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When Does "On The Beach" end and "No Prospects" begin?

P

PugUgly

Guest
In the general consensus here, what is the acceptable time frame for one to say they're "on the beach" as opposed to "out of the game"?

Six months? A Year? Two years? Eighteen years?

Discounting freebie gigs, of course.
 
Rover in Cleveland was out of work for almost 2 years I beleive. He landed the morning show at an Infinity station out there, it became very successful, and is now syndicated, and he may wind up being one of may Howard replacements.



> In the general consensus here, what is the acceptable time
> frame for one to say they're "on the beach" as opposed to
> "out of the game"?
>
> Six months? A Year? Two years? Eighteen years?
>
> Discounting freebie gigs, of course.
>
 
> Rover in Cleveland was out of work for almost 2 years I
> beleive. He landed the morning show at an Infinity station
> out there, it became very successful, and is now syndicated,
> and he may wind up being one of may Howard replacements.
>

Highly successfulo?........OOOOOOH the king of Cleveland!.

Rover's "Syndication" is exaggerated, yes he is syndicated but he is in about three other markets, two other Ohio(I think) or the equivilent. Rover is another shock jock dope and yes the rumour is that he may take some of Howard's stations. I will give Rover credit he dispatched Rocko fairly swiftly when he got there.
>
>
> > In the general consensus here, what is the acceptable time
>
> > frame for one to say they're "on the beach" as opposed to
> > "out of the game"?
> >
> > Six months? A Year? Two years? Eighteen years?
> >
> > Discounting freebie gigs, of course.
> >
>
 
> > Rover in Cleveland was out of work for almost 2 years I
> > beleive. He landed the morning show at an Infinity station
>
> > out there, it became very successful, and is now
> syndicated,
> > and he may wind up being one of may Howard replacements.
> >
>
> Highly successfulo?........OOOOOOH the king of Cleveland!.
>
> Rover's "Syndication" is exaggerated, yes he is syndicated
> but he is in about three other markets, two other Ohio(I
> think) or the equivilent. Rover is another shock jock dope
> and yes the rumour is that he may take some of Howard's
> stations. I will give Rover credit he dispatched Rocko
> fairly swiftly when he got there.
> >
> >
> > > In the general consensus here, what is the acceptable
> time
> >
> > > frame for one to say they're "on the beach" as opposed
> to
> > > "out of the game"?
> > >
> > > Six months? A Year? Two years? Eighteen years?
> > >
> > > Discounting freebie gigs, of course.
> > >
> >
>
While I will agree that Rover is no genius I disagree that Cleveland is a bad place to be employed full time in the era of "Jack". The simple answer to pug Ugly's question is that if you have to ask that question you are most likely in the wrong career. The answer is that it takes as long as it takes, if you're ready to give up after six months or even a year then you're not committed to radio. Radio is a transitory industry and you move with the tide as it ebbs and flows, and even when it seems to be low tide forever.

Good luck to you. Keep the good thoughts!.
 
> > > Rover in Cleveland was out of work for almost 2 years I
> > > beleive. He landed the morning show at an Infinity
> station
> >
> > > out there, it became very successful, and is now
> > syndicated,
> > > and he may wind up being one of may Howard replacements.
>
> > >
> >
> > Highly successfulo?........OOOOOOH the king of
> Cleveland!.
> >
> > Rover's "Syndication" is exaggerated, yes he is
> syndicated
> > but he is in about three other markets, two other Ohio(I
> > think) or the equivilent. Rover is another shock jock dope
>
> > and yes the rumour is that he may take some of Howard's
> > stations. I will give Rover credit he dispatched Rocko
> > fairly swiftly when he got there.
> > >
> > >
> > > > In the general consensus here, what is the acceptable
> > time
> > >
> > > > frame for one to say they're "on the beach" as opposed
>
> > to
> > > > "out of the game"?
> > > >
> > > > Six months? A Year? Two years? Eighteen years?
> > > >
> > > > Discounting freebie gigs, of course.
> > > >
> > >
> >
> While I will agree that Rover is no genius I disagree that
> Cleveland is a bad place to be employed full time in the era
> of "Jack". The simple answer to pug Ugly's question is that
> if you have to ask that question you are most likely in the
> wrong career. The answer is that it takes as long as it
> takes, if you're ready to give up after six months or even a
> year then you're not committed to radio. Radio is a
> transitory industry and you move with the tide as it ebbs
> and flows, and even when it seems to be low tide forever.
>
> Good luck to you. Keep the good thoughts!.
>

I am working steadily again, after about a nine-month dry spell with only fill-ins.

