thirty years major market experience, PPM proven, but NO ONE calls back.
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Why can't I get a job?
- Thread starter Earlyriser
- Start date
Even us who try to get in entry level positions & having volunteered for over 7 years in radio aren't getting the calls.
If no one hires me, at least I got my freedom on WPRK & syndication on WRSG in West Virginia!
I'm happy with where I'm at now, so I'm not crying about not having a PAID radio gig anymore.
They've numbed me to just shrug it off, do my own show, keep improving, & continue to send them airchecks.
If WPRK is indeed my ultimate dream job, it's a very happy unpaid one!
If no one hires me, at least I got my freedom on WPRK & syndication on WRSG in West Virginia!
I'm happy with where I'm at now, so I'm not crying about not having a PAID radio gig anymore.
They've numbed me to just shrug it off, do my own show, keep improving, & continue to send them airchecks.
If WPRK is indeed my ultimate dream job, it's a very happy unpaid one!
Plenty of stations in the midwest willing to employ you ... morning show on the local oldie's station, do a short shift on the country deal, do sells in the afternoon and high school basketball and football every weekend ... all for just over minimum wage + 10% of sells. 70 hours a week maybe making $700 ... =$35K/year!
Earlyriser said:
Earlyriser, Believe me, you aren't alone! Unfortunately, experienced air talent seems to be an endangered species. Unless your name is Rush, Ryan, or Howard, and a relatively few established major and large market morning stars, over the past 20 to 25 years, most on air talent has lost considerable value, whether deserved or not. It seems strange to me, that at a time when radio should be embracing and showcasing the talent that can differentiate it from ipods, mp3 players, and music only streaming services, management, in many cases, has seemingly decided to kill off what's left of the "On Air" staff. ???
nfladxer said:
I don't think that's true. Still lots of on-air talent at radio. But not a lot of turnover. When there is, the person doing the hiring has no shortage of options.
And differentiating radio from streaming services only matters if that's what listeners actually want. Sushi is different from hamburger, but that won't get me to eat raw fish.
B
blueboy
Guest
In radio (like almost every business today) there can be an applicant who has too much experience. A 28 year old PD might not even consider someone over 45. Japman is correct, though. You can find gigs in the Midwest where you'll do the job of 5 people for under $40k a year. The jobs are out there. Some of them just suck.
TheBigA said:
The Big A, I'm not disagreeing in every case, but as someone with over 30 years of on air broadcast experience, it's my observation that there ARE many more music formats, in radio markets of all sizes, even the larger markets, run by some of the biggest operators, that require maybe one or two on air performers, or, in some cases, none. Most decent CHR's, AC's, Oldies, Country, AOR, etc., music radio stations, up until voicetracking became more prevalent somewhere in the late '90's, had a full time airstaff of 5 or 6 fulltime jocks and usually a few part-timers for weekend and relief duties. The main exceptions today seem to be the more successful CHR's, and some of the well run heritage stations, especially ones in large and major markets, like CBS-FM, KEARTH, KISS-FM, WLYF-FM. Hell, the heritage Country station in Jacksonville hasn't had a live, local midday personality in well over five or ten years, and all nights, Blair Gardner, at your service! I do agree there's not as much turnover - those with the good gigs, and ratings, want to keep them! And, yes, having been "on the beach" for over 6 months now, I can tell you the competition is fierce, even for on air positions in the not so large markets. That's my impression. I'm certainly not saying that good, quality air talent isn't available, it's quite the opposite. There are plenty of experienced, talented, dedicated, hard working, loyal performers eager to make your local radio station sound even better!
nfladxer said:
Things change. Back 40 years ago, stations had full staffs of engineers too. Then computers came along. No need for engineers.
Radio stations still need human voices, but they have lots of options available. Do you have a home studio? Are you computer literate? Can you upload your content to an ftp or ISDN to a station that is looking for what you do? If not, find a way to learn. Otherwise, you'll be like the typewriter repair guy.
Just Me said:
It's always been like that. Just a fact of life regardless of what you do for a living.
How many jobs have you gotten by cold-calling? I've never even gotten an interview unless I either knew somebody or went through a headhunter (who by definition knew somebody). And I don't work in broadcasting, but that doesn't matter. As they say in Chicago, "We don't want nobody that nobody sent."
B
blueboy
Guest
In the late 1980's I was working as a part time jock for Country station in Philly. The PD knew of my desire to be full-time and asked how my job search was going. I told him that I had responded to almost every ad in R&R and he laughed. He said, "Don' t you know the best jobs are NEVER advertised"? For the most part, radio is an insiders game.
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