April 18, 2019
What one piece of advice that you were given early in your career is no longer relevant today?
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Zac Davis, WRVQ: Make sure you pick a song long enough on that cart so you can hit the men’s room without the station going off the air Buster, WFLZ: A regional guy once told me we were not to allowed to bring laptops/computers into the studio because it would take the focus off of you doing your shift. Brian Mack, WXXL: Get an internship with someone who inspires you.
Gina Gray, WERO: One thought per break. Rob Roberts, Cumulus Media: Don’t play females back to back. Separate artists by at least one hour. Smoking will make your voice lower. Talk up every single intro till the singing starts.
Buzz Knight, Beasley Media Group: Never trust an adult. Nik Rivers, WLKK: Listen to Lenny Diana. Lenny Diana, WAQY/WLZX: Nik Rivers has “ears.” Or “look, it’s number one on the chart!”
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Bob Patrick, WXLK: When erasing a cart. Don’t just take it off the eraser. Take it off while moving it in a circular motion in the air.
Jammer, WEZB: Make sure you give the cart a second lead time when carting up a song. Otis Day, WIXX: Say the call letters first and last during every break on the air. Todd Shannon, WAPE: When you pull a card from the card file, always put to the very back. Actually, most of the advice I got is still pretty useful and relevant.
Chris K, The End: I’m just thankful I don’t have to edit callers on the reel-to-reel machine anymore. Matt Johnson, KSLZ: Always pull the first hour for the next jock. Sassy, WKXJ: It might not be actual advice, but someone once told, “You’re going to make a lot of money.” Tony Waitekus, WHTQ: Don’t even try to go into that business because you’ll never make it.
Kevin Kash, WIYY: I was told that I’d get paid to record spots for the station. |
Jeff Hurley, WLAN: Always fax your spins before the deadline. Don’t mingle with people from the other stations in your building. Screw the sales department and never work directly with them. Use a penny on the stylus, a dime isn’t heavy enough and a quarter is too much. You can smoke in the studio, just open the window before the next DJ comes in. Rick Vaughn, KENZ: Cycle the cart or I’ll kill you!
Mike McVay, Cumulus Media: “Push air-talent hard to get their attention. Yell if you have to.” That doesn’t work today. Probably never worked. All people should be treated with respect. Jonathan Shuford, WRVW: Listeners don’t care about your social media.
Dom Theodore, Radio Animal Media Strategies: Use the splice finder before you cart something up. (this advice probably sounds like a foreign language to some reading this). Todd Lyons, KATS: Clean cart heads, pinch rollers and capstans after each use. Max Volume, KOZZ: Get in early and pull your music! |
Mike Miller, WZFT: During your overnight shift don’t let anyone in the building.
Mike “OD” O’Donnell, WKRZ: Early on I had a boss that would always say, “Make sure you answer the phones right away!” Half the time there’s nobody even in the studio any more.
Kobe, WWHT: It’s all about the music. Yes, music is what we are known for, but never in my career has what’s between the songs, and on social media mattered more.
Rod Phillips, iHeartMedia: HOW to talk. I literally was trained how to change the inflection at the end of the call letters…true story. Silliness looking back on it.
Kobi, WNRW / WLGX: “If the station goes off the air…pop in this emergency oh shit backup CD!”
Jon Zellner, iHeartMedia: Always leave a split second of silence before the audio kicks in on the cart you’re dubbing so it doesn’t cut it off when it fast-forwards past the splice.
Chuck Damico, WMMR / WBEN: If you want to be successful in sales, sit close to fax machine.
Jonathan Reed, WNOK: If it’s a :32 second intro be sure to use all of it. Have a contest winner and weather relatable tile, artist, call letters, and hit that post baby!
Jeremy Rice, WBLI: When carting up a song advance 10 seconds past the splice on the cart tape!
Derrick “DC” Cole, WAEB: Always open and close your breaks with the station ID.Next Week’s Question Of The Week:
What’s the strongest message radio can send its listeners regarding its entertainment value to them?
e-Mail your responses to: jodorisio@fmqb.com or bburke@fmqb.com
