(video) THE JOYS OF RADIO COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION

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• Craig Allen September 10, 2011, 4:27 am

  The only difference today is the rep saying to the client, “Oh, it’s all digital these days. Thanks to computers our Production Director can have that fixed and e-mailed to you in a half hour.” :-S

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• Tim Davisson September 10, 2011, 9:40 am

  Since I’ve been a production director & a sales rep…I really enjoyed the video. It’s very real.

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• Arlene Tannis September 10, 2011, 9:41 am

  …ahhhh that takes me back! As the saying goes : Look for the person who’s the most pissed off at the radio station and you’ve found the Production Director!

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• Buzz Park September 10, 2011, 9:41 am

  Great video. I can relate on both sides having been a radio sales rep as well. Haven’t heard the Greaseman in years!

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• adamg September 10, 2011, 10:01 am

  Depth of Listening! And an invitation for it.She calls and can tell you the idea of the song..she can sing you the chorus and she wants to hear the song again..she likes the song. Did The Singer sing to her or announce at her? The fourth wall is usually not broken from singers to fans. Commercials are a different and confusing animal. Why? A song has a climax..does a commercial? Tie up loose ends. Thanks Dan for your brilliant work and your great patience with those that sadly don’t listen to you and miss out on better numbers.

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• Blaine Parker September 10, 2011, 10:29 am

  Oh, please. That doesn’t happen.

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• scott snailham September 10, 2011, 10:41 am

  just reminds me why I got out of radio production and talking to americans at a call center, even irates, is more tolerable then dealing with sales weasels….

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• John McLain September 10, 2011, 11:48 am

  Thanks for the laugh, Dan (and Grease) – that brings back some memories!!

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• kathy September 10, 2011, 1:20 pm

  As an experienced traffic and continuity director since 1995. I remember my college prof telling me that traffic/contin people are treated so well and its a stable job for life…I think he forgot the part that sales are NOT NICE ON DEADLINES…..YOU GET PAID LIKE A SALES ASST WHEN YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF THE REVENUE OF THE RADIO STATIONS, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND THEY FORGET ABOUT DEADLINES AND THEY HAVE TO TALK TO THE PROD. DIR. NOT ME….I HAD A LIFE, AND MISSED OUT ON XMAS EVE’S AND BASEBALL GAMES ALL FOR THE STATION BECAUSE I WAS PROUD OF MY STATION AND COMMERCIALS ON THE AIR. BUT IF IT DIDN’T GET A PAYCHECK ON A FRIDAY, I COULDN’T BUY MY SON THE NEWEST NIKES OUT…..LIKE CINDERELLA AT THE BALL.

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• kathy September 10, 2011, 1:47 pm

  In addition, to me being home alone on medical leave and appealling my ltd and ssdi cases, I’ve taken up voice, guitar and piano. It’s a dream I’ve had forever. But a kid at 20, going to college and working in radio from a board op to a sales asst, going to grad school for that back up career my dad wanted(bless his soul)….Taylor Swift and Kelly Clarkson make me happy while I am stuck at home figuring out what to do with my life.

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• A different Kathy September 10, 2011, 2:52 pm

  Great video! What’s even better is giving the tape (digital audio/reel/cassette) to the client and hearing the ad on a different station. In the meanwhile, they cancelled the contract with you!

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• Scott Snailham September 10, 2011, 7:17 pm

  herb tarlek wasn’t too far from the true sales weasel….

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• Tito Gray September 10, 2011, 7:46 pm

  Been there . . . done ALL of that many times over – – but I never did figure out (till just now) why I was the most pissed off guy at the station . . . I just thought that’s the way it is . . . Ahhhhh Radio! Gottaluvit!

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• Christopher (Lee) Boone September 11, 2011, 8:40 am

  PERFECT!! Absolutely perfect!!!
  Yes that’s radio for ya…

  Chris
  KPAC, KAYC & KAYD, KLVI (among others) mid-late 1970s
  Was in telecom for a number of years and then an event happened
  (I got back into radio full time!)
  ABC Radio Networks (1996-1998)
  KDMX/KEGL Chief Engineer 1998-2001
  and 1190 (the former KLIF) KFXR Dallas, 2001
  but have been in/around broadcast radio since 1975

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• Nancy September 14, 2011, 11:36 am

  Have you been in our studios? 😀

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• Gibbs September 15, 2011, 6:57 am

  Cart decks, reel-to-reels, cassettes … damn I miss those days 🙂

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• John Peace September 22, 2011, 7:52 am

  Had a Sales Rep that was constantly turning in “spec” spot orders.
  I produced 4-5 specs a day for this lady. Yet none of the prospective clients were signing contracts. I asked the rep…what’s up with the specs and no orders coming in ?? She said, I’m sorry John, nobody likes your spots…I can’t sell them. WHAT ?? So I came to the conclusion that she was just turning in spec orders to appear as if she were trying to do her job. The prospects never “heard” the spots. So for two weeks she kept turning in spec orders, and I simply gave her “BLANK” cassettes. Not only did she not play spots for clients, she never listened to them herself. I clued in the Sales Manager as to what I was doing. After two weeks I asked again..what’s up with all the specs and no orders coming in ? She said again, I’m sorry John but your production just does not measure up to the competitions. BAM…. I dropped the bomb. Hey lady how did those spots the past two weeks sound ? She said they sounded okay to me but clients just don’t like ’em. I pointed to the Sales Manager and said should you tell her that all of the tapes for the past two weeks were blank or should you ??? Sales Manager immediately called her into his office for a private meeting .

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