Anyone know anything about the broadcasting industry?

[pat fan]

My DS is interested and has a crappy guidance dept. at school. He's a senior this year and we really don't know where to go with. Anyone?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Perhaps you can ask here....

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/index.php?

 

[Jennasis]

Yes. What specifically does he want to do? Doe she want to be a producer, director, editor, a photographer, a reporter, a sports-caster, a weatherman???

I have a degree in Communication Arts and worked for 5 years in television news as a photographer (or camera-man as it is known), a video editor, a live-truck operator, the helicopter photographer and occassionally as a writer. I have an Emmy nomination for my work and recieved a scholarship to attend college based on my work in my HS television production classes.

What type of broadcasting is your son interested in and where do you live? Some colleges have great programs and some are quite pricey.

 

[ducklite]

Is he interested in radio or TV? I do'nt know a thing about TV, but I can help with radio questions. What specifically does he want to do?

Anne

 

[Jennasis]

Awesome ducklite...I was just about to say, if he wants to do radio, I can't help (except for the handful of Radio Broadcasting classes I had to take in college).

 

[ducklite]

Potential positions in radio:

DJ

Program Director

Traffic (this is not announcing traffic reports, but scheduling advertisments)

Music Director

Engineer (two types--one runs the board in the studio and can often second as a producer or on-air talent, and often runs the board in the recording studio to make spots, the other is a very techical position that keeps the broadcast facility up and running.

Producer

Voice-Over/Traffic/Weather/News/sports/other anonymous voice positions (although a lot of radio stations weather/news/traffic/sports positions are credited positions)

Copywriter

Promotions

Marketing

Sales

And a handful of "regular jobs"--HR, administrative, I/T, etc.

At the very top radio stations there will also be jobs as a helicopter pilot, writer, editor, reporter, and more.

Anne

 

[RadioNate]

I can also answer any radio questions. Between DH and I, we've done every job that Anne posted except the 2nd type of engineer and even then DH has a little experience (just never held that title).

 

[Mister Incredible]

Pats Fan,

Where are you in MA? I work for a multimedia production company in NH just over the MA boarder on Rt. 93. We produce TV/Radio commercials and interactive CDs/DVDs.

We have a high school student in today who is in the same boat. She is interested in the business, but not sure what she wants to do.

We have high school kids come in and sit down with our graphic designers, motion graphics (3D), video editor and sound designers.

Check out our website at www.thetroupe.com

 

[LoraJ]

Whether he wants to go into TV or Radio, a communications major would be the way to go.

I think I changed my mind about 10 times as to what I wanted to do in the industry. I ended up in editing.

 

[pat fan]

Oh my goodness! If I had known I'd get such good & fast responses I'd have given more info!

Ok, he is a senior who loves acting/performing. Knowing this won't get him too far (mom trying to be realistic) he'd like to be in front of the camera or the voice on the radio. He isn't interested in the behind the scenes (filminf,editing etc...) he wants to be the star!

Right now he does local theatre, school theatre, select chorus (singing & dancing) and a lot of leadership stuff (student council etc...). He also co-directed and was the narrator for a school library promotional video for the H.S. It airs frequently on local T.V. He is also creating a movie for the History Channel on the local connection of the Undergound Railroad. The powers that be at the school liked the library piece so much they applied for this grant to fund this project.

We live in western Ma. No place I'm sure you've ever heard of. We're about 35-40 minutes away from UMass Amherst. He has gotten a catalog from the Conn. School Of Broadcasting but we really don't know much about it.

Thanks!

 

[Mister Incredible]

Well, first things first, get a good headshot. The more he gets in front of a camera or microphone, the more comfortable he will get. If he wants to do voice overs, get a demo reel together. Check Craigslist.org under the tv/film/video section as local producers are always looking for extras or low pay acting on a saturday. Again, it will all come down to feeling comfortable infront of the camera and mic.

Check you area for local production companies. I am always grabbing my nephew, niece, wife and kids to be extras.

Good Luck!

 

[Robinrs]

Broadcasting... wow...

I've been in all aspects of it since I entered High school.

Like your son I wanted to be in the spotlight also, but found that the power was behind the scenes in college. It's when I started concentrating on directing and writing. I have a degree in Eng Comp Lit and Speech and Theatre. I was the resident playwright for the Davis Ctr of Performing Arts and an assistant director on Broadway.

I worked in Publishing first out of college, Radio second, Home Box Office, Radio again and now, 26 years later, I'm in Cable TV. I've worked in front of and behind the scenes but prefer, believe it or not, beHIND.

He seems to like everything about the creative process. See if he can get some interning jobs in the stations in his area. The actual job is nowhere as FUN as most people think it is and his creativity can be squelched in the industry but let him find his corner of the sky and enjoy it.

 

[ducklite]

I'd be looking at a degree in communications or performing arts (acting) with a communications minor. While in college he REALLY needs to work on the college radio station, and look for a relevant internship. Most of the people I know in radio were hired based on their internships and/or college radio show tapes.

Tell him to make sure he takes a course where he learns basic audio production--a DJ who can run his own board is a LOT more valuable than one who can't.

Anne

 

[LoraJ]

Check you area for local production companies. I am always grabbing my nephew, niece, wife and kids to be extras.

I miss the audio department we used to have. I was always getting pulled in to do voice overs on commercials and shows. although one time they used my voice for a promotion and they aired the spot so much, that I got so sick of hearing me. My SIL who lives on the other side of the country said she was sitting at her desk one day and one of her co-workers was mimicking me. lol.



