TRAFFIC.COM

[BossJock1947]

I have been in radio 45 years. My credit score is 800 and i've always had perfect credit. I've been married 40 years to the same woman and most of my jobs the audience was HUGE. Self destruction? Not me. Radio has been good.

A-HA! Wish that you were the RULE and not the EXCEPTION. What'd I give to have been in the biz that early, and to see and feel what it USED to be like. I understand it was a lot of fun, it was challenging, the competition was fierce and made you try even harder to be the best, your job and your role and your station actually MEANT SOMETHING, you could "grow" with your station and progress in your career (and it really was a career,) etc etc etc. I've started reading Gordon McLendon's biography recently ("Gordon McLendon: Maverick of Radio," Garay, 1992,) and also found a copy of Don Keyes' audio book about his time in the McLendon organization. Boy, did I miss out.

Really, I'm talking more about today's radioheads who are doing the best they can under the current rules, trying to establish stability and upward mobility in the post-1996 Telecom Act era.

Sorry for your misfortune, Mike. You and I haven't always gotten along, but you deserve better. Here's hoping you land on your feet and find something great.

Thanks, pal...I appreciate that very much. Hopefully the tide will turn soon!

I noticed some changes at traffic.com - a lot of people had nice widgets and gadgets working around them, some of them quit working.

Don't know on that...If anything, those widgets should be improving dramatically.

Actually despite the financial situations CC, COX, CBS, Etc are in there are still good jobs in radio. I mean who wouldn't want to work at great stations even today and their problems. WABC, WLS, KEARTH, KFI, KGO, Z-100, kOIT, KOST. I mean there are still stations out there where TALENT still means something excluding CUMULUS. ;D

 

[daithi]

"...excluding Cumulus."

Man, you got that right!

 

[MissyRadio]

Thanks to everybody for answering my hyper questions. Which brings to my next set of sensitive queries. With the job market tight and jobs scarce, how much do these traffic companies pay? Is $10 an hour the norm? $15 an hour? And if it's a split shift are you working a full 8 hours or just 6? Who can live on that? What if you have been working for 10 years like a Laura Houston? How much say does a station have in dictating who their talent is? Wouldn't it be in WBAP's best interest to have a different traffic source than their nearest competitor, KRLD? On the TV side, how expensive is it to have a helicopter up in the morning? Why not just do a pool ship that 4 5 8 and 11 all chip in to get video from?
Okay, time for my coffee break.

 

[scrtr84]

Not sure about the cost, but I suspect we're going to eventually see traffic choppers phased out. The TxDOT cams on the freeways are doing a fantastic job by themselves.

 

[txchipk]

Thanks to everybody for answering my hyper questions. Which brings to my next set of sensitive queries. With the job market tight and jobs scarce, how much do these traffic companies pay? Is $10 an hour the norm? $15 an hour? And if it's a split shift are you working a full 8 hours or just 6? Who can live on that? What if you have been working for 10 years like a Laura Houston? How much say does a station have in dictating who their talent is? Wouldn't it be in WBAP's best interest to have a different traffic source than their nearest competitor, KRLD? On the TV side, how expensive is it to have a helicopter up in the morning? Why not just do a pool ship that 4 5 8 and 11 all chip in to get video from?
Okay, time for my coffee break.

KXAS and KDFW already share a chopper. KXAS, KDFW, and KDAF also share some news resources: http://www.star-telegram.com/business/story/1419732.html.

 

[MikeShannon914]

Not sure about the cost, but I suspect we're going to eventually see traffic choppers phased out. The TxDOT cams on the freeways are doing a fantastic job by themselves.

Sadly, that day has already come...July 1, 2009. There are no more choppers dedicated exclusively to traffic in this market. Part of the problem was the cost: $100+ per hour for a small Cessna, compared to $700+ per hour for a chopper, plus fuel. (Imagine what that cost would have been back when consumer-grade unleaded was nearly $4 a gallon last year.)

 

[Shoot From Hip]

>>"Metro works with both CBS and Citadel in LA, SFO, Washington D.C., so them doing this is no big deal. ">>

Unless you're the company that just lost a key affiliate. That was a truly insightful first post.

 

[TXRDRCEO]

Ahhh! The good old days. Pre 9/11, I remember when we had our own helicopter at KPLX and it was just me and the pilot. It only lasted for about a year but boy let me tell ya we had a good time. We covered the traffic thoroughly , but on the slow days, the stories I could. All within FAA regulations of course, but just plain fun when you didn't worry about 2 other people trying to direct the activity of the ship.

