The Industry

     What can I say about Tim. Tim is also another recent BCIT radio grad that has done everything right. He is successfully working (what a jerk haha) as a newsie in Red Deer, Alberta. I asked him if he would be willing to share how he went from BCIT to Red Deer and, well, this is his story.

“When BCIT’s Radio program said they required an internship… I called my cousin. He owns LA Radio Group in Red Deer and Lacombe, Alberta. (This could be a good thing..?) Anyway, flew over to Alberta on April 25th, and the mission began. On-air in some capacity was my goal…

My weeks were originally broken into Monday – Off, Tuesday – Off, Wednesday – Newsroom, Thursday – Newsroom, Friday – Promotions, Saturday – On-air/promotions, Sunday – On-air. Along the way I also spent time answering phones, writing promo’s, voicing and producing commercials and sitting in on many on-air shows.

I lived in my cousin’s basement… the guy who owns the stations. No rent, just a promise to play mini-stick hockey with his kids and tutor them in math. Steal of a deal for an intern…

My first big break came as a result of the work party… Average age between the stations is probably in the late twenties, early thirties… being twenty, the parties I know are different. But, I kept my composure, socialized with everyone… and oh yeah, the Sales Manager decided to bring her 18 year-old daughter as well… hmm, set up? Perhaps, but it worked. Picked up a number at the end of the night…

Why does that matter? Well, Diesel and Rae from the morning show invited me to sit in on Monday’s show (partly because I helped Diesel move furniture over the weekend), so he thought he owed to teach me a thing or two… Before I know it, a mic was thrown in my face, and I’m live on the #1 morning show in Red Deer. They ask me how my “new girlfriend” was… make a huge deal about it, take the liberty to schedule a date for us two that night, and had callers share where they thought we should go… meanwhile I was sent to a major intersection to hold a sign “I HAVE A DATE TONIGHT; HONK FOR LUCK”… I’m a fairly quiet, conservative guy when it comes to relationships… but a chance to impress my colleagues presented itself. So I sucked it up, got out of my shell… and became a clown.

It paid off. The PD’s saw I had passion and maybe a few drops of talent, so I had more than a few chances to prove my worth on-air; both at Sunny 94 (Classic Hits), and Kraze 101.3 (Top 40).  I Learned so much from working with a new system, format, and actually speaking with MANY callers… (BCIT grads know, one caller a year was reason to celebrate). I was known as Tim James on Sunny, and Tim “The Daughter Dater” Intern on Kraze. Too much fun…

However, I realized my talent wasn’t enough for me to steal a position or cause the PD’s to create a new time slot just to accompany me… so I shifted to my other interest; news. Word around the station was they were searching for a new newsie for Afternoons.

I didn’t take any days off in the last two weeks… did as much as I could working in the newsroom; covering events, interviewing, chopping clips, writing stories, phoning for information…There was an opening, and I had to prove I wanted it.

Turns out, an inexperienced, non-journalist, radio grad, that never has lived in the area, is an acceptable fit for a mid-market afternoon drive news position… I got hired. Anything is possible… so, there must have been a few things I did right along the way…

I could tell you I got my job from knowing people. Or, getting lucky. Or, dating the Sales Manager’s daughter. Or, demonstrating a strong work ethic. Or, exploring all parts of the station and trying to connect with everyone. Or, not embarrassing myself by acting my age at the staff party. Or, not having have an ego. Or, getting an internship where I had a reasonable potential to earn a position. Or, because my boss also likes the Canucks…

But, you’ll find your own way into the business. There isn’t one tip that will push you above the rest… just like how there isn’t one secret to getting ripped abs in two weeks.

If I had to focus on one idea for new broadcasters… drop the ego. Completely. Graduating entitles you to nothing. Ten years of acting experience entitles you to nothing. Hell, even chiseled pecs and rock hard calves entitles you to nothing! Don’t think you are better than someone else. Don’t say you are better than someone else. Prove it.

Hope that helps… this coming from a rookie just starting his 3^rd week. Take it for what it’s worth.

Tim James”

Pretty cool stuff. There is no doubt in my mind that Tim is going to be the next Tony Parsons (if you don’t know who that is… think of the Chuck Norris of News Broadcasting!). Again if you want to contact Tim you can find him in all 140 characters or less on twitter @timothyjamesca or you can go to his website timothyjames.ca

This is also going to spin the next adventure for this blog. If you, radio person or otherwise have had a job that well, wasn’t the greatest, or perhaps not what you thought it was going to be like. I want to know about it. This blogs main focus is radio, but it has similar messages to everyone who ever needs to get a job… so let’s get everyone involved. Crappy job, weird interview, crazy boss, whatever the case may be. Write it up and send it to mitch.hawes@gmail.com and you could be featured on here! Just sayin’ you could be famous!