Being Impulsive Won’t Fix Your Problem…

The employment expectancy of the average air personality is like a member of the House of Representatives – two years. There are a lot of tough decisions that many air personalities are making these days. This week’s column includes one of them. A coaching client of mine, recently out of a job and separated from his wife, told me he is moving to Atlanta because there’s a lot happening there. We had a conversation.

Coach: Do you know anyone there? What's the plan? Have you saved some money? You are separated right now, you have a five-year-old daughter, and you want to move 1,200 miles away……how is that going to work?

Air Talent: You are saying some negative things, I need to think positive.

Coach: Negative? These things are real. Just last week you canceled a session with me because your daughter had fallen and hurt her knee. And you are telling me you have not thought about her or how all this is going to work out between you and your wife? I know you are trying to get back together with her, how's this sudden move going to go over?

Air Talent: I’m working on it.

Coach: Did you not learn anything from the time you impulsively took an on-air job in Los Angeles a few years ago and let your buddies come out and stay with you and your family? They screwed up your life by convincing you to use your credit and buy a small recording studio that was a bust. That situation messed with your head and indirectly cost you your job. There are no guarantees but moving to Atlanta, where you don’t know anyone, sounds like a guarantee for not succeeding.

Air Talent: I see where you are coming from. I guess I just got anxious and thought I could make something happen just by moving there.

Coach: Your frustrations are understandable, but let's get back on track by putting you in a position to get hired by another station or a job that requires similar skills.

Air Talent: What do you suggest?

Coach: I’ve covered this with you before, but it’s not a problem, I’ll list some things for you.

Suggestions While Unemployed:

• Find a regular job until you get another job on the air.
• To keep your voice and on-air act in shape, use the audio editing software on your computer to make a daily aircheck/demos. If you need software, download Audacity -- it's free. Also google and check for any other free audio software you can use to practice and stay on point.
• Use social media to stay connected with others in the business.
• Get into a routine while you are looking for a radio job. Try planning out your days --breakfast, phone calls, read your e-mail, a part-time or full-time job.
• Stay current and keep up with the news, new music, and all social trends. In fact, while doing your daily practice show, use what you find in your show prep.

One Last Thing… I took all sorts of jobs to pay the bills while I was an unemployed air personality. The most important thing not to do is to act impulsively and spend money you don’t have. If you decide to continue working in radio, keep applying because it only takes one person to say yes.