New Guy

[Brother Cliff]

Greetings,

I am a radio professional who will be moving into the Allentown area sometime in late October, early November.  My wife is being re-located by her company. I’ve accumulated about 10 years of experience in radio and the music industry.  I’ve been a Radio Promotions person for a record label, a Music Director, News Director, Production Director, and specialty show host.  Over the years I’ve managed to get a pretty decent understanding of the way radio stations work…and the way they shouldn’t.

I’m looking for a nice quiet night or overnight position at a well run radio station and was wondering if I could request input from people with experience in the market as to which places I should look, and which ones I should avoid.  I am a thirty-something cat who is really just looking for a new start.

Any thoughts?  I would love to find a nice sweet non-commercial to work for with a modest to reasonable salary, but I would certainly be willing to work for the right commercial station that had their proverbial ducks in a row.  I’d prefer small group ownership to large but that’s certainly not a deal breaker.

Would love any useful tips.

[lehighvalley]

If you like a $6.00 an hour radio gig, than Allentown is the place for you.

[drpickle]

  Contact Neil Hever at WDIY.org.   Also stop in and talk to Joe Timmer at WGPA.   Sorry, there's no money involved but you'll have fun.

[cisco_d]

If you like a $6.00 an hour radio gig, than Allentown is the place for you.

$7-8/hr. i heard was the average.

[Brother Cliff]

If you like a $6.00 an hour radio gig, than Allentown is the place for you.

Thanks for the response, very insightful.

Money, is the factor I weigh the least in radio…no one makes a grip of cash in my experience.  Personally I would much rather find a station that isn’t A.  Run by morons (not that there are any in Allentown that are…I just don’t know…hence the post).  B.  Feel relatively good about the work I am doing, and C.  Work with a group of people that can both impart their experience to me, and me to them.

To sum up...I’m looking for something that doesn’t suck.

Money would be nice…but I’ve been well paid and hated my job…and I’ve been underpaid, and loved it.  Soo…money…not really the end all of everything.

[Rockin Rob]

  Contact Neil Hever at WDIY.org.   Also stop in and talk to Joe Timmer at WGPA.   Sorry, there's no money involved but you'll have fun.

Ummmm, he WILL expect you to sell airtime.....

[early2rise]

If you can buy airtime...you'll do OK
If you can sell airtime...you'll do ok

If you cannot do either, then make the commute to the Philly or North Jersey market.

That's the truth. Don't let anyone tell you any different.

There is no real radio career in the LV.

It's a good thing your wife has a job. Talk to Ken M. He'll tell you.

[chuckhixson]

If you like a $6.00 an hour radio gig, than Allentown is the place for you.

Personally I would much rather find a station that isn’t A.  Run by morons (not that there are any in Allentown that are…I just don’t know…hence the post). 

To sum up...I’m looking for something that doesn’t suck.

Well, doesn't look like he'll want to work for Joe Timmer and WGPA.

[catfudisgud]

Well, doesn't look like he'll want to work for Joe Timmer and WGPA.

Baaaaaaaaa ZING!

[Brother Cliff]

Well thanks for the input guys all of it is very insightful and much appreciated.  I’m looking forward to being in the area (Moving from Iowa…not the most exciting place in the world).  I’m also looking forward to making some new radio buds.  By the way…I’m a die hard Cubs fan, how outta place am I going to be in Phillies country?

Also…can anyone tell me what the local music scene is like?  Any good outdoor venues?  Good local talent?