The realities of being a PD in a verrrrryy small town

[SomeRadioGuy]

I like/love my job and a good portion of the days, its not too hectic/cumbersome but some days.... its a little.. busy.

I host the morning show 7 to 9am and the lunch show 12 to 3 normally along with a bunch of other stuff because all i have is a part time announcer with zero other duties, an office manager who works remotely and a contract accountant. I have a contract engineer available by phone/video/text/email whenever I need that I see in person once a year or so

This past Friday I had to trouble shoot an issue with our internet connection that was keeping us off air on all of our repeater stations (not translators) while I was on air doing the morning show.

Monday (today) will be a long day.
I will do the morning and lunch time show as usual, but i have to host the 3-5 pm afternoon show since my afternoon announcer is out and none of my fill ins are available.

I have to do some usual PD duties.. downloading and assembling a show or two (The Car Doctor with Ron Ananian),lightly edit/schedule an interview I did with the superintendent of schools on Friday.

I have to start to shovel out my way to the door of a connex box in front of our building where some transmitter gear is sitting in prep for our move to new office space down the road in the late spring.

Start planning/solidify some on air coverage of snow mobile and dog mushing races coming up.

I know what someones first suggestion is.. VOICETRACK the last 2 hours today. Nope. We do not allow that for normal regular daytime programming. The purpose of our exsistence is to provide accurate up to date info and have listeners be able to reach an announcer during normal hours.

Am I complaining?No. Trust me, if I was, youd know. Because I have my ways to decompress and relax... which I'll be able to do

Just thought you might find it interesting what goes on here on a daily basis

 

[AMRadioGuy]

I like/love my job and a good portion of the days, its not too hectic/cumbersome but some days.... its a little.. busy.

I host the morning show 7 to 9am and the lunch show 12 to 3 normally along with a bunch of other stuff because all i have is a part time announcer with zero other duties, an office manager who works remotely and a contract accountant. I have a contract engineer available by phone/video/text/email whenever I need that I see in person once a year or so

This past Friday I had to trouble shoot an issue with our internet connection that was keeping us off air on all of our repeater stations (not translators) while I was on air doing the morning show.

Monday (today) will be a long day.
I will do the morning and lunch time show as usual, but i have to host the 3-5 pm afternoon show since my afternoon announcer is out and none of my fill ins are available.

I have to do some usual PD duties.. downloading and assembling a show or two (The Car Doctor with Ron Ananian),lightly edit/schedule an interview I did with the superintendent of schools on Friday.

I have to start to shovel out my way to the door of a connex box in front of our building where some transmitter gear is sitting in prep for our move to new office space down the road in the late spring.

Start planning/solidify some on air coverage of snow mobile and dog mushing races coming up.

I know what someones first suggestion is.. VOICETRACK the last 2 hours today. Nope. We do not allow that for normal regular daytime programming. The purpose of our exsistence is to provide accurate up to date info and have listeners be able to reach an announcer during normal hours.

Am I complaining?No. Trust me, if I was, youd know. Because I have my ways to decompress and relax... which I'll be able to do

Just thought you might find it interesting what goes on here on a daily basis

Good on ya, Paul, on not just voicetracking your afternoon shift. That seems to continue to be a trend in the industry, unfortunately.

There's a lot happenin' there, but it sounds like a lot of fun and I bet is very satisfying at the end of the day.

 

[vw86]

I applaud anyone dedicated to live and local when it makes sense. And I know this isn't the popular opinion here. But in a world with doing more with less and multitasking, does the content change at all if you voicetrack the identical content that still has all of the local information your station needs to provide? I understand you may have to be available for breaking news in your unique extra small market situation. But is the listener experience changed at all if you track a few hours of programming?

 

[b-turner]

I'm very pro live when you can afford it but I contend the popularity rests not in live as much as information that is unique to your audience, bringing them to the station and hopefully keeping them. Local News and Messages along with weather and other information found nowhere else is the key. Some say you can go to this or that social media site but I find people want one source for all they want with no work to get it because they're already busy. Radio's advantage is just this in the small market, especially.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I applaud anyone dedicated to live and local when it makes sense. And I know this isn't the popular opinion here. But in a world with doing more with less and multitasking, does the content change at all if you voicetrack the identical content that still has all of the local information your station needs to provide? I understand you may have to be available for breaking news in your unique extra small market situation. But is the listener experience changed at all if you track a few hours of programming?

To be honest, my board president is adamant I cant. And however most of yall, including me might think... i do kinda understand her reasoning.. and when shes said no when i ask.. i dont push it.

 

[Hyrum]

When do you have time to spend the huge money you must be making?

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

When do you have time to spend the huge money you must be making?

LOL not making huge amounts of money. I do ok.