Friend of mine is nearly suicidal over not working for so long. Only talks about the past and has started to "resume-inflate" (claiming guests he never had, shows he didn't do, anything to pump himself up, poor sod).

Is that also normal? I don't know how to deal with this kind of near-delusional psychosis.
 
> > > > Rover in Cleveland was out of work for almost 2 years
> I
> > > > beleive. He landed the morning show at an Infinity
> > station
> > >
> > > > out there, it became very successful, and is now
> > > syndicated,
> > > > and he may wind up being one of may Howard
> replacements.
> >
> > > >
> > >
> > > Highly successfulo?........OOOOOOH the king of
> > Cleveland!.
> > >
> > > Rover's "Syndication" is exaggerated, yes he is
> > syndicated
> > > but he is in about three other markets, two other Ohio(I
>
> > > think) or the equivilent. Rover is another shock jock
> dope
> >
> > > and yes the rumour is that he may take some of Howard's
> > > stations. I will give Rover credit he dispatched Rocko
> > > fairly swiftly when he got there.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > In the general consensus here, what is the
> acceptable
> > > time
> > > >
> > > > > frame for one to say they're "on the beach" as
> opposed
> >
> > > to
> > > > > "out of the game"?
> > > > >
> > > > > Six months? A Year? Two years? Eighteen years?
> > > > >
> > > > > Discounting freebie gigs, of course.
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > While I will agree that Rover is no genius I disagree that
>
> > Cleveland is a bad place to be employed full time in the
> era
> > of "Jack". The simple answer to pug Ugly's question is
> that
> > if you have to ask that question you are most likely in
> the
> > wrong career. The answer is that it takes as long as it
> > takes, if you're ready to give up after six months or even
> a
> > year then you're not committed to radio. Radio is a
> > transitory industry and you move with the tide as it ebbs
> > and flows, and even when it seems to be low tide forever.
> >
> > Good luck to you. Keep the good thoughts!.
> >
>
> I am working steadily again, after about a nine-month dry
> spell with only fill-ins.
>
> Friend of mine is nearly suicidal over not working for so
> long. Only talks about the past and has started to
> "resume-inflate" (claiming guests he never had, shows he
> didn't do, anything to pump himself up, poor sod).
>
> Is that also normal? I don't know how to deal with this kind
> of near-delusional psychosis.
>
Well radio is not the most grounded of professions so it does not attract the most grounded of people. Your friend needs to look inward and try to be paitient and hope that he or she is able to get back into the game. The best advice I could give would be to take a gig that he or she may not find perfect but the old saying is true: It's easier to get a job when you already have a job fill ins are fine it shows you're still hungry to work.

You should advise your friend not to resume pad or inflate. As you probably know this industry is so small that lies can easily be debunked by someone who may know your friend whether or not he even knows them. Tell him to just play it straight and be paitient but not sit and wait for the phone to ring. You've got to have some drive man and if you dont then you dont deserve to get back on top.
 
