Unconventional approach to getting into radio??

[dldave1978]

Hello to all,

I've got a question for the radio professionals that post often on here: has you or someone you've known gotten into radio in an unconventional way, and how? You know - no broadcast schools or college major in broadcasting but did you have another background and wind up in radio - or TV for that matter?

I know of a few TV news anchors and a few radio talk show hosts that have different backgrounds in law and education. I am just looking for some stories as to how you've done it and how you got a start.

I work for a major airline for now that may not be around in a few weeks. I've been all around the company in my 10 years and in a lot of major public 'center of attention' positions. I am currently in a top level day-to-day operational decision making position. Busy job and I love it but if my company is not around, I am done with the industry. I really want to get into radio and always have. Started out in college with that intention but moved on to other things when the airline job was more fruitful and promising. Ha…so much for that one. I have a lot of qualities that could help me in broadcasting and I'd like to give it a shot.

I befriended a Cincinnati DJ a few years ago at a concert and had talked to her a few times before she moved onto another market and got the "don't even think about it….it's not worth anymore" speech from her. Well, kind of like the airline industry: do more with less and if we can get the cheapest labor, we will. So, I am used to the outsourcing and being told you no longer have a job. I just figure, I am still fairly young (27) and if I am out of this job I should do something I like and always wanted to do. My wife and I have plenty of money saved and she has a good job so I am not opposed to being paid crap or working two jobs.

So what do you think. Any ideas for me? How do I do it? I've thought about making a tape and sending it in for the hell of it when I see jobs advertised.

Encouragement is welcome, so is discouragement.

I'd like to thank anyone in advance for their ideas and help.
Have a great day,
Dave

 

[radioboy]

>
Hi Dave,

When I was trying to break into the industry for the first time, I was
attending community college, where I worked on the student newspaper. I
had no radio experience, but knew from about age 12 that radio was what I wanted to do.

I tried sending out the tape and resume to almost every station in town, but
it seemed like there was never a response..not even an acknowledgement. I
went in to the FM country station one day and the PD had me record an audition tape right there, which he seemed to like. But..nothing.

One of the DJs at that station called me one day and said, "John (the PD)
kind of liked you but is probably not going to hire you. But, he leaves every day at 5:00. Come in around 7:00 one night and I'll teach you the board."

I'll interject here that I have a visual disability. However, about the only thing I can't do is legally drive a car. So, I deduced that this was making the PD nervous. But he couldn't SAY that..

Over the next few months I did learn the board. I board-op'd ball games and such and made friends with everyone there..after hours.

One of the DJs there told me about another station in town that I should try for. They had gotten several of my tape/resume packages in the past.

The PD/manager of the second station was doing a live remote from a movie theater one afternoon, while my mom and I were driving past. I decided to fo in and meet him in person..and I did. I introduced myself (nervous as all get-out, I might add)and he responded, "I think I have four or five of your resumes. I
just took over managing this station and will need to hire a part-timer soon."

Then he said, "What will you do if I DON'T hire you?"

"I'll keep applying until you do," I answered.

Well, he did hire me, and I began at WTAL on October 12, 1979. That was the start of a now 24-year roller-coaster ride in what we call a radio career.

Dave, I think meeting or networking with people in the industry is about the best way to break in nowadays. Maybe it always has been.

Here's more of my radio adventures (no sales pitches, just stories):

http://www.radioboyalan.blogspot.com

Best wishes to you. <P ID="signature">______________
WJJD The Country Giant Revisited
http://www.live365.com/stations/alanmccall</P>

 

[jcolletta275]

I'll second that. It's all about who you know and who you get to know. Networking, I think, is the only way to get into radio.

Case in point: my mother knew the station manager at the largest Christian radio station in Miami from college, and when I was 8 years old, she took me into the station to volunteer every week. It took a while, but when he figured out on-air was where I wanted to be, he started giving me small things to do here and there... weather breaks, spots for childrens programming, etc.

Then again, when I was ten and my mother moved to Michigan (which is where I am now, coincidentally), the station manager of a local Full Service/Adult Contemporary station was (and still is) a friend and shooting buddy with my stepdad at our local conservation club. I used that "in" to build experience by volunteering myself for several years, doing production work, filling in shifts... basically just hanging out and doing what I loved.

My stepdad helped me out again, as the then-station manager of a local college's radio station came into our family's store with her mother. While looking around, her occupation came up, and my father mentioned that I was a radio-blooded young lad. She recruited me heavily over the next couple of years until I graduated high school, and I ended up becoming the Student Production Director at the school's station my freshmen year.

So, in my experience, it's absolutely all about who you know and who you get to know. Networking will do wonders for a radio career.<P ID="signature">______________

http://theradioblog.blogspot.com</P>