I sit here in my studio today working on a project for one of my west coast stations. And I am reminded by the amount of love and work that goes into one of these station imaging promos or bunches of sweepers...I sure was looking forward to submitting some of my production work from my independent production studio in the RAP Production Awards. In the past few years, however, I found there was no category for those of us who do work for "other" stations besides our own. Well, that all changed this past year as RAP included "by popular demand" a category, however limited, for production house studios.
I was thrilled. I'm not one usually entering contests, Addy awards, etc., but THIS would be a competition judged by my peers, ones who come from all levels of markets, ability and experience. I thought this would be a wonderful challenge in my chosen profession.
I sent in my tape, enclosed a check, and off it went to Irving, Texas. Many days passed. I spoke about my entry to RAP to my wife, son and a few of my friends. I can't describe the disappointment I felt after I received my check back with a note telling me politely that there had not been enough entries to make it a fair competition in this new category.
This would have been a great opportunity for those of us who wear two hats and produce out of our own home studios or production houses for radio stations outside our markets. What a big step backwards we have taken this year.
I only hope those who are eligible next year will take the time to enter and make this competition a fair one for everyone who subscribes to RAP...not just a few at the front of the lines.
Johnny George
HotSpots! Creative Communications
Indianapolis, Indiana
Dear Johnny,
Thanks for YOUR support of the Radio And Production Awards category for Independent Production Houses. I was just as surprised as you to discover how few people entered this category after all the calls I received requesting it. We may give the categories another try next year, but that decision will depend upon the input we receive from production houses between now and then. Spread the word!
JV
After reading Dennis Daniel's column last month in RAP [March '96 Tales of the Tape], I had to send in this letter of support. The fact of the matter is, Dennis and I discussed his article before it went to print. One of the things I like best about Denny is that he's always looking for feedback from colleagues in the biz. A true pro!
I've got to say that what Dennis wrote not only has validity, but to my way of thinking, can be used as a clear indicator as to how professionally one takes their career. I cannot believe that anyone could make it to a major market in production and be entirely clueless as to how an advertising agency works. If this is your case, I suggest you get your butt and most other parts of your anatomy in to an agency for a day and see what reality is like. See what it's like to put up with clients who truly don't have a clue, but because they spend money, they think it means they do.
If there are no agencies available to you, then go out with some of your sales reps at your station. You would be amazed at the crap they have to put up with. Yes, so do we, but since when has a mutual whining society ever produced anything of benefit?
The point I'm making is, if you ever want someone to see your point of view, start with seeing it from their point of view. In order to make your agenda theirs, make their agenda yours. You're upset that you have to do a spec and pay for the overnight delivery? Try doing fifty commercial campaigns every year that cost thousands of dollars in production fees on spec. That's what an ad agency does. You want to get work from agencies? You're going to have to play by their reality. Think you're above all that? Then it looks like you're going to be above getting work.
Don't like it that the ad agency calls at the last minute with twenty changes in their spots? Try standing in line at the unemployment agency for a couple of hours. Yes, it's horrible the way we are treated at our jobs. The crap we have to do to get paid. There's a four-letter word for it: WORK. You don't like the work? You don't have to do it.
Just like Dennis says, the ad agencies have the same problems we do, it's just that it costs them more and they have a thousand times the pressure that we do. Not fair? Define "fair." You name for me one work environment on this entire planet that's "fair" and I'll be the first one at the door in the morning.
Dennis' article should be required reading for everyone in production! And I'd say that even if he wasn't paying me! Which, I just realized, he isn't. Drat.
John Pellegrini, Production Director
WKLQ, Grand Rapids, MI
I'm the new Continuity Director for the Manhattan and Little Apple Broadcasting Companies. For six months now, I have been reading Radio And Production Magazine, and I have to say it's the best production magazine I've read.
I'm pretty new to this copy writing stuff (1 and a half years), and for a beginning writer like me, your magazine's articles and interviews offer a lot of ideas and encouragement for those days when creativity isn't exactly flowing freely. I've also passed several of your articles on to the sales staff and the PDs.
Just wanted to let you know you put together a pretty mean production magazine and that I'm anxiously waiting for next month's edition. Thanks again for all the inspiration!
Shedera Bausch, Continuity Director
KMAN/KMKF/KXBZ, Manhattan, KS
Dear Shedera,
Thank YOU for the inspiration to do it all over again next month!
JV
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