This is hardly a secret, but most people don’t know that the title of Buddy Holly’s “That’ll Be The Day” was inspired by John Wayne’s repeatedly uttering that phrase during the film, THE SEEKERS….
Radio programming legend Chuck Blore describes the stunt that attracted the attention of the Los Angeles Police Department immediately before the launch of KFWB/Color Radio.
August, 1996: 
Dick Orkin and I produced the very first International Radio Creative & Production Summit, here in Los Angeles.
How did we happen to come up with that name for the event?
Well, during most of our months of preparation we didn’t have a name for it. When it came time to issue invitations to our list of desired guest speakers, however, we realized we had to give it some sort of temporary name.
That list included some pretty big names, and we didn’t want to give the (accurate) impression that Dick and I were making this whole thing up as we went along.
So Dick said to me, “Look, let’s just make up some impressive-sounding name that we can use when contacting these guest speakers, and then later on we’ll change it.”
The International Radio Creative & Voiceover Summit was the most pretentious title we could come up with.
Later, of course, we were too lazy to replace it with a more modest title. (Anyone having suggestions on how to make it sound even more pretentious is welcome to submit your suggestions.)
It’s amazing how much smarter I’ve become about how to get along with radio station management now that I no longer have to do it.
Back in my disc jockey and PD days, my idea of “diplomacy” was to try not to raise my voice while pointing out to my manager why he or she was an idiot.
A while ago I received a help request from the program director of a station that is owned by a large radio group:
“Months ago I received corporate approval to attend an industry conference, with my registration to be paid for by the radio station. I’m expected to participate in the corporate programming meetings prior to the conference.
“But I can’t get the station manager to issue a check for the registration. Whenever I ask about it, he just says, ‘We’ll have to talk about that later.’
“I’m already paying my own travel and hotel expenses. Compared to how much money I’m making here, I’ll have to go into debt if I pay the registration fee, too.
“Frankly, if I weren’t expected to be at the programming meetings, I’d be happy to stay home. But I’m on the roster of attendees, and they expect me to be there.
“Should I remain passive and not make a big deal about it? Should I call the Corporate Director of Programming and ask him to call my GM? Or should I take vacation days and register myself with no reimbursement?”
Instead of asking the Corporate Director of Programming to call the GM (which could cause you conflict with the GM), I’d suggest calling him and saying, “I just wanted to check in with you and let you know that it looks like I won’t be able to attend the meeting at (Event). Although it was in the budget, I just can’t seem to get our GM to authorize the registration.”
By putting this in a phone call rather than an e-mail, the message can’t be copied & passed around to other people…e.g., the GM.
Meanwhile, you’re not complaining about anything or anyone. You’re simply calling the Corporate Director of Programming, apologetically, to explain why you can’t be at that meeting he wants you to attend.
Don Pelham
On Tuesday, Don Pelham spent 2.5 hours teaching radio station account executives How To Sell Radio Advertising To Car Dealers.
I’m making the mp3 recording (along with the PDF Study Guide) available for download for just a few days. If you’re a radio station account exec, GSM, GM, etc., you really should download your copy now.
But even if you don’t, here’s a free excerpt that should help you: Don’s Five Questions You Should Ask The Car Dealer.
