Moving To The Next Market ...

Watching the Boston Red Sox beat the Dodgers in the World Series reminded me how much Major League Baseball and radio have in common. Prior to Boston, this year’s Series MVP Steve Pearce played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles, and Toronto Blue Jays. Moving around can be an occupational necessity for both baseball and radio.

Sharing A Common Theme … Moving
Seeing Pearce’s career path was like looking in the mirror. My radio career has included St. Louis, Detroit, SF, Dallas, Kansas City, Chicago, Greensboro, New Orleans, Memphis, etc. I'm sure if I knew Pearce, we could exchange tips on moving from town to town.  I’ll share some my experiences with you, now.

From His Mouth To My Ears …
While in college, working part time at a commercial station, I asked the afternoon drive personality if he thought I would do okay if I chose radio as a career. He said with a serious look on his face, "You'll get to travel."  Being a rookie in the business, I nodded without a follow up question because I thought this veteran had laid the wisdom of the ages on me.

I finally Understood …
Duh, once I got into this business and got fired the first time, I finally understood what he meant. Potentially, the life of a broadcaster is about being a professional transient. A career in radio can mean a lot of transition; coming and going within a town or moving to another city or state.

Whose Paying ...
If your new employer is paying for your move, find out how many estimates they want you to get. If you can, find a moving company that gives an exact price and not an estimate. Except for the driver, many of these companies hire independents at both ends for loading and unloading. Pack your own things because the cost of allowing them to do it is high and they are not always careful with your things (you can still get it insured). Find some store who'll give you boxes for no cost. Pack in stages, and clearly mark each box to identify exactly what’s inside.

Scout The Banking Situation …
Always find out which banks are in the town you are moving to. I suggest opening an account with a national financial institution (i.e., Bank of America, Wells Fargo). Check to make sure they have a branch in the town you are moving to. Any checks you write will be treated as local and save you the hassle of any waiting period. If you don't bank with a nationally recognized bank, don't tell the local or regional bank that you are moving or the money in your account will be frozen until an entire banking cycle has passed and all checks have cleared. Wait until you get to your new destination and deposit a check at your new bank, zeroing the balance at the previous bank; then close the old account. By the way, all Citizen Banks are not connected, and I recently learned there are no Bank of America's in Mississippi; go figure.

Driver’s License & Car Insurance …
Use Google or any search engine to do a search for the DMV in the state you are moving to and find out what’s required to become a resident of the city and state. If your license plate or plates expire in the month of your move, get it renewed before you leave so you will have time to get whatever is needed to be recognized in your new location for residency.

What I did ...
When I moved from Kansas City to work in Dallas, I didn't think to renew my Missouri plates, and they were due to expire at the end of the month. I had things to do; find a place to live, meet my staff, learn the town, and prepare for an upcoming rating period. The only people I knew in Dallas were the station owner and the COO. I didn't feel comfortable dragging them to the County Tax Assessor's Office to sign a document vouching for my new residency so I could pay the property taxes on my car and get plates.

My Plan ...
I had an out-of-state license and not enough time to get into a place to get a utility bill proving I was now a Texas resident. So, I googled Texas forms of accepted verification for drivers’ licenses and found out I could use a car insurance invoice bill. However first I needed a residential address; couldn’t use the station’s address because it was unacceptable.

Setting Up Residency …
My next move was to head to UPS to get a mail box. I did my homework; the DMV form specifically stated no PO boxes. However, a UPS mailbox is a US mailing address. I called my insurance company, gave them my new address, and they sent me an invoice indicating the information. I went to the DMV, handed over my Missouri Driver’s license, and they accepted the insurance invoice for proof of Texas residency. What’s acceptable in one state is not always the same in another; that and things change, so do your homework before trying what I did.

It Was Easy …
The DMV issued me a Texas driver's license, I paid my vehicle property tax, and got my Texas plates. Once I moved to an actual residence, I went back to the DMV and had them update my license with the new resident information; very important because it's a potential fine situation in many states if the police pull you over and the address on your license is not what’s in the computer data base for place of residence.  

Conclusion …
If you’re moving to a different market, reach out to others who’ve moved around a bit. Pick their brains; they could save you time and money.