ground
> up. I still think that experience of sweeping two songs
> (matching tempos properly) using the right jingle/stager
> whether it be in a segue or a shotgun out of a
> cluster......planning your show.....aircheck sessions with
> the pd.........sitting in the prod studio practicing breaks
> are all important. I realize this is 2005.....but when you
> have the intrinsic knowledge to know what makes it sound
> good its invaluable. I worked for Warren Bailey (a NH
> legend and NAB broadcast honoree himself) when he was group
> PD for Sconnix late 70s into the 80s...he taught me, and
> moved me up to the 9th Market Boston in 2 years. I
> currently fill in in mkts 65 and 12 a few times a year,and I
> am proud to work weekends on WOWY. But it all started in
> little Laconia New Hampshire 34 years ago......Warren now
> does mornings in Concord for Nassau and I am in the
> newspaper business. Believe me its fun in the major
> markets...the best part is the money....$30,000 is weekend
> jock pay with talent fees of course added in for mkts 25 and
> up(annualized)....however if you screw up a spot it aint ten
> dollar a hollar its $200 a minute.........good radio will
> always be good radio whether your driving em home on the
> Florida Turnpike or the Bud Shuster Highway...have a great
> weekend all. Adams
>

I was watching a football game on New Years Eve this past December and they were talking to the Boise State coach who has turned down jobs at (as the reporter phrased it) "bigger and better" universities and his response was "why does it have to be bigger to be better? Just be the best where you are" and I really think that philosophy applies to radio too...State College, Harrisburg, Tampa, New York City...it doesn't matter, just work hard and be the best you can...and the most important thing to remeber is...HAVE FUN because it sure beats the heck out of real work!!

~glen

 

[Newbie]

> > There is a lot to be said for the good old days. It is
> good
> > to see all the good memories and fun times for y'all at
> > WIYQ. You are all better broadcasters because of it.
(snip) however if you screw up a spot it aint
> ten
> > dollar a hollar its $200 a minute.........good radio will
> > always be good radio whether your driving em home on the
> > Florida Turnpike or the Bud Shuster Highway...have a great
>
> > weekend all. Adams
> >
>
> I was watching a football game on New Years Eve this past
> December and they were talking to the Boise State coach who
> has turned down jobs at (as the reporter phrased it) "bigger
> and better" universities and his response was "why does it
> have to be bigger to be better? Just be the best where you
> are" and I really think that philosophy applies to radio
> too...State College, Harrisburg, Tampa, New York City...it
> doesn't matter, just work hard and be the best you can...and
> the most important thing to remember is...HAVE FUN because it
> sure beats the heck out of real work!!
>
> ~glen
>
How eloquently put...and how true. You can be a big fish in a big pond but there's always a bigger fish who can swallow you up.

 

[shilton]

just work hard and be the best you can...and
> the most important thing to remeber is...HAVE FUN because it
> sure beats the heck out of real work!!
>
> ~glen
>
Great comment Glen...I passed you when you were in action at the Arts Fest. You sounded great and looked like you were having a blast. My apologies, as I intended to stop and introduce myself...but I was running a little late for my own remote as well so time was against me. (Gotta love trying to Park downtown during Arts Fest)

Ahhh....the arts fest...the one time it seems EVERY radio station is everywere...ain't it fun. Heck I took a day off the REAL JOB so I could do arts fest. You're damn right...this gig beats REAL WORK ANYDAY!!!

Hitman

 

[captainrexk]

>I still think that experience of sweeping two songs(matching tempos properly) using the right jingle/stager whether it be in a segue or a shotgun out of a
cluster......planning your show.....aircheck sessions with the pd.......sitting in the prod studio practicing breaks are all important.
REPLY: It's like sports in a way. The game may change as far as the players, but the fundamentals NEVER change! If you don't know the fundamentals, you won't get anywhere, in ANY business!


> I realize this is 2005.....but when you have the intrinsic knowledge to know what makes it sound good its invaluable. I worked for Warren Bailey (a NH
legend and NAB broadcast honoree himself). But it all started in little Laconia New Hampshire 34 years ago.
REPLY: I got my apprenticeship with WOKQ; Portsmouth-Dover under Cliff Blake. His guidance and leadership was invaluable in getting me where I'm at now.....a large market station FT. He gave me a lot of advice & constructive criticism, something not enough PDs are willing to do these days.


> I was watching a football game on New Years Eve this past December and they were talking to the Boise State coach who has turned down jobs at (as the reporter phrased it) "bigger and better" universities and his response was "why does it have to be bigger to be better? Just be the best where you are" and I really think that philosophy applies to radio too...State College, Harrisburg, Tampa, New York City...it doesn't matter.
REPLY: Can I get an AMEN to that, brother? Listeners aren't just in the major or large markets, they're EVERYWHERE! It's what you do to bring them in and what you do to keep them there that counts. Maybe that's what lacks in radio nowadays.....not enough "local legends". Too many syndicated jocks, or syndicated wannabes.

 

[inthemorining]

> >I still think that experience of sweeping two
> songs(matching tempos properly) using the right
> jingle/stager whether it be in a segue or a shotgun out of a
>
> cluster......planning your show.....aircheck sessions with
> the pd.......sitting in the prod studio practicing breaks
> are all important.
> REPLY: It's like sports in a way. The game may change as
> far as the players, but the fundamentals NEVER change! If
> you don't know the fundamentals, you won't get anywhere, in
> ANY business!
>
>
> > I realize this is 2005.....but when you have the intrinsic
> knowledge to know what makes it sound good its invaluable.
> I worked for Warren Bailey (a NH
> legend and NAB broadcast honoree himself). But it all
> started in little Laconia New Hampshire 34 years ago.
> REPLY: I got my apprenticeship with WOKQ; Portsmouth-Dover
> under Cliff Blake. His guidance and leadership was
> invaluable in getting me where I'm at now.....a large market
> station FT. He gave me a lot of advice & constructive
> criticism, something not enough PDs are willing to do these
> days.
>
>
> > I was watching a football game on New Years Eve this past
> December and they were talking to the Boise State coach who
> has turned down jobs at (as the reporter phrased it) "bigger
> and better" universities and his response was "why does it
> have to be bigger to be better? Just be the best where you
> are" and I really think that philosophy applies to radio
> too...State College, Harrisburg, Tampa, New York City...it
> doesn't matter.
> REPLY: Can I get an AMEN to that, brother? Listeners
> aren't just in the major or large markets, they're
> EVERYWHERE! It's what you do to bring them in and what you
> do to keep them there that counts. Maybe that's what lacks
> in radio nowadays.....not enough "local legends". Too many
> syndicated jocks, or syndicated wannabes.

REPLY As you admit the major market experience is invaluable..any yes we need more local ledgends.....but...is there any financial incentive...I am sure the local market cannot match what you are being compensated in your major market...spot talent. remote talent, ratings bonuses etc...btw WOKQ is a fine station and I believe is the only live and local left in NH. As you can see I am working weekends in State College........however I still learn alot and see things from a different perspective when I work in Florida.

It might be interesting to see in the top 250 markets how many of those Local Ledgends still exist....not many I believe......I must say new england definitely has provided a plethora of radio talent.....from Salty Brine to Wally Brine to Dale Dorman, Harry Nelson, Dom Biello, Warren Bailey etc etc As I still work with some old warhorse active PD's they continually express concern about the lack of training that talent is receiving these days. Have a good day...