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I have always (secretly) thanked Trevor Egerton (2nd CEO of 1XX in Whakatane NZ) who in my very early days when it was all going to my head hugely, (33 years ago) took me aside and told me I was a jumped up little s**t doing late nights on a rural station, and that I should get a serious and swift grip on what I was and where I was if I wanted to stay in the business!! I did - and I did. Thanks Trev - God I must have been unbearable!! Oh - and Paul Lineham for being a huge mentor and idol.
I agree with Rob Colligan. Most industries have some sort of ongoing training so you can get ahead. Why hasn't radio ? Imagine what sort of people the industry could attract. It needs a firm career path so people know they're achieving. As for mentors, I have to pay homage to the late Des Ince (formerly of 2GN Goulburn) who took the time to guide whatever raw talent I had back then. Hello Steve Broadhead (wherever you are now)! Thank you guys
I fell into community Radio by accident, but as good luck would have it, the Radio Station I fell into, 98.9 North West FM, has a tremendous executive that allow all presenters to put their ideas forward and are treated with respect. Bob & Jean Rau are the President and Secretary and what meagre success I can lay claim to is on account of their guidance, councel and mentoring. I now 'buddy up' with any of our new presenters who may need a little confidence boost to start out in this great industry.
Anyone in brisbane in the mid to late 80's will remeber one of my inspirations. Dave Daley and the Boogie Check on Stereo 10!! It was great radio, and had a lot of interesting "characters" including fluffy the cleaner and granny. It proved to me that radio can be wacky fun and it even had me listening to AM radio, not that there was much on FM in Brisbane in those days. Great radio lasts through the ages. Onya Dave! and hats off to Steve and Jess from b105.
There are several people in regional NSW radio that have helped me tremendously and with whom I have a fabulous friendship with. They are Dave Cochrane, Mike Byrne and Mike Duncan. Another old bloke who was always helpful and loved feedback and that was John "Jack" McGahen.
Several people in Adelaide drove me to this industry Neil Humphries, Vaughn Harvey,Greg Clarke and a whole host of others. More recently people like Derryn Hinch and other talk radio announcers.
But I suppose the biggest thing that makes you determined to succeed in this game is the hundreds of knock-backs you receive trying to get into this industry. The more knock-backs the harder you try.
I've been fortunate enough to have been given advice from some of the best in the game, everything from basic technical knowledge to mike technique. Also I have been given the freedom to be creative, and warmly supplied with regular constructive feedback from those interested in my career direction, eg. John Maizels (ex-broadcaster now tech guru), Barry Spicer (substantial broadcasting experience) and Luke Simpson (production whiz!). My extra special thanks goes to a great man who is no longer with us, the v/o professional Matt Ponsonby who taught me how to deliver a great live read. Also all those guys from my early days in community radio who let me sit in and observe their work, eg. Jason Morrison, Paul Murray, Cameron Hamilton and Paul Richards. Thanks to all of those people over the years who have believed in me and given me advice when I needed direction.
This is the first topic that has made me want to write.
Without the help of Tony Francis who was the PD of 5CC Pt.Lincoln I would never had got a foot in the door, I think he's out of radio now.
Duncan Potts (5CS) now at StarWagga helped me heaps in the early years plenty, particularly when you've just moved out of home away from family for the first time. Mike Crowhurst at Rox/Star Port Macq gave me my 2nd gig and taught me heaps, great team up there up Ashley Myatt, Moz and Mark "mr wobbly" Starchan, as a jock you learn not only to be a good on personality, but how to be a good team member, and learn the value of great sales relationships. I think it's not only important to be good on air, but especially in regional markets, to able to work well with sales. Rod Lougoon (now at Cairns) knows how to run a great Promotions Apartment.
My current GM Paul O'Connor seems to know a hell of a lot about what he's doing too, on air and sales.
Lastly, I agree about training, not just on going, but with new jocks.
When a new sales person arrives there are videos to watch, book and material to read, meetings with clients and the GM, plenty of training.
For announcers it's, "here's your key and code, the light switch is here, and this is the studio, mic button there and this is the headphone volume - good luck".
