What i$ the JOCK RATE for Afternoon$ and Morning$ in Dalla$???

[pellmell]

Anyone with enough smarts to succeed in the radio business has more than enough smarts to succeed in many other businesses. If I needed a job and had no other marketable skills, I'd start flipping hamburgers at McDonalds. You'd be surprised how quickly you'd be promoted to management. They desperately need mature, sharp people.

I'm personally aware of a guy (not radio) who did exactly what I just recommended. After two years, he was top management for a regional chain. The owner liked him so much that within five years, he was offered ownership participation in exchange for his dedication. The last time I heard from him, he owned three stores by himself.

When I went to graduate school at age 38, there was a fellow student who was 65 years old. Have you thought about going back to school? My son-in-law is trying to decide what he wants to do when he grows up. (He spent 8 years in the Army.) If all else fails, I'll send him to tech school so that he can become a plumber or an HVAC technician. Neither trade is ever short of work for long. Then, after he's proficient, I'll start a business with him.

 

[unclepudd]

I don't know if we're dedicated or just crazy. Maybe both. As to MrG's earlier post, I'm sure I have done some things wrong, both on & off the air. In fact, I've made some incredibly stupid decisions...opened my mouth at the wrong time.....and no doubt ticked off a couple of PDs and GMs along the way. But that's radio.
No MrG, I never made 40K a year. But I worked hard. Guess I just didn't work hard enough to become successful like you.

Jason Walker

BUT you have done something that many people can only dream of and you were, and are, one of the best I've worked with besides being one of the wittiest and most decent people in radio. I can't say that about many. By the way, you're not crazy just dedicated and able to work at what you love and do it during the golden days of radio. We made a lot of sacrifices but, as you said, THAT'S RADIO.....

 

[OHTBGH]

I don't know if we're dedicated or just crazy. Maybe both. As to MrG's earlier post, I'm sure I have done some things wrong, both on & off the air. In fact, I've made some incredibly stupid decisions...opened my mouth at the wrong time.....and no doubt ticked off a couple of PDs and GMs along the way. But that's radio.
No MrG, I never made 40K a year. But I worked hard. Guess I just didn't work hard enough to become successful like you.

Jason Walker

BUT you have done something that many people can only dream of and you were, and are, one of the best I've worked with besides being one of the wittiest and most decent people in radio. I can't say that about many. By the way, you're not crazy just dedicated and able to work at what you love and do it during the golden days of radio. We made a lot of sacrifices but, as you said, THAT'S RADIO.....

This business is a strange lot. Part addiction. Part nomad. And part Super Hero. Many of us have moved and traveled from gig to gig. I have been blessed to be here for 30+ years but I almost ended up in Indianapolis working for Emmis. And a small stint with RCI in a foreign country and can't speak the language isn't great either.

We are many with dual identities. Like Bruce Wayne/ Batman we can actually "Only Live Twice". Just now a man named Robert Smith has a secret identity as Wolfman Jack. A guy from Kansas named Harbuck can become Hal Jay. Even a jury psycologist named Dr. Phil can even do conservative talk secretly disguised as Mark Davis!

And the addiction? You could even call it an affair. I used to joke about radio being "My Mistress". My wife called it "That BIATCH!"

I agree, I could have made more money doing something else. But why? I have worked in cubicles for years. The only thing that has kept me sane from all the crap and abuse or keeping me from killing someone or myself was radio. Now matter what crap I got dished, I always knew I had a microphone and 3 hours to be me. And most of all, to be in charge for a change!

Sadly, I had to hide my secret when in the corporate world. Many a jealous manager would try to screw with me. I even had one who messed with schedule to force me to miss the first hour of my show. Even not being in the chair when Columbia went down! He's a Richard and will always be. And I still do radio!

There are other things to do to make revenue. You, like me, can strike a healthy balance to provide and still do what you love.

This Monday, 1 August, 2011, I will have been in Broadcasting 30 YEARS! My FCC radio permit was stamped 1 August, 1981.

Has it been always profitable? No. Has it always been fun? No. But it has been rewarding both in what I can do to make a difference and in the company of great friends with dreams and similar interests.

But most of all: I AM A GOD IN CLEVELAND! ;D

-BGH

 

[radiolistener66]

An earlier poster noted "The problem is twofold," noting that automation/networking have eliminated many AT jobs and that the jobs to be found don't pay shit. It's slightly more complicated that that.

