|
PROGRESS REPORT
November 18, 2007
My previous job was killing me. Killing my spirit mostly. I was making 60k per year but I was dying a slow death. Instead of fading away I decided to reinvent myself.
One night I typed radio careers in a search engine and I came across the Get A Mentor Program. I had always been told I had a good voice and should go into radio. I read some info about the program, jotted down the phone# and left a message. The next day I received a call back from a man named Phillip Trout. We talked for about 30 minutes. I liked what I heard and I decided to go forward.
I told him I'd like to intern @ a Top 40 station. I gave him a short list of stations that fit that format in my area and he promised to call me back if he had any leads. After about a week he called me back, asking me to call the Production Director at KSFM, Sacramento's #1 station for hip-hop and R&B. I called and set up an interview.
Once @ the station I had a one on one with a man named Randy Fox. It lasted about 45 minutes. Randy was energetic, comical and honest. Despite him trying to talk me out of going into radio, our meeting went well. Randy attempted to emphasize that only a crazy person would get into radio and one should only pursue it if it's their passion. I didn't really know what he meant at the time but I do now. LoL!
After a few days thinking about it I paid the $6000 fees to G.A.M. and was on my way. I started interning @ KSFM in September of 06.
For a year I went into the station for about 2 hours a week. I learned about production, putting together commercials, operating the board, entering time sensitive info into the various systems and filing papers. The "grunt work" if you will. Eventually my duties increased to voicing 10's, and voicing and producing and 30's and 60 second commercials.Also, I started assisting the promotions team with concerts and street team promotions. Which lead to me board operating 2 nationally syndicated shows on the weekends. The Doug Banks Show on Saturday morning and MTV's TRL weekend countdown show on Sunday mornings from 8-10am. By the way, I still run both these shows till this day.
Yes, there's been the technical, hands on learning that has been involved in this evolution. But frankly, I have learned a lot about life as well from this mentor experience. For example, Randy once told me that the 3 keys to making it in radio were 1)-availability 2) dependability and 3) not screwing up. It wasn't talent, or intelligence or even charisma, as I expected. I think these qualities can be applied to anything in life. First you put your head down work hard and learn all you can. Second, build a reputation and your confidence. Third, network and always strive to get better.
In a lot of ways success is taking pride in what you do. The only way that can happen is if you care about what you're doing.
One time Randy and got to talking. He asked me what good is money if a person is unhappy. "Isn't money supposed to equal happiness?" Randy knowingly asked. He further went on to say that a person is in a lose-lose situation if they're @ a job they're not happy at but make good money. I had to agree. What I learned from this assertion is that at least if you do what you love, you are happy most of the time. If you do what you hate, you are miserable most of the time. Randy and I have conversations like these often and he has been nothing but a blessing.
Let's face it, the 2 things we do the most in our lives is work and sleep. I already had a firm bed I just needed a career I could get loose at. I may have found it.
I was hired in November of this this year. I only make $10 per hour and work on average 10 hours a week. I've been doing overnights from 3-5am every Sunday morning for the last 3 months. Without pay.
I"ll continue to have no weekends for the rest of the year. In addition, I've been told I'll have no Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years this year. As the "new guy" on the roster, I'll be filling in the shifts that the senior jocks will have off. On the flip side, this is my opportunity to shine during prime time hours. We'll see how it goes.
Yes, I make a measly wage and work the worst hours. Yes, I quit my full-time job to dedicate myself to this new career. Yes, I sold my new Scion XB for a 1995 Chrysler to lower my monthly expenses. Yes, I had to take out withdrawals from my 401K and exhaust all my savings. But, I can stomach all these sacrifices because I'm making progress in a career I chose. Or maybe I should say it chose me.
In summary, I will continue to to see where radio leads me. I know I won't be at this station forever and honestly, I want to get into television. I want to host my own talk show someday. I remember in my initial conversation with Phillip Trout, he advised me that radio is a great training ground to get into television. Mr Trout went on to tell me that radio teaches one how to develop their vocal ability, personality, and timing. From experiencing it for myself, this has rang true. So far this is my story and I'm sticking to it. Believe it or not, this is the condensed version. I've come along way and still have along way to go. The saga continues....
Thank you Get A Mentor,
Raja.
www.rapboxx.com
www.myspace.com/rajasmusic
www.rajasmusic.com
|
