-
Turning That Page On Your Radio Career …
September 13, 2022
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
The business of radio is about change and the ability to stay relevant. It has always been hard to get a job in this industry. This is a small fraternal business and hopefully many of you who are reading this have had a few good runs at stability. I spoke with an air personality currently on a time-out from radio and transcribed our conversation.
Coach: Are you open to moving again?
Air Talent: We're empty nesters, our daughter just left for college. My wife is an accountant for a hotel chain. She's been able to transfer several times when I've moved for other radio jobs. I was out of work when her company moved us here 4 years ago. I was able to find a non-radio job here with FedEx. After a year, I found an afternoon-drive job here. I used to be a morning guy, but those opportunities seem to be disappearing. Within a year, this station flipped formats and eliminated two air shifts. They let me go six months ago and I'm back working at FedEx. Both my wife and I are open to moving again. Her company would transfer her to anywhere she wants to go. So, she's on board if I land something. I still have the itch to get back on the air.
Coach: If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?
Air Talent: I'll be 41 in November.
Coach: What format or formats have you worked at?
Air Talent: Top 40, Hot AC, and Country. Oh, and I've done some Voice Over narration.
Coach: What's the longest you've worked at a station and what shifts?
Air Talent: 8 years. Mostly morning, some midday, and some afternoons.
Coach: You mentioned narration. If I were you, I would expand my search beyond music radio to news-talk stations. You could do news for years. I had a friend that moved away from music stations and has done well at the news-talk format.
Air Talent: Hmmn, okay, that's something to think about.
Coach: Well, I would never discourage anyone from chasing their dreams. But it sounds like your wife has got a great job and they must like you at FedEx, they took you back. Correct me if I'm wrong, but they have good benefits, and the pay is not too bad. Are you sure you want to chase another full-time gig in another city at this point of your life? What's happening when you apply?
Air Talent: I go to these corporate web sites and apply. I've had some interviews. Most of the conversations I’ve had were centered on talking about the history of some of the people I've worked with. Only one interview got around to talking about the possibility of hiring me.
Coach: A couple of years ago a friend told me about an interview he had that was more like a hero-worshipping session. The PD kept asking what it was like to work at this or that station. My friend never got a second interview. He and I figured out that, based on his history and the places he's worked, the Program Director was probably embarrassed about the money they were offering, and most likely thought they couldn't afford him. You might be facing the same problem.
Air Talent: So, you're saying what?
Coach: I suggest you make it clear when you apply that you've adjusted your financial needs to the current industry salary standards. In other words, make sure your potential employer knows you're affordable. I am not saying sell yourself cheap but put the employer in a position to offer you the opportunity to say "yes or no" to a job.
Air Talent: I never thought of that. I bet I've missed out on some jobs based on what you just told me.
Coach: Okay, it sounds like you and your wife are in sync, so keep looking. Oh, one other thing. Don't just look at terrestrial radio, there're been some opportunities that radio people have found at other audio platforms like Pandora and Amazon. So go do some digging.
Air Talent: See, that's why I reached out to you. I needed some advice outside my sphere of friends in the business.
Coach: Glad I could help. I've got my fingers crossed for you and your wife, e-mail me your aircheck/demo, I'd love to hear it. If you need to bend my ear again, just reach out.
Air Talent: Thanks, I'd love to pick your brain on a few things I've been working on.
Coach: Sounds good, just let me know when you want to do that.
-
-