Another observation I’ve made is the tendency to attack someone for asking questions that no one else has, by criticizing them for asking it, or making a point to undermine the individual by attempting to insult. That’s part of a micro aggression environment that’s apparent here for new comers.
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The Jet has no engineering department?
- Thread starter Cobra14
- Start date
KSradiogeek, just as your name suggests. You’re not the typical radio listener or individual, it goes back to before you worked in radio. You still obviously had an interest in it and that sets you apart from the general populace. Also however your brain processes info is different than the general population as well. That also effects your perception of reality in the “civilian” experience. Point being that decisions are being made in the hive mind of “radio/media geeks” not everyday people. You’re not taking a dig at me, far from it, but you still have to remind me that your “clearer understanding” of all of it, sets you apart from me and everyone else, but you still have an average “civilian perspective”.
But with the greatest of respect, what would you expect when you've posted your comment/inquiry on a website that's fundamentally about the business and profession of Radio Broadcasting and is moderated and heavily comprised of folks who are either actively working in broadcasting, or who've spent at least some years working in the profession? While you might be posting as a "consumer of radio", you asked a question in your initial post -
You've received a bunch of answers from people who are experienced in broadcasting and are trying to help explain to you that 1) That station/studio most likely does have adequate engineering staff. 2) That studio is a newer facility and things are most likely not actually breaking down all the time and 3) These folks that posted the video are entertainers and they're most likely either making up this story completely, or at least exxagerating it in order to be entertaining and relatable to their audience. In other words, the folks responding to your original post are trying to help explain what may have actually been behind the comments made in the video you posted. You got truthful answers to the question you posted in your original comment, from the people who are in the business and most likely know the reality of the situation.
“Definitely being taken too seriously. Bender’s been in this business long enough, and is actually well respected both in the market and the industry. It wouldn’t be in his nature to just be cruel in a non-humourous manner”
It’s happened before where someone says or does something that’s perceived differently by individuals. Not everyone is privileged enough to work in radio or understand what may be an inside joke among them. I highly doubt Bender had a malicious intent behind what he said. With that said, it wouldn’t be the first time someone has said something that could be perceived as a cheap shot at an entity within and entity. I don’t work there, so I don’t have the insiders perspective of the dynamic between him and the eng department. That’s the other variable here. Is it a cozy relationship? If so, no problem! If there’s any existing friction, maybe an issue.
It’s happened before where someone says or does something that’s perceived differently by individuals. Not everyone is privileged enough to work in radio or understand what may be an inside joke among them. I highly doubt Bender had a malicious intent behind what he said. With that said, it wouldn’t be the first time someone has said something that could be perceived as a cheap shot at an entity within and entity. I don’t work there, so I don’t have the insiders perspective of the dynamic between him and the eng department. That’s the other variable here. Is it a cozy relationship? If so, no problem! If there’s any existing friction, maybe an issue.
Mikey the answers are coming from people who may or may not have the perspective of actually working there and knowing the dynamic between the parties involved. As I mentioned if the parties involved have a good working relationship, no problem. If there’s any friction between them, maybe an issue there. The answers back are becoming less about the topic I originally posted and more about trying to dig at me Somehow. Tonality of verbiage observed.
I don't agree. The answers coming back to you are coming from industry professionals who have been in the business, they know full well that what you hear on the air or see in videos from the "talent" can be an exaggeration from reality or at times mostly or completely made up, to entertain or engage the audience. You're starting to remind me of a story line in a courtroom TV program, where one of the plot lines involved a viewer who showed up at a TV station with weapons, trying to 'save' one of the characters she saw on TV being harmed and persecuted, as she was unable to separate "entertainment" and a "story line" from reality. The responses from the folks in the business here on RadoDiscussions are trying to explain and help you understand what is most likely the reality of what you saw and heard. Not only do you seem unable to open your mind to what they're trying to explain to you, based on their real-life experiences in the broadcasting profession, but you're becoming increasingly frustrated and defensive.
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Hi Mikey, this has devolved into you attempting to gaslight me by comparing me and my questions to a story about a psychopath who showed up at a TV station. I’m also not frustrated, if I was I’d log out. It’s simple, I don’t have an emotional investment here. It’s a healthy perspective. You’re perception of how open or closed my mind is to the matter is dependant on your ability to perceive my state of mind based on words written on a discussion board. Given your example of differentiation between reality and fiction there are parallels here. You’d have to be standing here next to me in order to determine, “how I really feel” regarding the matter. Not making presumptive assumptions based on some ideation that in your mind concludes who I am, how I feel and reality. That’s okay though. I’ve learned to expect it here. Part of the culture. It isn’t prevalent everywhere in fact many discussion boards have an enjoyable discussion with debate and variable topics, amongst industry professionals of those areas of expertise. Somehow they don’t turn into an attack on someone asking questions. I’d like this board to be that way . That would be fantastic!