SYDTR

 

[oldmanradio]

So ...

What's the latest?

By the way, the term "producer" was used loosely by some. She is more like an "eater" and a "reader" -- stuffing her mouth with McDonald's fries while reading "Harry Potter".

Nothing against "Harry Potter" Bruce. But when you are supposed to be tracking traffic and you are doing anything but ...

Well, that only happens in cases of nepotism ... and blackmail.

 

[daithi]

So what happened to Ben Martin? Not a more dedicated professional will you find in this business. Next to John McCarty and Tom Corbett, Ben Martin is an awesome radio guy.

 

[oldmanradio]

John McCarty ... a great guy.

Tom Corbett ... the opposite.

Tony
Tony Lyndell Williams

 

[MikeShannon914]

So what happened to Ben Martin? Not a more dedicated professional will you find in this business. Next to John McCarty and Tom Corbett, Ben Martin is an awesome radio guy.

What was the old game they used to play on "Sesame Street"--"One of these things is not like the other/One of these just doesn't belong..." I see a name like that on your list.

Beno is indeed an awesome radio guy, and a fine human being. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone that doesn't like him (except maybe his sister-in-law...but that's another story.) I miss him terribly, and we all loved working with him. He was axed along with the rest of us from vending the traffic info to WBAP, but I believe he's still pulling weekend shifts at KVIL and perhaps still doing production at Jack-FM as he's done the last several years.

John McCarty ... a great guy.

Tom Corbett ... the opposite.

Tony
Tony Lyndell Williams

Yeah, Tony, you see where I was going with the "Sesame Street" reference. Frankly, after what was done to you when you applied for unemployment way back when, I'm surprised you hold anyone there in high esteem. I've gotten some mileage out of your story over the years, to let folks know to be careful who you trust. Sure, I know who was behind it all, but still...you know the story.

 

[radio.placebo]

Let us in on that story... I'm overdue for a good old radio resentment. I could also use the wisdom in case I should ever have something similar happen to me.

 

[scrtr84]

Let us in on that story... I'm overdue for a good old radio resentment. I could also use the wisdom in case I should ever have something similar happen to me.

What he said... (pulling up a chair)

 

[oldmanradio]

Let us in on that story... I'm overdue for a good old radio resentment. I could also use the wisdom in case I should ever have something similar happen to me.

Sure.

Please allow me to wake up a bit -- just a bit groggy after a nap. But I will post it this evening.

Wisdom? Well, especially in radio, ALWAYS maintain a liquid "Go to Hell Fund" if the working conditions become untenable.

Back in a bit.

Tony
Tony Lyndell Williams

 

[oldmanradio]

In February 2005, I did afternoon traffic on WBAP. Some months earlier, John McCarty had hired me, and I was a Traffic.com employee.

At the time, Blaine Brooks handled mornings along with Monty and Laura in the sky, Danny Moffitt did evenings and Alan Barnes covered the all-night shift (in my opinion, the toughest shift from a mental and physical standpoint). Tom Corbett was in charge of the operation, and McCarty was his assistant.

Previously, I worked for the old Traffic Patrol, Shadow Traffic, Metro Traffic and finally, Traffic.com. When I began work for Traffic Patrol, I had been out of radio for several years working as a newspaper reporter, then in PR, and in 1984 as a speechwriter for Gary Hart who was making his first run for the presidency. Later that year, after Mondale whipped Hart for the Democratic nomination, I began writing speeches for the officers of the Texas Division of Southwestern Bell Telephone which had just split from parent AT&T.

First, a little about Tom Corbett:

Once Corbett hired the pizza delivery guy to do weekend traffic because he thought the guy's voice was deep, and maybe he thought he knew the streets. It was a disaster. The poor guy had never been in radio. He may have know the streets ... around the delivery area ... but otherwise he was lost. So he was fired, and we lost a dependable pizza delivery man.

Another time, at Shadow, Tom hired someone I called "13-Take Harry" for weekends. KRLD at the time wanted the traffic reports recorded for timing reasons. But "Harry" simply could not voice a traffic report within the alloted time. Take after take after take.

Eddie Barker, who was the former news director of KRLD and the old KRLD-TV, was commuting from his home in east Texas and doing weekend news on KRLD. Eddie covered the Kennedy assassination and is one heckuva nice guy. But "Harry" would drive Eddie nuts ... just completely up the wall. Eddie would record "Harry's" report and when "Harry" goofed, stumbled or mumbled, Eddie would have to go to the bulk eraser, erase the cart and start all over. Often he just ran out of patience and told the guy to do it live.

