WHEN TO "HANG THE HEADPHONES UP"

[Early Byrd]

There's a string on the Providence Board about a long time Providence personality, John Bina, who left radio a few years ago (after being laid off), and incredibly, in his mid-50s, is now in medical school. Talk about a mid-life career change!

That got me wondering...how does one know when to "hang up the headphones" in radio? Is it when you hit 30 and can't get beyond a small market situation? Or is it when you've seen one too many of your friends in other industries get the nice house or condo, and you're still living in that shoebox of an apartment? Any thoughts?

 

[InSearchOfGear]

There's a string on the Providence Board about a long time Providence personality, John Bina, who left radio a few years ago (after being laid off), and incredibly, in his mid-50s, is now in medical school. Talk about a mid-life career change!

That got me wondering...how does one know when to "hang up the headphones" in radio? Is it when you hit 30 and can't get beyond a small market situation? Or is it when you've seen one too many of your friends in other industries get the nice house or condo, and you're still living in that shoebox of an apartment? Any thoughts?

15 years ago.

 

[Deleted User]

When you are offered a job that pays more than you'll ever make in radio, and let you retire with a nice pension and medical benefits for life after 23 years service, which in my case was at 49 years of age.

Don't get me wrong, I love radio, but it is not a career for me, it is more of a hobby with a paycheck. If I didn't work with the people I work with I wouldn't be doing it.

 

[InSearchOfGear]

When you are offered a job that pays more than you'll ever make in radio, and let you retire with a nice pension and medical benefits for life after 23 years service, which in my case was at 49 years of age.

Don't get me wrong, I love radio, but it is not a career for me, it is more of a hobby with a paycheck. If I didn't work with the people I work with I wouldn't be doing it.

Your scenario was a familiar one for many of us. Happy for you that you were able to hang onto it as long as you did. Kudos.

 

[WNTIRadio]

I hung the headphones up about 8 years ago, but have stayed with radio in engineering. For the first 7 years I was doing both, and one of them had to go. Now I've got my own contract business that's growing, and making more money than I ever could on the air. There are ways to make money in radio, most of them just don't involve talking on the air (unless you're in a big market, or AM drive in a medium market).

Being on the air was a way in and a gateway to what I really wanted to do (play with transmitters, build studios, audio processing, building stations or new CP's) and making a decent living at it.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

When it stops being enjoyable and you can't survive on the paycheck.

I should have left a long time ago. I'm pretty much screwed in my retirement.

 

[pqgeorge]

When it stops being enjoyable and you can't survive on the paycheck.

I should have left a long time ago. I'm pretty much screwed in my retirement.

Twenty years ago at 31, after having a major stroke, my on-air career came to an abrupt end. In the long run, it was meant to be. I don't miss air work. Still doing part-time Radio Engineering and loving it! Wouldn't change a thing!

 

[InSearchOfGear]

I hung the headphones up about 8 years ago, but have stayed with radio in engineering. For the first 7 years I was doing both, and one of them had to go. Now I've got my own contract business that's growing, and making more money than I ever could on the air. There are ways to make money in radio, most of them just don't involve talking on the air (unless you're in a big market, or AM drive in a medium market).

Being on the air was a way in and a gateway to what I really wanted to do (play with transmitters, build studios, audio processing, building stations or new CP's) and making a decent living at it.

Need an assitant, er...apprentice?

 

[InSearchOfGear]

When it stops being enjoyable and you can't survive on the paycheck.

I should have left a long time ago. I'm pretty much screwed in my retirement.

You and I separated at birth?

 

[Neanderpaul]

As long as you're enjoying yourself and able to make ends...There is no set time.

Your longevity can be fortified by learning other aspects of what we do though.

Brushing up on prod skills, programming, even marketing/sales. All of these are required for long-term survival now.

4-and-out-the-door has been dead for a very long time.

Hang up the phones, when it's time.

You'll know.

 

[BeenThereDoneThat]

As long as you're enjoying yourself...

That, and after you figure out that management don't give a hoot about one of the elements that made (yep, made...the paradigm is dying, dontcha know !) people tune in...

BTDT

 

[Neanderpaul]

As long as you're enjoying yourself...

That, and after you figure out that management don't give a hoot about one of the elements that made (yep, made...the paradigm is dying, dontcha know !) people tune in...

BTDT

If you say so. We've been hearing it since the dawn of TV.

...and here we stand.

It is exactly this attitude that our industry can do without. If you don't want to do it, nobody's holding a gun to your head. Step aside and make room for those that do.

Great radio can still be done. Your cheese has been moved...you have the choice to move with it.

 

[BeenThereDoneThat]

As long as you're enjoying yourself...

That, and after you figure out that management don't give a hoot about one of the elements that made (yep, made...the paradigm is dying, dontcha know !) people tune in...

