Why do stations continue to pay such lousy wages to Board-ops?

[moldj1]

As an on-air person, when I got into radio, I started out as a board-op and at that time, the wages were...well..about $7 hour. I enjoyed the job, because to me, I was able to be very creative with the local show I was running. But my boss looked at the security guard as a more important position then mine (when I asked for a raise, he said to get lost that he could get any monkey to do this) and I knew that I had to move on if I was going to get paid more.

Why is it that 90% of stations in So. Cal. pay anywhere between $10-$12.50 for a Board-op and then bitch when they get a crappy board-op (one who just puts their feet up and watches TV and waits for the out que of whatever show they are running) or simply moves on for a better paying job. I would think that if you invest in that position by not hiring someone who has little or no experience in a major station and pay a reasonable starting wage ($15-$16) hour, you would be getting a better selection of folks. I happen to know a lot of board-ops all of whom make varied pay, but are very very good at what they do are frustrated at station management simply not respecting the job even referring to them as "Button Monkeys"

As someone who is an on-air person, and who loves their Board-op, I would really like to hear from others about this and maybe educate me on why, if at all, I'm wrong!

Confused!

 

[easyfm]

Law of supply and demand ....

 

[DavidKaye]

[....]
But my boss looked at the security guard as a more important position then mine (when I asked for a raise, he said to get lost that he could get any monkey to do this) and I knew that I had to move on if I was going to get paid more.

Sure, when I was a board op I enjoyed it a lot. I especially liked putting on the Sunday morning gospel shows (remotes and taped) and figuring out the promos to run so that everything would time out properly to the network news and such.

But I think your boss was correct. Any monkey can do it.

KGO runs live local talkshows. Both overnight hosts, Ray Taliaferro and John Rothmann run their own boards, so in addition to thinking what they're going to say next and looking at the call screen for the next callers to work into the show, they're also looking at the log and playing spots and meeting the network news each hour and Metro at the half hour and at 5 minutes past, along with the bed music for the traffic report part (after the news part) from Metro. Both hosts can do it easily, and Ray T is in his 70s!

 

[Prais]

No offense, but a board op can easily be replaced by automation; no sick time, no vacation, no crabbing about strange hours, etc. A board op is very expendable.

 

[Bob_Hudson]

Both overnight hosts, Ray Taliaferro and John Rothmann run their own boards, so in addition to thinking what they're going to say next and looking at the call screen for the next callers to work into the show, they're also looking at the log and playing spots and meeting the network news each hour and Metro at the half hour and at 5 minutes past, along with the bed music for the traffic report part (after the news part) from Metro. Both hosts can do it easily, and Ray T is in his 70s!

Nowadays so many jocks - and certainly every morning show - thinks that cannot survive without a board op, helper boy, producer and intern. But "air talent" used to do very successful shows running the boards themselves with each spot on a separate cart (and a paper log to tell you what runs when), having to cue up records, answer the phones, take transmitter readings every half hour, join the network news live on the hour (remember even Top 40 stations often aired network news feeds) AND think of clever things to say. Now with automated spot systems and music systems, it is not rocket science for sure and stations are only going to pay as much they need in order get someone who can do it: if it required $20-an-hour skills, that's what it would pay.

When I was at KHJ I always thought it was funny that the jocks ran their own boards - I think even Rick Dees did - but bcause of union rules my news producer had as member of the engineers union sitting next to her to basically adjust the volume when she recorded phone calls and cut tape for audio for my newscasts.

 

[softmachine]

As an on-air person, when I got into radio, I started out as a board-op and at that time, the wages were...well..about $7 hour. I enjoyed the job, because to me, I was able to be very creative with the local show I was running. But my boss looked at the security guard as a more important position then mine (when I asked for a raise, he said to get lost that he could get any monkey to do this) and I knew that I had to move on if I was going to get paid more.

Why is it that 90% of stations in So. Cal. pay anywhere between $10-$12.50 for a Board-op and then bitch when they get a crappy board-op (one who just puts their feet up and watches TV and waits for the out que of whatever show they are running) or simply moves on for a better paying job. I would think that if you invest in that position by not hiring someone who has little or no experience in a major station and pay a reasonable starting wage ($15-$16) hour, you would be getting a better selection of folks. I happen to know a lot of board-ops all of whom make varied pay, but are very very good at what they do are frustrated at station management simply not respecting the job even referring to them as "Button Monkeys"

As someone who is an on-air person, and who loves their Board-op, I would really like to hear from others about this and maybe educate me on why, if at all, I'm wrong!