In this day of a much tightened ship my first PD and he acknowledges it proudly would be Graham Gould of Gympie- an absolute bear of a man who was always encouraging and human, generous with compliments and a great sense of humour. You would get into work with a spring in your step knowing the PD would be there to answer questions and put you at your ease and make you laugh. I was compiling the 4GY record library and he said just to keep on with it and enjoy it, which I did. Now I'm MD of a popular regional station and know I learnt plenty from the task and Graham and the rest of the highly motivated team who were at 4GY in the early 90s. Go Gouldy and I hope you're doing fine!!!! Cheers Ruth Stumer
While I now work in PR full-time and in radio part-time, I know I wouldn't have achieved anything without some key people. Ray Veldre, who took me for work experience at 2CC in 1987 and let me go back year after year, and took me on for 6 months in my final year of uni as part of my studies. That 1987 stint made up my mind that radio journalism was for me. Without Ray allowing me so much access to 2CC over the years, I would never have had the experience I needed to get a job. "Buzzard" (Murray O) at 2UE Sydney, who encouraged me to keep trying and gave me a lot of advice; Scott Mayman, who never complained when I took his offer to call often for news of any jobs - and who put me onto what became my first job; Brendan Forde, who gave me my first gig at 2LF Young; David Glyde, who hired me in Canberra and gave me so much great advice and Brad Storey, PD in Canberra who - with Dave - taught me so much about presentation and style. I hope some of those people read this and know how much I truly appreciate everything they did for me.
I was fortunate to of been offered a position at Fox Sports Television in TV PRODUCTION as a cadet in 2001-2000 at the age of 20.Now 21, The people that really helped me over my 12 month traineeship are guys like, Mike Keough, Lauren Phillps, Sally Goodman , Leanne Chenery and how could I forget Ernie.
People such as these remarkable guys really did beleive in me and told me to stay focused and that if you persue your dreams. nothing will stand inyour way . THis advise has helped me alot because after the training at foxsports I have been offered casual work with Ch7 ABCTV.
In more recent times I would like to thank Aaron KEARNEY from radio 1143 2HD Newcastle, I was emailing Aaron nearly everyday, and has I say persistants pays off, he thought geez this bloke really wants a job, lets give him a go, it was great whilst in lasted, being his sports producer, although changes at HD mean that I am now back out there looking..
Thank you to all those people that I have mentioned in making me that person tnat I am today and beleving in me from the begining..
[email protected] is my email if you would like to say hi to me..
Thanks for the opportunity to voice this segment
A huge thankyou to 2 guys namely Pete Brandtman and Dave Browne if it wasn't for these 2 guys God knows where i would be today , they are an inspiration, a guiding light in a tunnel of darknness, there passion for radio is 2nd to none , they are saints , if only the powers that be in commercial radio had there love , passion and drive the radio industry would be a better place , if you know of these guys , hunt them out ,ask them questions ,learn from them , hail there genius, for they are truly unique
The wonderful Helen Davies (previously Moore)...my Promotions Director at Triple M Adelaide (she's now Austereo in Sydney). Helen taught me what to trust, what not to trust, the ins and outs, the goods the bads. Her door was always open, she had the rare ability to be a friend and a boss. She is someone who I greatly respect. Oh...and very importantly, at the end of a hard working week in radio, she'd always be the first to join you in a glass of champers!
STEVE AHERN!!!!!! Need i say more?? - One of the Few True Gentleman Of The Radio Industry!!!!!
In 1990, a radio veteran called Hal Todd came to my attention when soon after he was sacked by 3AW, he found his final radio job at 3AK, doing weekend overnights. He delighted in calling the station by it's Italian call sign - Tre-A-Kuppa (3AK in Italian, the station having gone bi-lingual months earlier)
I was only 15 years old when I called him up, I remember what he said to me because it was such an illuminating comment. He spoke about how 3AK was finding it's way in the dark with it's new format after I blurted out an unnecessary comment about how the station's sound was improving after having sounded a bit amateurish to begin with.
He disputed my comment by saying that no one is an amateur, everyone is a star. He taught me a lesson about judgement by challenging me. I fealt embarassed at the time, but I've been grateful ever since.
Hal died in early 1992, he stayed on-air all the way 'til the end.
Donna and those in her circumstances, Its not hard to find a mentor in the radio industry, because most have been in your position earlier on in life. What you have to do is make yourself known and show that you are keen and willing to put in effort and dedication, and if even they don't give you a job, they'll definately give you advice which is beneficial and you'll be able to use...
I arrived in Australia in 1989 with half a dozen years industry experience and went door-knocking. Many remained closed but two doors were opened one by John Eller (Ex 2WS) the other by Ted Seymour (ex FM 104). I thank you both.
the late great Arch Tambakis cos' he took on the whole world ( and lost), and Adrian Renzi from Sun FM (alics springs)who heard my demo tape and said "your hopelesss but you made me laugh so have you can have the job".
A "Mentor" in my view, is a person who facilitates learning. The newbie must get along with the Mentor, and sometimes its handy to listen from time to time, and a desire & willingness to learn is another useful attribute. A mentor must assert the need to know - not just sit back and let what happens happens. Sometimes its the 10 minute chat that spins your mind just once a week that gets you thinking, maybe its the harsh critisism you dont want to hear that you must listen to - a good mentor will not tell you nice things just for their own sake, and a good learner will listen and see why improvements are necessary and not fall back on excuses.
For what it's worth :)