Don’t Let A Label Hold You Back…

A career in radio takes various twists and turns. Set your goals and never let anyone put thoughts in your head of not being able to reach them. You can have whatever you want, so do not let others define you. The whole labeling thing starts early and can affect self-esteem (good or bad), advancement, and career choices. This personality has been labeled and wants to know if he has a chance to go farther in this business.

Jock: I’m working weekends at a Top 40 station and want to do full-time. There’s an opening for evenings and I don’t think I’m really being considered. I hear from some of the others that our PD won’t let anyone do anything else once he slots you in his head. He seems nice enough and it is kind of confusing. I am thinking it’s true because we have a MD who doesn’t schedule music because the PD does it and he also does mornings. I feel pushed down and I want to do so much more, I feel like I’m seen as the weekend guy and that’s all I will ever be.

Coach: You can’t let those thoughts get into your head. You will be fine, but don’t let that one job define you and limit your future potential. You’re in charge of you; it’s called “The right of free will.” Besides, the gossip you hear and what you think you see might not be reality. Regardless, work on your skills and stay on track for your future.

Jock: But if I get labeled as a weekender, won’t I get stuck with it in this business?

Coach: Sure, there might be some who are shortsighted and think that way, but you can’t worry about that. Just concentrate on getting yourself to the point of either convincing your PD that you are ready to move up or move on to another station that will give you the opportunity. 

Jock: What you are saying is, just apply for the full-time job here and anywhere else.

Coach: You got it. Even if you think the PD is a jerk, you can learn from him. By the way, what is your goal?

Jock: I want to get into sports broadcasting.

Coach: Then why are you worried at all and how come you’re working at a music station? You need to get yourself to a Sports station as soon as possible. In the meantime, keep doing weekends and check with the colleges around town for sports PA announcer jobs; start making contacts and friends at Sports radio stations. Use social media and never forget the power of the phone call. How did you wind up doing weekends at a music station?

Jock: I went to a college where everyone went home a lot on weekends and I did all these shifts on the air at the college station. There were a lot of music shows and I had nothing else to do but that and study. I did some sports stuff too, but when I graduated, this was the first job I could find.

Coach: I am glad you have a job, but as soon as you can, get yourself headed towards your chosen field in radio, sports.

Jock: I know you are right; this music radio thing really is not me. And even though I don’t want to do this much longer, it bugs me that my PD has defined who I am by my air shift on the weekends.

Coach: I hear you; you want him to recognize your potential. It may not be in your PD’s DNA, so until you find a job in Sports radio, keep learning everything you can at the music station --production, verbal presentation and management styles. These three things will serve you well at any radio format.

Conclusion:

You define you, but being labeled can make it harder to succeed and I understand how it could affect an air personality’s growth. I can relate to being worried about being stuck because of labeling. When I was six years old, I caught a bad cold followed by the measles and missed a lot of school in the first grade.

When I returned to class, my teacher thought I had missed too many days and might fall behind with my reading skills, so she moved me from the first to the second reading group. When I got home both my parents and grandparents could see I was upset. I explained my teacher didn't think I was very smart anymore and I was now in the second reading group. After they soothed my ego; that night I overheard my grandmother talking on the phone to my teacher.  Fortunately for me, she also was a teacher and on this occasion, she used her friendship to stress to Mrs. Riley what effect changing my reading group status had on me. My teacher apparently respected her words and sure enough, the next day I was back in the first reading group. My social status with my peers had been restored and I can still remember a couple of the kids asking me what kind of stuff the second reading group was studying. Unknowingly it was my first lesson in how labeling can affect your attitude and the attitudes of others.