The Industry

     Today I made stuff happen. I woke up this morning and I decided I’m going to take my teachers advice about marketing this blog. My teacher told me to promote it to radio magazines, so that’s what I did. I spent the morning designing and putting together a sales package and sent it out to a bunch of publications. That was the majority of my day, well that, and more applications and I recognize that this is boring to read. So, because there isn’t much else to say about that I thought I would share an email I got from Brian Bailey, morning show co-host on 107.3 Kool FM in Victoria. WOOT!

If you have been following this blog for awhile you will have read all about Scott McGregor who was, up until this weekend, the afternoon host on Kool FM (he’s now in Alberta getting married… congratulations!). Well Brian, who is part of one of the best morning combo’s out there, sent me an email because he didn’t want to be outdone haha! This is what Brian has to say:

“Hey Mitch,

 I can’t be outdone by Scott McGregor, so here is my history: 

• Graduated from Fanshawe College in 2000 (suck it, BCIT)
• First gig was part-time weekend swing at Mix 97 Belleville (actual first gig was filling in for the station’s janitor while he was on vacation… no joke, the dude made twice what they were paying me)
• 2nd gig was evenings/weekends, then Afternoons/Music Director at Q92 Sudbury (PD Terry Callaghan was a great mentor and I think I made him cry one time when I played some new U2 for him.)
• 3rd gig was mornings at Big 105 in Red Deer (Getting up at 4am = the WORST.)
• Now I’m co-hosting mornings at KOOL FM in Victoria and loving life.  4am is still the WORST.

 My advice? 

• do everything in point form (seriously, don’t blab on forever)
• exercise (our jobs require NO physical activity and you’ll feel like a slob)
• Work at the deli - everyone has a few crappy jobs waiting tables and selling jeans while they’re working on getting a foot in the door.
• write stuff down (because you’ll think of funny things for on-air but then forget them)
• write more stuff down (script out your breaks when you’re getting started.  Write them like you would say them if you were having a casual conversation)
• Ask yourself - would I want to listen to this?  Aircheck yourself, because sometimes things sound good in your head but then go horribly horribly wrong.  Not that I’ve ever had that happen to me.

 Cheers, Brian” 

Brian has some really great points… although that excercise thing… yeah, I’ll start that next Monday, I swear. It’s funny, because although I don’t really want to go back to working at the deli, I’m realizing that when I get my first job, I’m most likely not going to be able to survive on one salary. The latest job I applied for starts at $20,000 a year and that’s full-time… yup… not a whole lot. I think Brian has it right, being the janitor on the side might be what you need to survive. 
Also, airchecking yourself is a must! Although I have only been on campus radio, I still made sure to listen back to all of my stuff. I want to make sure my levels are good, I’m not blabbing on etc. This is an important part of the job… and if you hate the sound of your voice, well, I think it is easy to say that you’re in the wrong business!
Thanks Brian for contributing and if you want to hear more from Brian make sure to tune into Kool Mornings on 107.3 Kool FM or follow their twitter and blog.
Are you impressed that I was able to avoid using “kool” puns throughout this whole post? Ya, me too!
-Mitch