When consolidation struck 15 years ago (be sure to write a "thank you" note to Lowry Mays and Tom Hicks) complete station staffs of 4-5-6-7-8 stations--including jock staffs & PDs--were capsized into one neat bundle, cutting loose thousands of air talents in one fell swoop. The guys who were stars in New York or LA making say, a million a year, found nothing in-market so grabbed a gig in say, Dallas, for $400K. The fired Dallas jocks dropped to say, Denver for $200K... Denver jocks dropped to Omaha for $90K... Omaha jocks dropped to Des Moines for $40K... and Des Moines jocks ended up making $18,000 a year in Keokuk. This all took about three weeks to play out.

Since then it has just gotten worse. Digital automation and networking have made it extremely inexpensive to operate small-market stations, so there is nowhere left to drop down to. And anytime a smaller-market station does have an opening, it gets swamped with very talented, very experienced pros from larger markets. A friend of mine who runs a station on the east coast recently had a gig open that paid around $35,000. His top candidate was a guy who had been a jock for 20+ years in a Top 10 market making $400,000 a year. The guy had been "on the beach" for two years and was going stir-crazy sitting around the house, but his wife insisted that he reject the offer rather than "lower himself" to accept the "insulting" offer. It was no insult. It was just reality.

Point is, the process continues and it keeps driving salaries downward--in every market. Whenever you hear about a jock coming from LA to DFW, assure yourself that they just took a huge haircut. But they also filled a job that 20 years ago might have been yours.

 

[radiolistener66]

(continued) Disclosure: I was a medium-market jock (Orlando, Raleigh, Indy, etc) for about 15 years before it became apparent that I was not Howard Stern or Larry Lujack and would never make huge bucks on-air, so (luckily) shifted into sales & management and have been a GM/market manager for the past few decades. So my observations are from both sides of the desk.

The poster who has been hanging around Dallas for 40 years as a part-timer may very well have had the talent to kick ass in OKC or San Antonio and negotiate his way to major league money. Gary Burbank made $1 million+ yearly in Cincy. Same for Gerry House in Nashville. But many folks are bound by geography... or family... or comfort-level. Others simply don't like to negotiate and/or can't negotiate. Trouble is, nearly ALL GM's/market managers came up through sales and LOVE to negotiate--and are good at it.

Radio gigs aren't like factory jobs or government jobs. Whatever the sticker price for a radio gig might be is nothing more than a general guide. Every station/cluster is different, every prospective employer (hirer) is different--and each applicant (you) is different. In order to survive and thrive you have to be able to function in this flexible/unpredictable environment. If you don't think that is fair, then you really probably ought to find something else to do.

But, here's a hint. Successful radio clusters in Dallas-Fort Worth are spinning off 40 percent to 60 percent profit margins--that's tens of millions in PROFITS (that's the money left over after all the bills are paid). They can pay a little more if they want you badly enough.

But it's up to you to make them want you badly enough.

 

[Bongwater]

I can't remember who told me this old saying, but I still use it a lot. "Radio: The most glamorous way to live in poverty!"

LOL! And in my experience in radio, it wasn't even "glamorous"!

 

[longtimelistener]

Thank you, radiolistener66. Your last two posts are a concise history of radio in the past 15 years and the realities of the business today. I started in the biz when I was 15 in a small town with only a 1,000 watt daytimer, worked in a medium market while in college and two major markets before settling in DFW 35 years ago. I've had to re-invent myself as formats have changed over the years but I'm still on the air and I've been fortunate enough to be able to still make good money after all these years.

 

[Jay Walker]

After 40 plus years in broadcasting spending most of my career as "full time talent" in Chicago, Dallas, Denver, OKC, and Wichita there's one thing I always advise the "newbees" to do. LEARN EVERYTHING they can about the industry. I started out as talent in my teens but at every opportunity did my best to learn other positions in the industry.

I learned over the years the importance and basic operation of traffic, sales, engineering, production, programming, and promotions. Knowing these departments and how they integrate into the scheme of things made me a better broadcaster plus afforded me the option of fall backs in case the air talent gig went away.