The dynamic between the individuals originally posted about is the missing variable. That includes the company, the departments and individuals. One size doesn’t fit all.
You’re helping to make my point for me. Thank you for that.
The dynamic between the individuals originally posted about is the missing variable. That includes the company, the departments and individuals. One size doesn’t fit all.
You’re helping to make my point for me. Thank you for that.
That is a great summary of the way tandem or team morning shows work.
Another bit I heard done by a morning show on a station I programmed came from the fact trash was emptied from wastebaskets in the mid-morning time. So the morning team often had full trash containers. One of the morning crew tipped one over and they proceeded to describe all the trash... with commentary... they found in the spilled mess. With a talented team, that became a hilarious bit that everyone could relate to.
Of course, in our next meeting with the team, this was used as an example of how spontaneously derived topics are often the best. We ended up calling them "laughs in the trashcan" as a way of describing how there is fun in the dissection of everyday events.
Based on that, one of that same team recorded on their iPhone when they asked a food preparer at a sandwich shop if they ever thought about slicing tomatoes from top to bottom instead of sideways. Seems dumb, but a clever "interviewer" can make such a mundane topic clever and entertaining and relatable to every single listener who ever ate or made a sandwich!
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In my experience, talent (mostly morning show) taking tongue in cheek, or direct shots at engineering has been going on for decades. Doesn't seem to matter whether there's an engineer on duty during the morning show, or one contract engineer serving that station once a week.
For those who remember listening to Howard Stern years ago; 'Scott The Engineer' became another one of Howard's targets/characters. Behind the scenes when the mic was off, Howard treated all of his folks very well, regularly showing his appreciation for their work. They all knew/know that once the mic is on, they play a different role. It's just all part of the gig.
For those who remember listening to Howard Stern years ago; 'Scott The Engineer' became another one of Howard's targets/characters. Behind the scenes when the mic was off, Howard treated all of his folks very well, regularly showing his appreciation for their work. They all knew/know that once the mic is on, they play a different role. It's just all part of the gig.
You know what we call that here in the real world? Life.
Actually, yes... yes i do and its a part of the knowledge i use to program a radio station
Believe they've been looking for a regional engineer to take care of their Portland and Seattle properties for well over a year. A recruiter reached out to me for any interest several months ago, but the gig did not pay much (the term you-must-be-joking comes to mind) considering the amount of constant travel up and down I-5, potential amount of workload for one person, plus the likelihood you'd never have the opportunity to take a vacation. I can see why nobody qualified has been interested.
Honestly, they'd be better off just using local contract guys, and forget trying to hire someone full time only to burn them out.
“I know first hand that there are not engineers in the building for any morning issues. They're not really exaggerating. You have a problem in the morning, you call an 800 number and hope that it can be figured out. The last real full time engineer left the building a few years ago.”
There you all go, someone who is actually there who can provide context to the situation.
There you all go, someone who is actually there who can provide context to the situation.
So you call the 800 number and hope that someone from IT can log in remotely and figure it out. Or that they know where to send the on air talent for tools and how to walk them thru how to fix the problem over the phone. Is that what’s going on? Weird business to be in. That’s gotta be tough to do a good show and have that all going on in the background. Like damn.
Your comment about Stern reminds me of a more recent situation in my own life. A few years ago, my friend did a Halloween show, the scenario being that she couldn't connect to the network. It was up to me to figure out what was going on, so I took that and turned myself into the roll of engineer. Eventually, we figured things out on that show, but I became the engineer for about three and a half years until producer Christina took full control of engineering and I moved to APD, and later VP of operations. I'll let you in on a secret though, there really is no engineer, APD, or VP of operations for that company, it's a one person operation with occasional fill-in hosts.
That’s why I asked “is that what’s going on?” So they can answer and either confirm or add to or take away. We don’t know this person is actually there or if they are just posting nonsense. You should add to the conversation instead of attacking me for asking questions of this individual. That would be better for all. Like damn.
The chance that the air talent is the one doing the work is pretty unlikely. AFTRA has rules about what their members can do. There is an ops director, program director, show producer, lots of other non-union people who are more likely to pick up a pair of pliers than that air talent. They may take credit for it afterwards tho.
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