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No Memo ... New Rule ... Suspended ...
August 20, 2019
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. I bet this sounds familiar: A new PD is at odds with an air talent who is at the crossroads of a budding career. She got suspended by her new boss for breaking a rule he had neglected to memo the staff about prior to what she did. Over a weekend, the air personality had dropped a scheduled song to keep the automated system from moving a commercial stopset into the next hour. The situation has her wondering about her future
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In college, while 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."
Reality Set In ...
Duh, once I got into this business and got fired for the first time, I finally understood what he meant. A career in radio can mean a lot of transition ... coming and going from station to station, city to city, and state to state. The faces will change, but the same problems will pop up from time to time.
Same Old Song ...
I bet this sounds familiar: A new PD is at odds with an air talent who is at the crossroads of a budding career. She got suspended by her new boss for breaking a rule he had neglected to memo the staff about prior to what she did. Over a weekend, the air personality had dropped a scheduled song to keep the automated system from moving a commercial stopset into the next hour. The situation has her wondering about her future.
Air Talent: Sam, my new PD said he was listening and knew I had dropped a song because he had programmed the music for the weekend. I told him I was trying to make sure the commercial breaks in our automated system would not mess things up for the rest of the day. I told him the previous PD told me to do it if music was going to run us too far past the top of the hour and push the last commercial break of the hour into the first hour of the Saturday nationally syndicated show.
Coach: Had you tried to call your new PD to see if the same rule applied, before you realized you had to the drop the song?
Air Talent: No, I thought everything was carried over on how we were doing things like that. There were no memos or meetings saying otherwise. He suspended me after I came in for a meeting to discuss it.
Coach: This is one of those cases you can be right and wrong at the same time. He's new and I do think he overreacted with the suspension, but you should have at least left him a note to let him know what you had done and why. It would have pointed out a problem he needed to watch for when scheduling music. I need to reiterate, you should have tried to reach him by phone before your shift was over and before Monday morning.
Air Talent: He's only been here three weeks and he put out a memo on what you could drop from the music log only after this happened with me. That doesn't seem fair.
Coach: And you're right, the previous rule should have been in effect until he issued a new rule on the matter, but to be fair, he probably didn't know it was a problem You were right on your reasons for what you did, and your only mistake was assuming. However, I think the reason you were suspended might have been how you came off in the meeting with him to discuss it.
Air Talent: Funny you say that. I get told by friends that I come across aggressively sometimes. Sam, I'm passionate about what I do and maybe I do come across too strong. But still, suspend me? This incident has brought me to a crossroads on what to do with my career.
Coach: How so?
Air Talent: I've been working at this for 10 years, mostly part-time, and have moved and lived in seven cities. I've bartended, waited tables, and worked at Walmart while I've tried to get ahead in this business. With this job I was finally getting to do things on the air I've wanted to do. The PD liked my abilities and now I feel like I'm going to fall backwards with this new guy. I want to do good radio and I want to show my personality.
Coach: You're chasing a career in a specialized field. It's always been hard to get a job in radio. This is a small, fraternal business. The key is the ability to adapt. You'll survive this new PD. I suspect he's a little overwhelmed and he's trying to make his presence felt. I bet he feels bad about the suspension and knows it was not one of his best moves, especially with him being in a new environment and not knowing anyone other than the person who hired him.
Air Talent: What are you telling me I should do?
Coach: Shake off the suspension and use it as a teaching moment for radio and in life. Your PD is like the new kid in school trying to prove he's the new sheriff on the playground. Not all PDs are created equal. It sounds as if he's a little over his head with his new job and city. You're learning one of the things not to do in a new gig no matter whether it's as the boss or as an on-air personality.
Air Talent: I understand, and if I ever go into programming, I'll remember, but right now I'm concerned about my career on-air. I need a full-time job here or somewhere.
Coach: Here's what I suggest: Aircheck every show and listen to it. Once a week get your boss or someone to critique your work. Off-air practice and then practice some more. And, find a programmer to mentor you. I suggest you e-mail or use social media to contact every VP/Programming you can and ask them to critique your air work. Once you have made it known you're looking for feedback and not a job, you'll be amazed at the advice you'll get. Plus, you will have put yourself on display with people who know what jobs are available. When it comes down to it, everyone likes to be part of a success story, especially those in power.
Conclusion ...
Don't let anything dim your passion for this business. Knowing what to say and how to say it is an easy art form to learn -- once you know the verbal "do's and don'ts."
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