Confused!

To my mind: same responsibility = same performance. You will get the same variations no matter what the pay. The program will be virtually the same.

 

[bub]

But I think your boss was correct. Any monkey can do it.

You're right. It's been my experience that any "monkey" can do it. But it has also been my experience that just because any "monkey" can do it, it doesn't necessarily mean they'll do it well. I've sucessfully trained board-ops with learning disabilities and I've sucessfully trained a board-op who's primary language at the time wasn't English. I've also worked with board-ops who claim 27 years of experience working in radio stations, yet couldn't tell a control board from an ironing board.

 

[Zeb Norris]

You still have board ops in L.A.?!?!

 

[hotpatrick2004]

I would say a board op is the equivalent of someone working as an extra in film and tv.They have alot in common both are a means to an end.

For the board op i would think the goal is to become on air talent and an extra your goal is to become a working actor but you do need to have more knowledge to be a board op i mean being an extra how hard is it to do a cross in front of the camera or to pretend you are talking.

I wish as a non union extra we made 12-12 an hour try minimum wage.

But supply and demand applies. There are so many of us for both professions. But if you work hard at either you will get somewhere.

 

[LasVegasRadioJunky]

When I was starting out in the business, I was a board-op for an AM TOP 40. My shift was to run Casey Kasem's American TOP 40 on Saturday mornings. I wasn't paid a dime, but I did get to take the show home each week on LPs and the coffee was free.

 

[bossbill]

board ops are so last century

 

[RicoGregg]

When I was starting out in the business, I was a board-op for an AM TOP 40. My shift was to run Casey Kasem's American TOP 40 on Saturday mornings. I wasn't paid a dime, but I did get to take the show home each week on LPs and the coffee was free.

You got free coffee??!! One place I worked at had a live crocodile with a change maker around his waist guarding the coffee pot.

It was either a live croc or our accounting director.

 

[Dr. o Fun]

...when I asked for a raise, he said to get lost that he could get any monkey to do this...

Yeah, any monkey can push a few buttons and then chill while Dr. Laura rants at her next phone call. But, I'd bet you a PD's salary that even the best PDs couldn't "board op" a live, on-the-fly, multi-faceted talk show.

I was a "board op" (I preferred to be called a "studio coordinator") for (too) many years in Southern California. It always made me wonder why the guy who is in charge of the radio station's overall sound is paid the least.

As the coordinator of a #1 PM drive talk show, I always took the attitude that it was my show. After all, with the exception of the host's voice, every element put on the air was created by me -- bumper music, sound effects, phone calls, spots, promos, parody songs, sweepers, drops, etc. The host gave me carte blanche to do whatever I felt was going to entertain the audience and I took advantage of it and had a blast.

After winning several state and regional awards for my work I approached the PD for a raise. His response was, "That's really good. Now show me what you can do and then we'll talk about a raise." So, instead of gearing up, I went into shutdown mode, by doing a barebones minimum job until I eventually quit. It took a national search and over a year to find a "suitable" replacement.

Yes, board ops are a dime a dozen but a good studio coordinator is priceless.

dr

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

As an on-air person, when I got into radio, I started out as a board-op and at that time, the wages were...well..about $7 hour. I enjoyed the job, because to me, I was able to be very creative with the local show I was running. But my boss looked at the security guard as a more important position then mine (when I asked for a raise, he said to get lost that he could get any monkey to do this) and I knew that I had to move on if I was going to get paid more.

So. What would your idea of "good wages" be?

I've heard news people gripe about being underpaid.

I've heard engineers gripe about being underpaid.

I've heard sales people gripe about being underpaid.

I've heard GMs moan and groan about their pay.

But then again, I've heard auto mechanics and nurses and school teachers and plumbers gripe about their pay.

What is your idea of EQUITABLE pay for a board op. Should you be able to have a family and send you kids to college on board op pay? Should you be able to set aside money and be able to retire by the time you are 55 on board op pay?

What is ENOUGH?

 

[westfield60]

I hate saying this but in this great country of ours where practically everyone has a chance of going to college and educating themselves why on earth would someone become a Board Op?. I can understand that you are a temporary board op while you are going to school, but as a career choice, you have got to be kidding.