Eddie often asked me "what the hell was going on over there". The problem with "Harry" was easy to diagnosis ... he could not read one sentence without stumbling.

Tom also once hired an attractive blonde from Chicago to handle the all-night shift for KRLD although a part-timer was in line for that shift and more qualified. The woman had a nice enough voice and delivery, but unfortunately, she knew nothing about Dallas-Fort Worth highways. Several times, I listened to her, and she always began EVERY report with "In Irving ... " although nothing was going ON in Irving.

In addition, although she was scheduled to work Monday-Friday from midnight to 5 a.m. doing traffic for KRLD, she began leaving after 4 a.m. to pick up her younger sister in order to take her to swimming lessons. Apparently, she was a competitive swimmer and was being coached.

So the blonde just left her job ... an hour early.

The morning traffic anchor complained that no one was in studio when she arrived. But the situation continued like that for some time. The attractive blonde finally quit and left town. She had as much interest in doing traffic as I have in driving an 18-wheeler over the road.

But now, I feel as if I have been driving an 18-wheeler ... for 18 hours now.

Writing is hard, but good work if you can get it. But the pay on Radio.info is lousy.

And, after all this, I still have not told you the story regarding unemployment compensation and Traffic.com's stance.

But I promised, and I will.

So more shortly ... after station identification.

Tony
Tony Lyndell Williams

A Mario Puzo production

 

[oldmanradio]

Jack ... ARMSTRONG

And now, Jack Armstrong, The All-American boy ...

Well, sort of.

Rest well, Jack.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tqSE1-iO9c

 

[oldmanradio]

Jack ... ON

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcVlENWON7Y&NR=1

 

[MikeShannon914]

In February 2005, I did afternoon traffic on WBAP. Some months earlier, John McCarty had hired me, and I was a Traffic.com employee.

Once Corbett hired the pizza delivery guy to do weekend traffic because he thought the guy's voice was deep, and maybe he thought he knew the streets. It was a disaster. The poor guy had never been in radio. He may have know the streets ... around the delivery area ... but otherwise he was lost. So he was fired, and we lost a dependable pizza delivery man.

Coupla things...you and I didn't ever work together, so you have to be talking pre-May 2003. I remember your unemployment issues being top conversation in the office that summer, so I'd bet you're talking earlier than that. When I came on board, I replaced (and I don't mean that in a negative sense) either you or Danny Moffitt.

On the pizza guy, are you talking Jeremy, the driver from Jason's Deli? If so, he DID continue on doing weekend overnights, and stepped down on his own to take a job with NTTA...which he's done very well with (I should have followed, in hindsight.)

Anyway, please continue!

 

[oldmanradio]

Tom and the Corleone family

Coupla things...you and I didn't ever work together, so you have to be talking pre-May 2003. I remember your unemployment issues being top conversation in the office that summer, so I'd bet you're talking earlier than that. When I came on board, I replaced (and I don't mean that in a negative sense) either you or Danny Moffitt.

On the pizza guy, are you talking Jeremy, the driver from Jason's Deli? If so, he DID continue on doing weekend overnights, and stepped down on his own to take a job with NTTA...which he's done very well with (I should have followed, in hindsight.)

Anyway, please continue!


"YOU ARE CORRECT SIR!" -- Ed McMahon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC-25xPmX7o

Mike, you're a terrific copy editor. You're hired.

My last day at Traffic.com was Monday, February 24, 2003.

Wish I could blame it on a typo, but that fact is that time is moving faster now that I am older.

And, I knew saving all my Day-Timers would come in handy someday.

In 2005, I worked for the infamous Ken Jones at the Mighty 92 KXEZ -- the walkie-talkie station, then all-oldies.

By the way, Hal Mayfield is still there. A great guy, fabulous PD to work for, and one of my best friends.

Regarding the pizza guy, no, this was someone Tom hired years before at Shadow Traffic. Corbett must have had a thing for pizza big time which probably explains his physique. But in all honestly, he was better than "13-Take Harry".

Oh, I thought you replaced "Catfish" Prewitt. But what the heck do I know. I couldn't even remember when I was fired there.

The unemployment compensation story for tomorrow.

You know, if all films were as great as "The Godfather" series, people would never work. They would just stay home ... and watch movies.

Like me.

Now back to the Corleone family.

Are you still awake?

Tony
Tony Lyndell Williams

P.S. What did you think of Jack Armstrong on KKHR?