> > > > > Rover in Cleveland was out of work for almost 2
> years
> > I
> > > > > beleive. He landed the morning show at an Infinity
> > > station
> > > >
> > > > > out there, it became very successful, and is now
> > > > syndicated,
> > > > > and he may wind up being one of may Howard
> > replacements.
> > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > Highly successfulo?........OOOOOOH the king of
> > > Cleveland!.
> > > >
> > > > Rover's "Syndication" is exaggerated, yes he is
> > > syndicated
> > > > but he is in about three other markets, two other
> Ohio(I
> >
> > > > think) or the equivilent. Rover is another shock jock
> > dope
> > >
> > > > and yes the rumour is that he may take some of
> Howard's
> > > > stations. I will give Rover credit he dispatched
> Rocko
> > > > fairly swiftly when he got there.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > In the general consensus here, what is the
> > acceptable
> > > > time
> > > > >
> > > > > > frame for one to say they're "on the beach" as
> > opposed
> > >
> > > > to
> > > > > > "out of the game"?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Six months? A Year? Two years? Eighteen years?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Discounting freebie gigs, of course.
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > While I will agree that Rover is no genius I disagree
> that
> >
> > > Cleveland is a bad place to be employed full time in the
>
> > era
> > > of "Jack". The simple answer to pug Ugly's question is
> > that
> > > if you have to ask that question you are most likely in
> > the
> > > wrong career. The answer is that it takes as long as it
> > > takes, if you're ready to give up after six months or
> even
> > a
> > > year then you're not committed to radio. Radio is a
> > > transitory industry and you move with the tide as it
> ebbs
> > > and flows, and even when it seems to be low tide
> forever.
> > >
> > > Good luck to you. Keep the good thoughts!.
> > >
> >
> > I am working steadily again, after about a nine-month dry
> > spell with only fill-ins.
> >
> > Friend of mine is nearly suicidal over not working for so
> > long. Only talks about the past and has started to
> > "resume-inflate" (claiming guests he never had, shows he
> > didn't do, anything to pump himself up, poor sod).
> >
> > Is that also normal? I don't know how to deal with this
> kind
> > of near-delusional psychosis.
> >
> Well radio is not the most grounded of professions so it
> does not attract the most grounded of people. Your friend
> needs to look inward and try to be paitient and hope that he
> or she is able to get back into the game. The best advice I
> could give would be to take a gig that he or she may not
> find perfect but the old saying is true: It's easier to get
> a job when you already have a job fill ins are fine it shows
> you're still hungry to work.
>
> You should advise your friend not to resume pad or inflate.
> As you probably know this industry is so small that lies can
> easily be debunked by someone who may know your friend
> whether or not he even knows them. Tell him to just play it
> straight and be paitient but not sit and wait for the phone
> to ring. You've got to have some drive man and if you dont
> then you dont deserve to get back on top.
>
Unfortunately, the combo of "paranoia plus delusions of grandeur" has taken hold and all may be lost.

What did they say about radio--that the music business drove the Singing Nun to suicide and radio is worse than that?
 
It's in the attitude, baby!

It's not a question of time, it's a question of attitude.

If an out-of-work radio person truly believes he has something of value to offer a station, continues to search in a methodical, persistent, polite manner, and conducts himself with professionalism - there will be a radio station for him.

Most of the time it takes more time than we'd like. When I've been looking for radio work (several times in 35 years in the biz), I have never come across a PD who's been on MY schedule, that is, wanting something to happen NOW! Even when you've had a great interview, sent the "thank you" letter, and you're dyin' for the phone to ring, filling that position isn't usually their first priority. We've just gotta be patient.

Right now I've got 3 on-air gigs - one FT and two PT - and lovin' every minute of it.

If you want to be in radio, have the skills, and conduct yourself professionally, you're probably more marketable than you realize!

Nick Seneca
 
Re: It's in the attitude, baby!

> It's not a question of time, it's a question of attitude.
>
> If an out-of-work radio person truly believes he has
> something of value to offer a station, continues to search
> in a methodical, persistent, polite manner, and conducts
> himself with professionalism - there will be a radio station
> for him.
>
> Most of the time it takes more time than we'd like. When
> I've been looking for radio work (several times in 35 years
> in the biz), I have never come across a PD who's been on MY
> schedule, that is, wanting something to happen NOW! Even
> when you've had a great interview, sent the "thank you"
> letter, and you're dyin' for the phone to ring, filling that
> position isn't usually their first priority. We've just
> gotta be patient.

That's very true. One job took me almost half a year to get hired and on the air from my interview with the PD. I don't like to bug them with follow-up calls and e-mails, I think that annoying them would diminish my chances for sure.

After a four months went by, I was feeling like this station was not going to happen for me. I was bummed and had pretty much given up on it in my mind, but then one day a friend/colleague suggested I keep being patient, this is common in broadcasting and other types of media work. You never know when they might suddenly need someone who can do what you offer, and they might come around to you, even months later.

That same day, to my surprise, the PD hired me for a fill-in the next weekend!


> Right now I've got 3 on-air gigs - one FT and two PT - and
> lovin' every minute of it.
>
> If you want to be in radio, have the skills, and conduct
> yourself professionally, you're probably more marketable
> than you realize!
>
> Nick Seneca
 
I miss working at KJoy...

