-
The Static Got To Him …
June 20, 2023
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
There's always an up-and-comer who shows potential. If their ego doesn’t get the best of them, they go on to do well in this business. But then there's that one person who can’t deal with even the slightest success. If you've been in this business long enough, you've seen your share of these types. That leads me to the story of Bob. That's the name I'll use for this person as opposed to his real name and the station where this took place.
The Natural …
We got to know Bob when he was working at McDonalds. Our midday personality came back from a late lunch one day and told us about this funny kid. So, several of us had to go see for ourselves. She was right, the kid behind the counter was funny. He had us laughing while we ordered. In the next air talent group critique session, we told the Program Director about him. We took him over for him to check Bob out and he instantly took to him. Right on the spot he asked Bob if he'd like to be on the radio.Living The Dream ...
Bob started working at the station in the promotions department. He did well despite a tendency to bring his many personal problems into the workplace. Over time he sucked up to The General Manager and that led to a part-time on-air position far ahead of the PDs plans for him. Bob became everyone's protege and we all helped get him ready for some weekend late hours on the air.His Head Swelled ...
I was glad to help him too, but I kept him at arm’s length. There was something that seemed a little off about him. One thing especially bothered me. Bob never took responsibly for anything he did wrong on or off the air. He would always blame it on something.The Two Faces Of Bob ...
You would think working into the wee hours of the morning would keep someone out of trouble. Wrong. He was always creating chaos. Although Bob was weekend overnight, he found time to come in during the weekday and instigate office drama. His ulterior motive was to deflect attention from his shortcomings. He wasn't doing all his assigned production and he would tape breaks in advance of his occasional paid remote appearances. The breaks would air with him not showing up until after the first break had aired. He did that a lot and got away with it. Despite little experience and all the problems he caused, Bob was promoted from weekend overnight to morning show team sidekick. As part of his deal, he had to handle the 9 am hour all by himself.At Issue ...
It was winter and the time of year in the Midwest when the air was dry. The broadcast studio carpeting was giving us fits with static electricity shocks. You could get a slight zap just adjusting your plugged-in headphones. We needed engineering or one of us to go and buy some static guard and spray that carpeting. Even better, put a humidifier in the room. The studio had one of those consoles with a slide up and down module. The engineer had warned us to slide the volume pod down to zero and then push the module off. This was static electricity prevention.He Never Listened ...
Bob hardly ever paid attention and only heard half of anything he was told. This one day it cost him his job. He messed up by leaving the pod volume up, the static shock reengaged the module, and the mic popped back on. Unaware of an open mic, he took a call from an underage teenager and a portion of their X-rated conversation went out over the air. Engineering came to his rescue, but it was too late. Apparently from what went out over the air, you could tell that Bob and the teenager knew each other intimately.Bye Bye ...
The Program Director pulled him off the air immediately and hustled him into the GM's office. The midday person had to go in and finish the last two hours of his show. No, I wasn’t there, but there were plenty of witnesses to the event to fill me in. That included the GM's secretary who sat in on the impromptu meeting to take notes. To make matters worse, while the meeting was going on, the teenager’s mother had called the business line and left a message with our receptionist. Bob was fired in that meeting.And The Point Is ...
Whenever you’re a newbie in any situation, you should always listen to others who are there or have been there before you. Stuff happens, but if you listen, a lot of things can be avoided. I’m not talking about situations that cannot be anticipated. I’m talking about things that have happened in the past and could happen again under the right circumstances. I never kept up with Bob’s career, but I bet nothing ever shocked him like that again. Pardon the pun.
All Access Urban/R&B Editor Sam Weaver is also a radio talent coach and consultant, working with beginning and veteran personalities. His 35-year programming and on air career has covered CHR, Urban, Country, Sports, Talk, and Rock. Sam has worked in St. Louis, Detroit, New Orleans, Chicago, Memphis, San Francisco, Greensboro, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, and Dallas. Lists of other accomplishments include teaching in Chicago at Columbia College and hosting Westwood One's Superstars of R&B concert series. He has moderated or been a panelist at conventions for Billboard, NAB, NABOB, The Concave, and the Canadian Music Festival. For his coaching services, his web site is http://radiocoach.biz, phone, (888) 680 7234, or email, thecoach@radiocoach.biz.
-
-