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

S

SOSED

Guest
Found this on the Los Angeles Boards. Any thoughts ???


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!
 
I don't think you are wrong but ownership looks at board ops as an entry level job...if they lose one they can easily get one for $10 per hour. Would it make sense to pay them more and get stability in the booth? Absolutely! This, however, is another case of the bottom line being more important than what is coming out of the receiver.
 
Because the applicant in many cases wants the job that bad.
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Because they can get away with it!
 
I get what you're saying about being creative and doing a good job. I used to get psyched when I'd hit the network news at the top of the hour out of a syndicated segment - and not catch the chirps!

But the boss isn't paying you to be creative or fancy. He just wants someone who can get the commercials in where they belong and keep the station on the air. So he's not gonna pay you like "talent". Even though you are. Pride in your work should never be dictated by what you make.

And with Scott systems and computers; board ops may go the way of local talent soon enough.
 
Board ops are now listed for a bailout. Then all Button Monkeys can pimp out at a spa, just like the big boys.
 
i hate to see this and hate to see what could and very well can happen. i mean with everything now being syndicated and automation galore...board ops may not be needed..only reason we have them as i see it is for the promotions, traffic, and other misc. but if lets say promotions no longer give away tickets...some syndication of traffic and our automation...and a DJ who screens the phones and operates the board...then board ops..you have a problem.

some companies are just not ready to go 100% board op-less...but if BE AudioVault and ScottStudios proved that automation can be done reliably...then :p
 
I know back in `86 (yep, i'm an old fart) when I started in radio as a board-op...I actually worked!! I hit every spot, song, program...LIVE! Board-ops now are more like babysitters for automation. Its unfortunate.
 
well folks. if you haven't noticed Local radio is slowly turning into satellite radio. It just isnt under the sirrus or xm umbrella. they are doing this by syndicating evrything. At the end of the day its all about saving $$$$ so that GM's can continue to buycars/take their families on fancy trips and throw their spoiled kids sweet 16 parties with your board op wages!!!

with that being said! Boards ops better learn other crafts such as imaging or production because with the way of syndication is going any1 that enters the world of local radio in the next 2 yrears will be saying "what in the world is a Board op" ohhh that must have been when radio was on reel to reel!

Someone Please Save Radio
 
In order to save radio, you fisr have to start with an owner that cares more about the communities they serve, and the whole purpose for having a signal, rather than about the profit that must be squeezed from the product(s)...But, obviously, we've had these discussions before - it's not going to change until there are regulations in place to make it change...I hate to say this, as I've always been somewhat of a conservative, but as WE ALL KNOW, it all started to go downhill with deregulation....Nuff Said...
 
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