A Loyal Reader (manager of a radio group in a tropical climate) Writes:
Our board of directors wants to enforce a business dress code for the DJ’s.
The DJ’s are feeling very bad about this.
What is your opinion?
Unless your board has evidence that enforcing a business casual dress code will:
A) Improve the ability of the DJs to communicate effectively to their listeners
or
B) Increase your listeners’ enjoyment of your radio programs
or
C) Increase your DJs’ enjoyment of their jobs…..
I can’t imagine why they would do such a thing.
Most likely it would communicate to your DJs that the board doesn’t understand what the radio talents actually do and would make your DJs feel unappreciated and disrespected.
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Dan, I never want to be wearing an old t-shirt and shorts that are shorter than they ought to be when being introduced to a client getting the nickel tour from an AE. Personalities should take it upon themselves to be presentable, in case an unexpected circumstance arises.
But a dress code? What, ties? Blazers? Badly-made knit shirts with the station logo on the pocket? I say nay, nay!
There is nothing wrong with having your air -staff looking professional. However, their dress cod e needs to reflect their income. It’s not fair to require them to wear a shirt and tie if your paying them a salary that enables to buy T-shirts at Wall*mart.
Yeah, I’m with Mike. Jocks should at least be presentable, because you never know who’s walking into the studio. At my company, there’s a video monitor in the reception area showing the studio action to visitors, so there’s also that consideration.
But I agree that going much beyond “be presentable” is overkill.
Wow, that’s nonsense. Sounds like an instance of higher-ups who get paid too much and think too little.
I’m with Mike Bratton and JB. DJs should take it on themselves to look presentable, and only if you have a truly sorry lookin’ bunch of resistent schlubs should a dress code be instated–and “business casual” ain’t it. Maybe more like no visible stink lines, no socks with sandals, no crop tops, etc.
I would never stroll in with sweatpants and slippers on but a suit and tie on an entertainment based show… I would without hesitation go on the air with the issue. My phones would go bananas over this… In fact I may steal and fabricate my own drama for this… yes…
Thanks Dan!
I always try to look presentable, but…
They’ll never take my flip-flops from me!
The “tropical climate” comment to me means perhaps there is a modesty issue among the female staff. If that is the case I can understand the desire to have some sort of a basic dress code.
My jocks can’t allowed to wear cutoffs or gym shorts/pants during the week, and can’t wear flip-flops ever (there was an incident), but otherwise, I don’t care. They don’t have to be well-dressed to entertain. (Something tells me that most of the late-night hosts would kill the suits if the networks would let them.)
This usually comes from management’s view that the DJs are part of a zoo that can be shown off to clients. Walk the client through the station, let him or her walk by the cage(s), I mean control rooms and watch the performer work. (Dance monkey dance!) I once had a manager comment on my unprofessional dress (jeans and a golf shirt) and I told her point blank, if your client doesn’t like the way I dress :
1) Don’t treat me like something on display and for sale (it’s my listeners you want, not me)
2) If my apparel cost you a sale, you probably weren’t going to get the sale in the first place and/or you’re probably not very good at sales.
3) DJs work in the theatre of the mind, showing a client the on-air people ruins the illusion. If you’re selling Oz, why pull back the curtain?
Biff, I’ve always looked at it as if the tour is through NASA or NORAD, not a zoo. Clients are (or at least they used to be) generally far more impressed than we imagine they could be to see “where the magic happens.”
Mike… NASA? NORAD? Radio as rocket science? lol. I truly believe the control room tour can be format specific too. But if the control room is “where the magic happens”, why show how your talent is “sawing the woman in half” (metaphorically I hope)? Like I said “if you’re selling Oz, why pull back the curtain?”
In my mind’s eye I expect that crazy CHR host to look a certain way and I expect a Classic Rock host to look a certain way… actually meeting them can only make my perception wrong. Why do that? Furthermore, when I go to buy a carpet I don’t expect to get a tour of the back and watch the forklift guy at work, why should the carpet guy to get to see backstage where I work? Hey, it’s just my opinion though.
In the Aussie bush where the temps are constantly above 30 degrees Celsius I wear cargo style shorts and T shirts and collared promo shirts, for my company to want me to dress up would be a no go as the aircon is an ancient unit that hardly works and to sit in a stuffy studio all dressed up with no where to go would not be a good working envioroment and have a really cranky announcer not producing his best
I worked for a company that required the jocks to wear tuxes to every remote broadcast! lasted for almost a decade. Then my partner developed heat exhaustion broadcasting from a asphalt parking lot in 100 degree heat! Ironically it was a hot tub dealer! That ended that.
When I worked at LG73 in Vancouver in the early 80s, we had a great jock called Mike McCoy who would do remotes wearing a tux — but on his feet he wore the grungiest, filthiest, toes-poking-through-holes sneakers. The effect was hilarious. People would see the immaculate tux — then their eyes would descend to his shoes. Very funny.
Jack — please don’t leaving us hanging. Tell us all about “The Flip-Flop Incident.” Or at least provide a link to CNN’s coverage. Please!
I’ve always heard: There is a reason we’re on radio…and not TV.
I’m sure that says it all….