BTDT

If you say so...Your cheese has been moved...you have the choice to move with it.

Ain't MY cheese anymore ! Besides, it's rancid and odoriferous to those with noses to smell ! EOS...

BTDT

 

[aaronread]

I can't speak too much for myself...but I always tell my students the "cold, hard facts" and do everything I can to dissuade them from a career in broadcasting...as long as I can be "not mean about it".

I figure they need to know what they're getting into. And they also need this discouragement because if that's all it takes to change their minds, then they're not ready for a career in broadcasting anyways. It takes ridiculous tenacity and chutzpah to make it in this biz.

FWIW, I thought I was hanging up the headphones after about 18 months in the biz back in 2000 when I took a job at a "dot com" that paid 15 grand more than I was making in radio, with full medical, dental and a tidy amount of stock options that would've gotten more than halfway to seven figures. Then the economy started to slide, and the IPO was delayed. Then 9/11 happened. Then a month later I was laid off. Oops. I don't regret making that jump but I was rather bummed that I missed the dot-com riches by about 6 to 10 months. Oh well. :

 

[Neanderpaul]

I just came off 10 months on the beach in July.

It took that kind of removal to remind me that, after 25 years...this is what I do. I'm one of those guys that has no backup plan. You'd be shocked how motivating homelessness is.

I got into this thing with no intention of becoming a PD. And then, I had to adapt. I guess it's at this point that I should make a public apology in this forum to:

John Shomby (WZLX)
Buzz Knight (WZLX)
Glenn Stewart (WHEB)
The that ran WHDH when I worked there. Can't recall his name. I guess I'll apologize to Peter Orlando, who had to deal with both me, AND that guy too! (EDIT: WHDH PD @ the time was Al Mayers)
Ron Valeri (WAAF rd.1)
Dave Douglas (WAAF rd.1)
<big gap of out of state bosses>
Keith Hastings (WAAF rd.2)
Ron Valeri (WAAF rd.2)
&
Dave Wellington (WBCN)

I had no idea what it takes, and an incredible new found respect for anyone that has to deal with people like me every day.

I have promised our staff that I would never be "that guy."

My advice (as I actually have no other real choice) is to never hang 'em up unless you have run out of options.

I love this. If you don't, make room for someone who does.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

When it stops being enjoyable and you can't survive on the paycheck.

I should have left a long time ago. I'm pretty much screwed in my retirement.

You and I separated at birth?

I have a feeling there are enough of us out there to start something about the size of the AARP! My reasons for going into radio didn't include making a lot of money, I knew better, no unrealistic expectations! Should have planned ahead though!

I feel badly about coming here and grumbling. Back in my day kiddies I had it pretty good. Lots of freedom on the music I played and no big restrictions on talk. They were medium to large market stations too. When the full service stations dried up it wasn't as much fun anymore.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

I hung the headphones up about 8 years ago, but have stayed with radio in engineering. For the first 7 years I was doing both, and one of them had to go. Now I've got my own contract business that's growing, and making more money than I ever could on the air. There are ways to make money in radio, most of them just don't involve talking on the air (unless you're in a big market, or AM drive in a medium market).

Being on the air was a way in and a gateway to what I really wanted to do (play with transmitters, build studios, audio processing, building stations or new CP's) and making a decent living at it.

Need an assitant, er...apprentice?

Always wanted to do that too and worked for awhile as a contract engineer at WNOW-AM. Now that was hobby income. I had to leave it when I moved for a better full time job and never got back to that kind of work. I enjoyed being connected to radio in some way that wasn't on the air.

Awhile back I did a hard sell on a NPR station about doing some on air / apprentice engineering. Thought I had a chance but nothing ever came of it .

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Neanderpaul said:

My advice (as I actually have no other real choice) is to never hang 'em up unless you have run out of options.

I love this. If you don't, make room for someone who does.
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Good advice too but I wouldn't call radio a career anymore, at most stations it's just a job. There just isn't the respect for the on air talent there once was from management.

The truth is even early in my radio career I'd see the old guys who were smooth and polished on the air drowning their sorrows at the local gin mill. Some were very bitter and disillusioned.

I never really wanted to leave radio. I knew that if I didn't want to move my family all over the country I had to find some other way to make a living. I look back on my days in radio happy that I was able to work at something I loved.

 

[TheBigA]

Good advice too but I wouldn't call radio a career anymore, at most stations it's just a job.

What's the difference between a job and a career? A job is one thing someone does on an hourly basis for their life. A career is something that changes, grows, with room for advancement, and usually doesn't involve an hourly wage. Which one of those describes being on air? There are lots of careers in radio. There are fewer jobs in radio. Decide what's important to you, what you really want to do, and if you can find fulfillment in radio by going about it in a different way.

 

[WLYNWAZNgm]

It all depends on how stubborn you are.
I'm wicked stubborn... ;D