He's right, he knows of what he speak. All of you should listen to him!

> It's not a question of time, it's a question of attitude.
>
> If an out-of-work radio person truly believes he has
> something of value to offer a station, continues to search
> in a methodical, persistent, polite manner, and conducts
> himself with professionalism - there will be a radio station
> for him.
>
> Most of the time it takes more time than we'd like. When
> I've been looking for radio work (several times in 35 years
> in the biz), I have never come across a PD who's been on MY
> schedule, that is, wanting something to happen NOW! Even
> when you've had a great interview, sent the "thank you"
> letter, and you're dyin' for the phone to ring, filling that
> position isn't usually their first priority. We've just
> gotta be patient.
>
> Right now I've got 3 on-air gigs - one FT and two PT - and
> lovin' every minute of it.
>
> If you want to be in radio, have the skills, and conduct
> yourself professionally, you're probably more marketable
> than you realize!
>
> Nick Seneca
>
 
Re: It's in the attitude, baby!

> I don't
> like to bug them with follow-up calls and e-mails, I think
> that annoying them would diminish my chances for sure.
>
> After a four months went by, I was feeling like this station
> was not going to happen for me. I was bummed and had pretty
> much given up on it in my mind, but then one day a
> friend/colleague suggested I keep being patient, this is
> common in broadcasting and other types of media work. You
> never know when they might suddenly need someone who can do
> what you offer, and they might come around to you, even
> months later.
>
> That same day, to my surprise, the PD hired me for a fill-in
> the next weekend!
>

OTOH, following up every few weeks will keep your name on the PD's mind. Checking in every now & then shows that you're still interested in the job. I can think of a couple instances where I think the PD hired me just to get me to stop bugging him!
 
Re: It's in the attitude, baby!

> OTOH, following up every few weeks will keep your name on
> the PD's mind. Checking in every now & then shows that
> you're still interested in the job. I can think of a couple
> instances where I think the PD hired me just to get me to
> stop bugging him!
>
I think this is key, just so long as you are polite (I find it backfires if you get too agressive). But yeah, it shows the PD that you are anxious to work, and he/she may even give you a foot in the door if they don't have anything.

Results may vary, use as directed...
 
Re: It's in the attitude, baby!

> > OTOH, following up every few weeks will keep your name on
> > the PD's mind. Checking in every now & then shows that
> > you're still interested in the job. I can think of a
> couple
> > instances where I think the PD hired me just to get me to
> > stop bugging him!
> >
> I think this is key, just so long as you are polite (I find
> it backfires if you get too agressive). But yeah, it shows
> the PD that you are anxious to work, and he/she may even
> give you a foot in the door if they don't have anything.
>
> Results may vary, use as directed...
>

All true, persistance is always good.

What you don't want is to be considered the punch line of a joke, like the biggest clown in your town, the barometer of doofushood--Everyone knows of at least one such person in every market, that is regarded as the "gold standard of bad radio".

And that definately has happened to some.
 
Re: It's in the attitude, baby!

> > I don't like to bug them with follow-up calls and e-mails, I think
> > that annoying them would diminish my chances for sure.
> >
> > After a four months went by, I was feeling like this station
> > was not going to happen for me. I was bummed and had pretty
> > much given up on it in my mind, but then one day a
> > friend/colleague suggested I keep being patient, this is
> > common in broadcasting and other types of media work. You
> > never know when they might suddenly need someone who can do
> > what you offer, and they might come around to you, even
> > months later.
> >
> > That same day, to my surprise, the PD hired me for a fill-in
> > the next weekend!
> >
>
> OTOH, following up every few weeks will keep your name on
> the PD's mind. Checking in every now & then shows that
> you're still interested in the job. I can think of a couple
> instances where I think the PD hired me just to get me to
> stop bugging him!

I knew that this guy would've found that annoying. What I did instead during the months I was waiting was I occasionally volunteered/interned to help with events that the station was sponsoring, and I could briefly check in with the PD at those times. It was when I showed up at one of those events months after my interview that I was finally hired to start with a fill-in the next weekend. Who knows what would've happened if I hadn't dropped by that day? They might've just voicetracked the regular host as they've done before when he needed a day off, but instead he decided to finally give me a shot.
 
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