Ego aside, talent in reality is the "filler" between the things that really matter which are labeled :60, :30, and :15. The sad reality is, there are few superstars who make the big bucks in CHR past the age of 40. Knowing that fact, and truthfully realizing that I was only a decent "journeyman level talent" not a "superstar". While still employed full time on air, with my production experience I started my VO side business in the late 70's, my Chief Engineer/Air talent experience in the mid 70's led to my audio processing consultancy in the 80's. I finally left the air talent side in the mid 90's and became a full time Chief Engineer in Dallas. I still do VO internationally, I am still the image voice of several HD stations in Dallas, and thankfully still have a job in an industry I've loved since childhood.

My point is, if you wish to have a long career in radio, go ahead and get that air talent job, but LEARN EVERYTHING about the industry so you can have a fall back position and not have to make a mid life career change.

Jay Walker

 

[bturner]

I too am a GM in the Houston market that came up through the programming side. I was no 'boy wonder' morning show guy with lots of major market gigs but I always had a job in smaller markets. By the end of a decade on the air and in programming, I was moved to sales. I hated sales and had withdrawl from not being behind the microphone, but I made it and suddenly enjoyed having holidays to spend with family.

As I moved forward, I did lots of my own copywriting and production for my clients and as GMs would discover my 'on air' experience, they'd tap me for some fill or parttime work on air. I got to move into the GM chair and have been there ever since. I'm still in radio...since '78. I still love it and the passion is alive and well.

I'd suggest some on air talent struggling for a salary look at sales. You'll learn it is all about good communication, good listening, giving people reasons to like you and building trust. You do this every day on the air and in your personal lives. This is what radio asdvertising sales is, not selling magazine subscriptions door to door.

I think more GMs should come from programming. Not to belittle GMs that come from sales, but consider this: if you owned a theatre, all you'd care about is getting the bills paid and having someone rent the theatre from you. You might marvel at what happens on stage and have a high respect for how they manage to fill the seats every night, but imagine how far above the other landlords you'd be if you knew what went into what happens on the stage. You could use this knowledge to be more effective, have a more successful station and out distance your competition. I'm a believer that knowledge is power. The more you know, the better you can be at getting the job done.

I've always been a curious person...the one that asks a million questions', starting with the stupid ones, but I find there's always a willing teacher. I don't hang a degree on the wall, but in my mind and I am still learning.

Both sales and programming are respectable jobs. Saying sales is the glorified used car salesman is like saying on air is like a frat house full of loose cannons that in spite of themselves get the job done. In reality, both sides are much more respectable and best of all, both sales and on air want the same thing, success.

Radio is not in a good place at the moment. We are stuck in a small box and trying to figure our way out. I think we will find a way out of the box. There is enough creativity and enough sharp minds with a passion for radio to pull it off.

 

[johnsummers]

I think the previous two posts succinctly express the best thoughts on the subject. Unfortunately, I never learned a great deal about other aspects of the business, and this has been to my detriment....ah, hindsight. However, I HAVE kept up with the technology. This has been my saving grace and is the reason I have a full time job today.

 

[Casey Anthony]

This board has some kind of problem when you're trying to post in a quote in IE. (Note to mods)

I'll answer your question, but without sifting thru the diatribes from people that don't have jobs here.

It depends on format.

Rock - $75,000 to $150,000 for mornings.
Rock - $55,000 to $75,000 for afternoons.
Unless you're voicetracking and then you'll make about $20,000. <--------- pathetic

CHR - $100,000 to $250,000 for mornings
CHR - $75,000 to $150,000 for afternoons.

TALK - $75,000 to $200,000 for mornings
TALK - $65,000 to $200,000 for afternoons

Thepost window is bouncing all over the place, so I'm not going to sit here and try to deal with it. Someone needs to fix this.

What is the JOCK RATE for Afternoons and Mornings in Dallas???
I am out of the Market and worst thing is to take a gig to find out you cant make it later!!! cost of living calculator kinda works...

But I need some help is there like an average rate for Mornings and Afternoons that the Market pays???

It's a competitive $tation with Money, Not a MOM or POP Comp...

Thank you,
RadioGeeker

 

[longtimelistener]

FWIW regarding talk salaries: Mark Davis at WBAP and all the veterans at The Ticket are making well over $200K annually.

 

[OKCRadioGuy]

It's interesting how much some sports guys make and how many jobs they can have at the same time. In our market, two stations have a ton of TV sports guys working for them. So, they get TV pay, then radio pay and the remote money that flows freely. It's a pretty nice gig I'd say.