-
Air Talent ... All It Takes Is One Yes
March 19, 2019
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. When you think you're ready, seize the moment and go for it. Remember, keep working at your craft and never be intimated by market size. Get your on-air presentation in order and apply wherever and for whatever air shift you think you can handle. It only takes one PD to say, "Yes, you're hired."
-
I recently got a text from an up-and-coming air personality who asked me if I thought they were ready for a job in a Top 25 market place. I can't remember where I heard this, but it applies: "You're ready when you think you're ready; find a PD who agrees."
Moving up or down in market size is a constant radio theme. Making the move up depends on things like confidence, skill set, composure, phobias, self-esteem, over-confidence, social graces, people skills, and the ability to creatively BS without compromising your integrity.
I have known air talents and programmers who I knew were better in some areas than I was, but were never fortunate enough to work in some of the cities I did. I always knew once I got hired, I could focus on the big picture and learn whatever else I needed to.
Take Your Shot ...
The first commercial job I took after college, was in Amarillo, TX. I worked overnight, air-checked and listened back daily. I was low man on the totem pole among a cast of characters who included a full-time air talent/part-time fireman, a personality who chewed tobacco and used the studio trash can as a spittoon, a PM-drive guy who wore surgical gloves to do production, and a part-time talent/full-time funeral home embalmer. My goal was to put in a few months and head off to a major market.
Phase One Worked ...
I had worked part-time at a commercial station while in college, but this was my first full-time opportunity. When I thought I was ready, I started applying in larger markets and could not get a response from anything I applied for. I grew up in St. Louis and started thinking about who I knew in my home area by way of college connections. Then I remembered an engineer I had met through mutual friends. Luckily, I still had his phone number and he gave me a tip on a job. He even gave me the PD's direct line. I called but got his assistant; she told me he was at lunch and would be back after 2p. I called back and he picked up. He was nice and told me to send him an aircheck/demo for the evening position he had open.
Kid You Need Work On ...
I airchecked each night, so I was able to edit a demo and overnight it to him. He gave me a call and told me I wasn't ready to make the move up in market size. He gave me a critique and told me to resubmit, but the job would probably be filled, and he would put me on file. I worked and resubmitted the following week in hopes the job had not been filled. Three days into the week and nothing, so I called his private line and again and got his assistant. I remembered she had said the previous week to try him after 2p. I called and he picked up again. He dug out my demo and listened while I was on the phone. His critique, "This is better, but you still need work."
Pleasantly Persistent ...
I worked, edited and resubmitted the following Monday. I waited three days, no call back. Again, I waited until after 2p to call; he picked up. This time when he heard my voice, he laughed and said, "You've figured out my assistant takes her lunch after I come back from mine and that I pick up my own line. That's smart, look, I did listen to what you sent, and you improved again, you're not ready, but I like your smarts and your basic sound. I think in the right surroundings, you'll get up to speed. I was waiting to hear resubmit, but then he said, "Tell you what, pack up and come on back to St. Louis and let's see how things go. I was in shock, the next day, I put in my two-weeks' notice and when I told them I was headed to St. Louis, jaws dropped. As they say, the rest was history -- or in my case, the beginning of mine
Get Your Act Together & Keep Applying ...
When you think you're ready, seize the moment and go for it. Remember, keep working at your craft and never be intimated by market size. Get your on-air presentation in order and apply wherever and for whatever air shift you think you can handle. It only takes one PD to say, "Yes, you're hired."
-
-