Thoughts for "Smedge" and Other Radio Listeners

[mailman ron]

Smedge,
You sound like a intelligent, thoughtful individual. You can rationally make comments and arguments..Are there any others on this forum that can discuss what's happening to radio?..It's probably nationwide, but obvious here in Las Vegas...Much of Vegas radio is , at best, paid collegiate radio...I can forgive collegiate radio because we all had to start out somewhere to develop as in any profession...But I can listen to my collegiate audition tapes and wonder how I ever got hired!!...But I knew what I liked and who I wanted to emulate and worked at becoming better...I started in Oregon, went to Montana for a year and then came to Vegas where I worked for 5 years...Here I saw more of the "business" side of radio- commercials were company produced, you as a "personality" showed up and did your show and that was it...Remotes, occasionally, but it was pretty cut-and-dry...A lot of the fun and comarderie went out as you "moved up"...And I told myself that when radio became a "job", I would quit because I knew I could make more money doing just about anything else...But I guess I still look to performers who are trying as hard as I was, or wanted to, to entertain and inform the people in a real fun, unique way...The best compliment I got from my General Manager at KORK was to him a criticism," You have San Francisco humor.", which meant you had to think too much, you had to be a tad sarcastic... He wanted straight jokes or humor...He wanted "I Love Lucy"...I strove for " Arrested Development"...Radio in Vegas is at worst "Time & Temperature (and now Traffic)" and at best "I Love Lucy"...This all gets back to, "Why don't people want to be informed in an entertaining way any more?"...Again, you want music, get an I-Pod...Maybe I'm just a cranky old (54) man, but I don't like "I Love Lucy", I don't like my intelligence insulted as it is with most "Morning Zoos" or "duo" radio teams...Don't be crude or asinine, be original and intelligent and funny....It is possible (see: Armstrong & Getty on KSTE) and if anyone knows of others , shoot them this way...But my original question, Smedge, " Are there others on this forum that can articulate their thoughts?"...You don't have to be old and cranky, just hungry for entertainment, knowledge, and a bit of humor ( "San Francisco" style)...Anyone else feel their intelligence is being insulted by local radio (when they even try)?...I hope to hear from you if there is

 

[M-ONeil]

Ron,
I spent nearly 30 years in Los Angeles Radio. I worked hard, had great numbers. Was paid well(good contracts) No bitch at all. Went into voiceovers and did many promo & trailers for NBC, CBS, Fox, ABC, Paramount, many others. I collect a sweet retirement from AFTRA/SAG.
Before this all sounds like a brag session, which it is not ment to be, I will tell you I agree with you, but all radio markets are poor not just Vegas. In years past Vegas was a market to go to be bad otherwise to learn and mature as a personality but that was when Las Vegas was a small town. The media has not grown up with the city it has stayed small market. The pay is on par with McDonalds so why would anyone with the ability (talent) stay or work here? You are right my friend but it won't change soon. Deregulation killed the goose and its to bad. I had a ball, I do some voicetracking and some for XM but it is not the same. I would kill for a killer station with guts and understanding of what made radio great but I'm not holding my breath. Good Topic!
Mike O'Neil

 

[mailman ron]

M-ONeil,
Sounds like you've done it and I know you're not bragging...And I know radio isn't very good other places...You get kinda spoiled with what quality there is in L.A. and where I'm from, San Francisco...It doesn't seem to be the frenetic, sledge-hammer approach that appeals to those with short attention spans...And I love the adult video store ads..Real classy and discerning, those station ad men...You couldn't scrape that low in radio before...Wherever you can make a buck, I guess....Speaking of "..a killer station with guts and understanding."...Why doesn't somebody buy KDWN and just blow everyone else away with sheer frequency power?...50,000 watters should be the power in any city...A good 50,000 watt Talker or entertainment station (not like KDWN was for the last 25 years) would bring in revenue and callers from all over the West Coast...How about Armstrong & Getty, Glenn Beck, and John & Ken from KFI for starters...Forget local if the talent isn't there...just grab these guys shows from their respective cities and/or networks and build on that...Thanks for the feedback and I hope the intelligent feedback and ideas can keep coming here.

 

[Dan_Arthur]

yawn

 

[mailman ron]

Hey Dan,
Nice contribution....You're the guy who had to go back to Medford for 2 part-time gigs, right?..I heard your stuff here...Fortunately for you they still do time, temp, and station ID's 30 times an hour in Medford...once you establish a "personality", check back in...Medford (yawn)

 

[Poor Richard]

I second Dan's *yawn*.

I thought we were supposed to be talking LESS about talk radio in 07; I guess we've forgotten our New Years resolution already.

Ron: Did you take your Centrum Silver today? God knows we wouldn't want you to break a hip in the shower. Thanks for trolling...

Have a fabulous day.

 

[mailman ron]

Poor Richard,
Don't really understand why you felt the need for an age comment......Went back to April 06 to see any quality discussion you started but didn't see any so thanks for your "insight"....Do you want to talk about "ratings", "who has the best station ID's"?...I mean if you don't want to talk about the quality of radio, especially in Las Vegas, then apparently you're satisfied with the "quality" here...Do you have anything to add to the topic of "What Happened to Intelligence & Thought in Radio" or do you want to be the poster boy of the topic...Congratulations on being the target audience of Las Vegas radio.

 

[Poor Richard]

Ron,

You sir brought age into this thread by claiming to be a "cranky 54 year old man". I was merely looking out for your well being. If you didn't know osteoporosis is a major health risk for an estimated 44 million Americans who are 50 years of age and older. You should really read up about it at http://www.nof.org/.

Moving on...

I realize back in the 70's and 80's at KORK your shift must have set Las Vegas radio on fire...I only wish I had a 82 De Lorean DMC-12 so I could travel back in time to hear some of those 'entertaining' shows you put together. Maybe you could throw up an air check to show this board what 'entertaining' radio in Las Vegas sounds like. I look forward to it.

Take care and have a wonderful day.

 

[mailman ron]

Richard,Richard,
Since I did mention my own age, your "osteoporosis" comment helps to signify the difference between being "entertaining" and being just demeaning and mean-spirited. It takes talent to be funny without being offensive and rude, but since we have little example of that comedically for you to emulate, I'll just tack it up to ignorance...But since you did attempt conversation, I'll reply just once more to your "Movin on" comment.
If you read my post from 1/20, you'll see I said "I wasn't that great (on the air), but I had fun with the listeners." This isn't about me...I got out of radio because I saw the politics involved, it stopped being fun and I was young enough to find another industry to make good money in...But most important, I can say I was did what I always wanted to do...Not many people really get to do that and later in life they say," I wish I would have tried____.". I do wish that at 25-30, I had the wisdom and life knowledge that you get as you get older. It would have really helped me on the air.The saying is true, "Youth is wasted on the young." So now being a mailman, I have the opportunity as I walk my route to listen to the radio uninterrupted for about 7 hours a day, 6 days a week...I would like something that is informative but fun and entertaining...Again, I could listen to my favorite tunes for 7 hours, but that kinda gets boring after a day or 2...Who in Vegas would you recommend I listen to?..Or if there is a general podcast directory, where can I find it to sample shows across the U.S...