Veteran vs. Fresh

[Reasonable]

Veterans in radio: The experienced. They have seen what works and what doesn't. They provide valuable insight and are important to the foundation of the basics in radio.

Fresh: They have less than 15 years experience in radio. In their 30s, they understand the currently rapid changes in environment due to technology.

If you owned a cluster, what type of ratio between Veteran and Fresh would you have, and what would your thoughts be of the importance of each?

 

[klifhanger]

Starting out, use a vet. A Vet knows; what to do when the scott system crashes, if a news emergency breaks out,how to adlib when a liner disappeared,how to do basic trouble shooting,know when to hit posts,knowing how to resolve a problem instead of calling an engineer/pd/om in the middle of the night or day. One person in another group had put it this way" Post 1996 radio folks ,have never done radio".

 

[BlogHead]

Best of both worlds: A Fresh Veteran.

 

[Steve Eberhart]

I think it's important to have BOTH on staff.
The veterans will know things only experience can teach. Their knowledge of the market and station in general can be a valuable tool to management and programming.
A fresh talent can inject needed new energy and ideas to keep the station moving forward.
Having someone new and fresh also tends to keep the veterans on their toes. What ususally happens is the fresh kid begins to adapt from the veteran and at the same time the veteran begins to adapt from the new kid. Both usually benefit the station.

 

[Reasonable]

What about leadership?

Would you rather have a "fresh" program director that is in his 30's... has been in radio for at least 10 years... understands the old... but particularly, the new, or an older veteran that just thinks today's radio isnt what it was 20 years ago....

And what about the different approaches that young and mature sales talents have?

 

[klifhanger]

What about leadership?

Would you rather have a "fresh" program director that is in his 30's... has been in radio for at least 10 years... understands the old... but particularly, the new, or an older veteran that just thinks today's radio isnt what it was 20 years ago....

And what about the different approaches that young and mature sales talents have?

The Vet should be the PD,because he knows "the basics". Input from the fresh guy could modiify the basics but not deter from them. In regards to sales. I have seen the younger slaes person at many stations and one network promise things to prospective clients that their checks can't cash. Often the promises are at the expense of prgramming. Older sales folks have done that as well BUT not as rampant as a young one wanting to make a mark. Remember it is commissioned based not salary. Older sales person is more cautious and more likely to retain a client than an younger one,no matter where they go.

 

[little1]

What about leadership?

Would you rather have a "fresh" program director that is in his 30's... has been in radio for at least 10 years... understands the old... but particularly, the new, or an older veteran that just thinks today's radio isnt what it was 20 years ago....

And what about the different approaches that young and mature sales talents have?

The Vet should be the PD,because he knows "the basics". Input from the fresh guy could modiify the basics but not deter from them. In regards to sales. I have seen the younger slaes person at many stations and one network promise things to prospective clients that their checks can't cash. Often the promises are at the expense of prgramming. Older sales folks have done that as well BUT not as rampant as a young one wanting to make a mark. Remember it is commissioned based not salary. Older sales person is more cautious and more likely to retain a client than an younger one,no matter where they go.

If you've got sales writing checks and expecting programming to cash them, that's just a sign of a bad PD. A good PD realizes that it's a cooperative effort- and gives the sales dept just enough 'stuff' to sell, stuff he's willing to accept on-air. And that's it. Luckily, I've had 2 PD's in a row now that are willingto tell the sales departments that if they wrote the checks, they got to cash them...
Of course, we've had good ratings with those last 2 PD's, so it's always easier when you're dealing from a position of strength...

 

[jacojunkie]

HHHHHMMMMM its kinda funny as a "fresh" person in the industry. I have worked around some of the top rated shows and stations. You know the one you listen to. I have seen some really young people in the industry kick a vets butt in aspects that the "vet" wouldn't have thought of. Just because someone has been in the industry after '96 doesnt mean we dont know radio. I would think we are the new breed of radio and you are the dinosaurs. so when you are extinct we will thrive....... so ashes to ashes dust to dust let me blow off my record player and throw it in the trash, because I don't need to backspin anything anymore. We are the ones who are able to adapt to the new technology quicker and easier while you sit in a rocking chair telling us about the "good old days." I'd like to see you run some of the complicated setups radio stations are throwing out there today, I bet you get a migraine just thinkin about it.

 

[Chuck]

We are the ones who are able to adapt to the new technology quicker and easier while you sit in a rocking chair telling us about the "good old days." I'd like to see you run some of the complicated setups radio stations are throwing out there today, I bet you get a migraine just thinkin about it.

And one of these days, you'll be the dinosaur. Maybe you'll remember this when that time comes....

