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Two Things I'll Never Forget...
May 2, 2023
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I don’t know about you, but I’m on AI overload. I promise instead of AI this week, I’m going to give you SI, (Sam Intelligence). I needed to point that out, because a colleague who shall remain nameless, suggested that SI stood for Sam's Inept. He meant that in jest, I think. I hope.
Thing One:
I came up with an essay contest for high school students around the theme of a hit song on Columbia Records. First prize was $1,000. The Columbia Records Carolinas Promotional Representative (Rep) and I coordinated everything, or so we thought. Students sent in an overwhelming amount of material that the staff and I read over to select the best essay. We announced the winner of the three-week contest and planned a dinner, for the student and her family, to award the prize money.How Rude...
The day arrived for the dinner and the Rep, the morning personalities, and I thought it would be best to greet everyone on the inside of the restaurant by the hostess stand with a little sign bearing the station's name. First came the mom, her daughter (the essay winner) and her son. The Morning crew escorted them to the table. The Rep and I were waiting on the father. Here he comes, and he brought his new wife and family with a girl who looked to be the same age as his daughter. Both the Rep and I looked at each other in shock. This guy put everyone in such an awkward position.Excuse Me, Who Are You? ...
We walked them to the table, and everything felt strange, he didn't acknowledge his essay winning daughter or his ex-wife. Prior to the meal, the Rep gave a speech and awarded the check to the young lady. Meanwhile the father and his new family looked annoyed and began whispering to each other. I was getting upset and the morning co-host who had been pestering me since I sat down, kicked me under the table and put her hand over my mouth and whispered, "We've been trying to tell you, these are two separate families with the same last name."I Screwed Up ...
What the Rep and I assumed was callous indifference were simply two families with the same last name who didn't know each other. We took the father aside and told him there had been a mix-up and to please bear with us. Somehow, I had pulled two letters of families with the same last name and the rest, I have no idea.Face The Music …
Anyway, the Rep and I called New York and explained the situation to his boss. I still remember his words, "How did you two geniuses manage to do this?" It all worked out and later that week Columbia gave another $1,000 to the other young lady, too. Honestly, to this day neither the Rep or I could figure out how any of it could have happened. My takeaway, quadruple check everything when it comes to contesting.Thing 2:
Shhhh, I Think We're Being Robbed …
Let me tell you about something that happened during my tenure as an on-air talent at a radio station. Our station shared a third floor with an insurance company, and the prize closet was right across from our station by the elevators. It was a typical Saturday night, and I was headed out to grab a quick bite before my evening shift.What A Day For A Day Dream …
While waiting for the elevators, I heard a loud noise coming from the prize closet. At first, I thought something had fallen, but then I heard another noise coming from inside. My curiosity got the best of me, and I went over and put my ear to the door.Halt Who Goes There …
I thought I heard movement inside and slowly tried the doorknob; it was locked. I went back inside the station and told the afternoon personality that I thought someone was trying to steal from the prize closet. He put on a six-minute song and we both headed across the hallway to the closet to try and figure out what was going on. He heard something move inside too and we both headed back inside the station and called 911.Come Out With Your Hands Up …
The police got there quickly, knocked on the door, identified themselves, pulled guns, and then we all heard that tiny click noise from the door being unlocked. The police told us to stand back as it slowly opened. False alarm, it wasn’t armed robbers, it was our 5’3-inch station receptionist and a friend standing there trembling with tears in their eyes. Apparently, the Program Director had told her she could come back to the station after hours to get a left-over prize from the closet. When the police asked her why she just didn’t identify herself to one of us, she said, “I was afraid my friend and I would get in trouble.”Only The Shadow Knows ...
Some of the best lessons I ever learned didn’t come from staff meetings, but from things no one ever could’ve anticipated. And air personalities wonder why I know what I know. I’m like Al Pacino’s character in the movie Scent of A Woman, "I’ve been around, you know.” -
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