When the economy is great then everyone has a nice and fair attitude, but now that everyone and everything is tanking we'll be hearing a lot more of people complaining why they are not appreciated more by management. Yes your parents were right when they said study hard and become a professional. I don't frankly see too many doctors or lawyers complaining about not being paid enough.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

The dirty little secret that is kind of hushed up in public discussion is that a college degree promises nothing today. We have college graduates doing jobs that are often held in the kind of regard you have just placed Board Operating. Waiting tables. Info desk at the library. Sales clerk in the shoe store. Working the floor at Best Buy.

We focus on the big-bucks doctors and lawyers and our eye glaze over as we ignore the lawyers who are trying to keep their heads above water as they work as "clerks" in insurance companies and book publishing firms. And after making their payments on student loans, there are doctors struggling to keep their heads above financial water.

America is on two tracks right now and sometimes you have to be 45 or 50 years old before you wise up to this reality: There are those of us who were raised to believe you should do a job that was satisfying and is useful to society... and there are those of us who were raised to believe the only benchmark in life is the dollar.

Some people spend a lifetime shining shoes, others press clothes at the dry-cleaners. Some people deliver packages for UPS, some people "Write Service" at the car dealership. Some people barber hair, some people drive a school bus.

I don't have a problem with someone who wants to be the best damn board operator in the state of California. I have a problem with an industry that does not honest spell out what it's employment roles are, and what you can expect in return for devoting your life to such a task, and when a job is intended only for intern-types struggling toward a degree.

 

[RicoGregg]

For those of us in a somewhat older generation, broadcasting, especially radio, seemed like an excellent, and fun career choice. You could get an easy start at a nearby college, learn what you needed from your classes, then the real payoff came: Getting your FCC First Class License.

In "those" days, the First Class ticket was more powerful than a college degree. Most TV operations, from PBS affiliates, family-owned UHF stations, and yes, the networks themselves, usually were hurting for people with the First ticket. A couple of my classmates from the license school got their first jobs at places like NBC Burbank, and CBS Television City. Most AM stations wouldn't talk to you without a First. If you had the license, you could virtually choose where you wanted to work, and since most places were always short of license holders, many offered good wages to attract them.

Case in point: KGER in Long Beach, now a Salem station, actually offered AFTRA scale back in the days when the license was required. Today, they would be low-paid board operators. Back then, they were engineers with a specialized duty. You couldn't get a full time position there with a machine gun. Nobody wanted out of that arrangement.

However, you could always go to work at a PBS outlet. They were always hurting for First Class license holders. If the Public Television outlet was affiliated with a college, you could get tenure just like an instructor, and you got many benefits, including medical, and could qualify for a great pension.

Then along came deregulation and people started saying "How times have changed." And that's the case today. Back when I was a teen in the late 60s, it all seemed like the greatest field in the world. If I was a teen now, I wouldn't know what to think of it. Good thing I had a back-up plan.

All I would say to young people today is "Career-Seeker, Beware".

 

[TheBigA]

Reading this thread reminds me of when I was at an NPR station many years ago. One day I was reading that local garbage workers were going on strike for more money. And they were making 30% more than I was! Plus a government pension! Unskilled workers, most of whom hadn't finished high school, had a much better deal than me, a college grad! That's when I realized it was time for a change.

 

[moldj1]

As an on-air person, when I got into radio, I started out as a board-op and at that time, the wages were...well..about $7 hour. I enjoyed the job, because to me, I was able to be very creative with the local show I was running. But my boss looked at the security guard as a more important position then mine (when I asked for a raise, he said to get lost that he could get any monkey to do this) and I knew that I had to move on if I was going to get paid more.

So. What would your idea of "good wages" be?

I've heard news people gripe about being underpaid.

I've heard engineers gripe about being underpaid.

I've heard sales people gripe about being underpaid.

I've heard GMs moan and groan about their pay.

But then again, I've heard auto mechanics and nurses and school teachers and plumbers gripe about their pay.

What is your idea of EQUITABLE pay for a board op. Should you be able to have a family and send you kids to college on board op pay? Should you be able to set aside money and be able to retire by the time you are 55 on board op pay?

What is ENOUGH?

As I stated in my post....somewhere between $15-$16 hour!

 

[westfield60]

Goat Rodeo Cowboy

The reason you have college graduates working the isles of Best Buy is because those degrees were in "history", "literature", "english" or "Liberal Arts" or a number of these useless and countless majors out there. These days no one should be going into one of those majors and expect to get a job. Sure new attorneys and new doctors fresh out of medical school or law school struggle under the school loans for a few years but I bet you none of them are working in Best Buy.