 

[jacojunkie]

Of course we'll be dinosuars, but we won't be sitting on a high horse saying how the young people have never done radio because they weren't in it before 1996. How myopic and egotistical do you have to be to make a blanket statement like that to begin with? When that time comes for me, I will sit around with a cigar in one hand and a glass of Jack in the other, appreciating what I did during my career and enjoying what my life is like at the time.

 

[Reasonable]

Jaco is right on the money in my opinion. Radio has changed in 10 years and even this year! It will change faster next year! The person that says "Post 1996 people havent done radio" hasnt done radio post 1996. Becoming a dinosaur is inevitable, but keeping value in such a competitive environment means you cant rebel against the flow. This is very true right now as it was 10, 20, and 50 years ago.

"Veterans are more careful". Age doesnt correlate to responsibility in the 30 somethings who are fresh and proven. I see so many veteran sales reps that cant put proposals together in power point... let alone do they have desire to learn. Then how are they to accept format changes and interactive ideas? I think that is pretty scary.

 

[Reasonable]

Also, who is to say that post 1996 radio was better... Put some top stations these days against stations of the past and what would sound better?

 

[TheLaffer]

Depends on format:

CHR i think is better circa KISS-fm 1995-2000 than KNUS/Z-97 circa 70's. Z-97 was a juke box. KNUS was hybrid aor

Classic rock much better 70's early 80's. ZOO was legendary.

NEWS/TALK much much better than the 70's/80's.

Country was better with Young Country and the Wolf compared to WBAP, KSCS in the 70's.

Especially ac was better in the 70's/early 80's compared to today's KVIL. (can it get much worse?)

Oldies KLUV was great under chuck Brinkman KODZ was pretty good.

Urban radio today is better than the 70's.

 

[dbryce]

Veterans in radio: The experienced. They have seen what works and what doesn't. They provide valuable insight and are important to the foundation of the basics in radio.

Fresh: They have less than 15 years experience in radio. In their 30s, they understand the currently rapid changes in environment due to technology.

If you owned a cluster, what type of ratio between Veteran and Fresh would you have, and what would your thoughts be of the importance of each?

I disagree with that comment. I'm in my 30's started radio in 1987. That's 19 years experience. That's 4 more years than you less than 15 years experience. There's is always an exception to the rule

I think that I'm one of the lucky ones. I was taken in as a teenager, taught radio by the pros of old school radio. Those people are still in service, many retired, and most have passed on. I do have one neat feature that you won't find in most of my co-workers my age. I have a third class phone, and I call the Engineer as a last resort at 3am. They like to sleep too. Make a discrepancy in the log, and you where covered.

Today I notice that some stations like to micro manage their people. The good ones know what to do to keep the station on the air; they know what to do to get late breaking news on the air as it breaks with out consent. A true experienced pro knows that it's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is permission.

I'm stuck between pre '96 and post '96. Take a look at radio through my eyes and you'll see a whole other world. I don't have my license to guarantee my pay, I'm on the air, but they don't want content. I could get fired any time as air talent, but I can rely on engineering to give me a longer shelf life. It's a gamble, but I'm still in the game and right now, that's all that matters to me. I'm still in the game.

I'm a sucker, I love what I do. Even when they never paid me to do it.

 

[Musicradio]

I've been on the air since 1978. Seen a bunch -- seen changes.

Years ago I could never understand the saying, "The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same". After this many years in radio, I get it.

We see updates in equipment, styles of programming and changes in music....but...we still do the basics when it comes to our jobs. We talk, we play the hits or oldies (add your format here) and we chase those high numbers during the book.

Vets are needed and younger minds are needed too.

 

[jd]

Finally a couple of responses that put it in perspective! I started in radio when I was barely 17, and that was many years ago. But I learn something new virtually every day. Thanks, Doc and Musicradio.

 

[klifhanger]

I got 30+years in it. There is nothing wrong with the young ones,if they are willing to learn and listen,without an attititude to dismiss the old guy. They will be "old guys" too one day,so it is better to learn now to prepare for "tomorrow"..

 

[spinderella]

I've worked in the biz since the 80's and have had the pleasure of working with many who got started post 1996. Lots of them are extremely bright, creative and motivated and have gone on to be very successful. They've worked in radio as they know it and as we've come to know it and have flourished. The business is continually changing. When I started we were editing interviews with grease pencils and razor blades and dubbing it to cart. Now radio is morphing into a multi-faceted business distributing content on websites in the form of streaming, pod casts, instant messaging, text messaging even video and photos have become part of radio these days. To arbitrarily say radio post 1996 is not radio in my opinion is short sighted. Radio is different for certain but it is no less relevant than before. The key is we as broadcasters have to adapt to the demands of consumers who more and more want their music, news et cetera on demand. If you can't multi-task as a broadcaster in today's environment you surely are becoming a dinosaur and will soon be left behind to toil at the rimshots and never-will-be stations in big markets or pidgeon-holed as a DJ spinning 45's in the sticks.