OP, even if your DS only wants to be in front of the camera, it is highly recommended that he learns everything from producing to editing. There are lots on on air talent out there that have to write their own material, cut their own spots, etc. I've been with the same company for over 12 years. At first we had producers working with us, but now not as much. We do a lot of our own producing, and some of the producers do their own editing.


ETA:
The Connecticut School of Broadcasting is a trade school. I went to a similar school in NYC. They got me an internship at the Geraldo show and a job at a TV studio. When I used to live in Ohio, they had a Connecticut School of Broadcasting there and I considered it. But I talked to a guy I knew who had gone there and the only jobs available were in kansas. You could call them up and see what kind of job placements they usually offer. In that area, they may have some ins with ESPN and A&E. But who knows.

 

[highland3]

I started working in radio at the age of 15 and have worked news/talk, rock country... as a dj, host, reporter, anchor, news director... as well as t.v. production, anchoring and producing.

20 years later... I decided to get out of the biz and get into law enforcement... go figure!!

It's a great field!!!! Any specific questions.... fire away.

 

[Jennasis]

As Robin pointed out, being in front of the camera is far less creative (or rather has far less control over the creativity) than those behind it. If he simply wants to act, then Broadcast isn't for him. Though I've seen plent of reporters "act" (hehehehe) like they know what's going on, it really takes someone witha strong journalistic instinct and background to do what needs to be done.

I'd say a performing arts school or theatre based track might suit him best.

On the positive side, one of my colleagues was a great anchor/reporter at our station. We did MANY news pieces together (it was a piece I did with him that garnered my emmy nom). Well, Bob wanted to get more into comedy and eventually left the station and is now an occassional correspondent on The Daily Show, does extra stuff for the Chapelle Show, has an improv comedy troupe (Nuetrino), was a regular on the short lived "Pepper Dennis" and has done a few comercials (Dominoes and a cell phone). So one CAN indeed break out of broadcasting and get into the acting side more. However I wouldn't count on using BROADCAST as a way to break into acting.

 

[RadioNate]

My first suggestion is to work in the industry. Yes college is helpful but most of the radio people I know don't have degrees. The ones that do aren't always broadcast or communications majors. For every broadcast major, I know 2 who majored in something else.

That said, go to college and major in communications, journalism, something like that. I'd suggest he start making contacts now. Radio stations are always looking for promo kids, interns, whatever. Take ANY job, paid or unpaid he can get at a radio or TV station. Learn everything. I strongly recommend going to a University with a radio and TV station. Absolutely work at both if he can handle it.

The more actual work you do in the industry the better. No one wants a kid with a Radio/TV degree who's never worked at a station.

Radio is a grunt work business unless you are at the Stern, Rush, Seacrest level. Djs run their own boards, the are expected to help with production, some have producers to help them gather their info but they are also expected to bring their own material to the table.

Radio news people, think of stories, track down leads and run all over town. They are expected to be journalists as well as talking heads. There are very few radio news people who show up and read what's given to them.

I haven't done a lot of TV work but I've worked closely with several TV stations. A lot of TV news people are expected to file their own stories and they've even been known to act as their own camera person on occasion.

I know a lot of the 'hosts' on TV started in TV news and while they seemingly popped up out of nowhere, they likely paid their dues somewhere.

He should also know that it is a cut-throat business. Talent jobs are hard to get and hard to keep. There isn't much job security.

I'm not saying for 1 second that he shouldn't go for it. I just like to point out some realities that a lot of HS and even college students haven't realized yet. I know at 17/18 I didn't have a clue. He sounds like a very smart and hard working young man, that will take him far in this business.

In radio talent is important, but who you know is also important. It is a very small industry.

There is nothing wrong with experimenting in both radio and TV in college. He might find he prefers one to the other.

Also don't discount the behind the scenes jobs. I think most people who go into radio, start by wanting to be the star, but I've seen so many talented people get passion about programming, production, and producing that they realize that being on air isn't always the be-all, end all.

If he has any questions feel free to ask.

 

[pat fan]

However I wouldn't count on using BROADCAST as a way to break into acting.

We both know that, we are trying to think of something that would combine his love of spotlight and a paycheck

See if he can get some interning jobs in the stations in his area.

I'll mention this to him tonight. We have a local radio station, but no t.v. (we live in the sticks) he has 2 part time jobs, but maybe if there is an opening at the station he'd drop one for that.

Well, first things first, get a good headshot. The more he gets in front of a camera or microphone, the more comfortable he will get. If he wants to do voice overs, get a demo reel together. Check Craigslist.org under the tv/film/video section as local producers are always looking for extras or low pay acting on a saturday. Again, it will all come down to feeling comfortable infront of the camera and mic.

Thanks! He's pretty comfy in front of the camera, and he's used to mic's from all the plays he's been in. I know it would be different talking to a camera than acting/singing in fron of a crowd, but at least he's got some experience.

Thank you all for your tips. We'll have good conversation around the dinner table tonight!

 

[RadioNate]

I guess I was just wondering if you talked to your DS and if he had any questions.

We both know that, we are trying to think of something that would combine his love of spotlight and a paycheck

I would suggest TV, lol. Radio is notoriously low paying!

 

[ducklite]

I would suggest TV, lol. Radio is notoriously low paying!

This is absolutely the truth! It astounds me how little people in radio make. Years ago I worked as an account executive for a radio station, and made almost twice what our lead morning drive guy did.

Of course mine was commission based pay, but still...

Anne