Any sports radio guys around?

[JackS]

I left sports radio for print.  Best thing I have ever done for myself, hands down.  My gig in sports radio was amazing, and something that most men dream of, let alone women (like me), but then I transitioned to a new place after I graduated a year ago, and realized I couldn't be in radio anymore. 

Everyone is right when they tell you that it will be a long time before you can make it big in radio.  I was lucky to live in the same community as one of the largest sports marketing and broadcasting firms in the country, oh, and be the daughter of the executive producer.  That's the only reason I was able to even step into the business.  To be anything in radio, you have to know people, and I am not talking about meeting someone and then accepting that they "know" you.  The list of references has to be impressive to get into a market that will pay you any amount of money.  That's how I made my transition after I graduated.  I knew someone, and they gave me a chance.  Anyway, just my experiences; take it for what it's worth.  Feel free to PM me if you have anymore questions or want any advice where to go in sports radio to be successful.  I am an open book on the subject.

Good post. There are so few good full-time radio sports jobs that you need more than just talent to get anywhere. "Who you know" helps in any biz, but it's far more pronouced in radio than in print or TV. Talent can get you places in print or TV. Radio is almost 100% luck.

 

[spup1122]

Being born into sports radio helped, too. I realized that I didn't really want to live off my father's legacy, though. Then, I figured out print was a better match for me, but for some people radio is great. I just didn't wnat to have to depend on who I knew for the rest of my life. I wanted to be able to show my talent and make a career somewhat based on talent. Again, that's just my opinion, so take it for what it's worth, but if you believe in talent taking you places, I would go into print. Radio is a lot more about who you know and where you can get through those contacts.. I know a lot of radio people who have zero talent, but they're in the position they're in because they knew someone important.

 

[JackS]

I consider luck and being born into sports radio one in the same.

 

[spup1122]

I consider luck and being born into sports radio one in the same. 

Good point. Very good point.

 

[soccer dad]

success at sports radio is determined by two things:

1) how seriously the station takes itself and 2) how seriously you take yourself.

questions you should be asking of your employer: is it strictly a rip-apart the newspaper and react type of place, or does it have some good reporters? does it report any goofy rumour it hears, or does it actually check? (contrary to what many of the print virgins on the board may think, there are actually places in the world that do the latter of the last two, and not the former.) also: how often is there turnover among the hosts/staff, even the format? are schedules put out well in advance, or haphazardly thrown together? things like that. i listen alot to the fan 590 in toronto on-line. in my opinion, it is the best sports radio station out there. it breaks stuff, doesn just toss shirt out there, and its guys are respected. it launched the careers of dan shulman & elliotte friedman, both of whom went on to bigger and better through the opportunities they received. its afternoon drive host, bob mccown (who i think is one of the best broadcasters anywhere) is believed to make $500,000/year between his radio and simulcast work -- which is enormous in this country.

questions you should be asking of yourself: how hard do you want to work? will you show your face at games, meet people, do your own reporting/interviewing, or do you just want to sit in a studio and spout? look at those two reporters banned from the royals. i don't know either, but they seem to be respected. you can follow them, or you can follow the stereotypical sports radio loser mocked by the majority on this board.

 

[JackS]

Excellent point about format changes, and as a related point, ownership changes. So often in radio a new owner comes in and just totally blows the place up...new format, new staff, new everything. You're screwed. You don't see scenarios like that in print or television. Sure, new ownership comes in and tweaks things in print and TV, but they generally don't eliminate the sports section or the nightly sportscasts.

You mention a top notch sports radio station in Toronto, but that's the problem. There are not many stations like that. And that's why good full time jobs are so scarce.

I think you can take yourself very seriously and still go nowhere in sports radio.

 

[write then drink]

Radio sports is a dead end.  I've been there.  The only way you'll eat anything other than cheese sandwiches is if you're also a salesperson.

I think not