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UNHAPPY JOCK
QUESTION FOR DAN O'DAY:
My radio station was sold last August and I got the line that
we purchased for our success, and they planned to make no "major"
changes. Being the programming/ Operations/ Promotions/ On-air
guy for the past 7 1/2 years, I believed what the top dog of the
new new company said, I went with the flow. I saw things I did
not like, but my staff (all of us, except an overnighter who quit
by choice) have made it through today, and still counting.
Here's the problem. We were purchased for our success. We now
have a consultant. With this I have taken on a ton more work,
trying to make everything work. He has toned me down 30%, and
it seems no one is happy anymore. I decided a month or so ago
to start sending out tapes, lots of them. I've gotten no response.
I'm afraid my "new" sound is not appealing to a prospective
employer, especially since I'm not even sure I like it.
Should I send out old tapes from last August and hope they don't
ask for a current tape, or should I go in to production and put
together a tape that sounds the way I feel most comfortable?????
My fear of sending an old tape out is when they ask for a unscoped
air check I'm going to sound totally different. Will this hurt
me chances of landing another gig???? With all of this said,
I feel like I am in a state of depression. I love radio usually
work 10 to 15 hours a day and love every minute of it. Now I
wake up with a headache and everything I do all day at the radio
station is a hassle.
Here are the options I've considered;
1) Q U I T my job right after the book. I'd love to find a parttime
on-air job in this are first, maybe even our competition, who
is currently looking. Re-charge my battery and start looking
for a better opportunity, while working a no-brainer job for a
while
2) STICK THIS MESS OUT and really try to do some good shows, and
keep searching for work. I really don't know how much longer
I'll be able to do this before I have a heart attack or snap,
like the Post Office.
3) ASK TO BE LET GO FROM MY POSITION & EXPLAIN MY FEELINGS
to the folks here. I don't it will help, they seem to be pretty
strong willed. But, at least if they let me go I get unemployment
for a while and I think it will be easier to get really busy on
my job search.
I really do love radio, and I can not imagine doing anything else,
but I really feel it is time for a change. Any advice you can
lend (or sell) would be greatly appreciated.
DAN REPLIES:
>Should I send out old tapes from last August and hope they
don't ask for a current tape?<
That sounds like the best bet to me.
>My fear of sending an old tape out is when they ask for a
unscoped air check I'm going to sound totally different.<
If so, you just tell them the truth. As a friend of mine likes
to say, "Let's hope you have that problem" - meaning,
in this case, let's hope you find yourself in that situation where
a PD likes your first tape enough that he's asking for a second.
As for the three options you outlined, I vote for Number #2: STICK
THIS MESS OUT and really try to do some good shows, and keep searching
for work. If you quit (as you know), you won't get unemployment.
And equally important, you're much more attractive to another
station if you're employed rather than unemployed.
As for #3: Believe me, they won't agree to let you go so you can
collect unemployment. Some of that comes out of their pocket.
Obviously you're very unhappy with the situation right now. I
think your best bet is NOT to let them know how you feel and to
take advantage of everything they offer (production facilities,
trade publications, music, etc.) to (discreetly, without them
knowing it) market yourself elsewhere.
Hang in there.....
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