You Sound Stupid, I'm Hanging Up Now

In the middle of an extensive job search, it feels like my skills and talent are becoming less and less desirable.  This isn’t to say that I’m not getting promising hits from station clusters all over the country.  In fact, I’ve averaged about one interview per week.  But, like any talent based job,  you have to be the whole package: talented, beautiful, hard working and smart.

Is that too much to ask from a prospective employer as well? At least the talented and hard working part?  There is nothing more painstaking than preparing for a phone interview when the boss finally calls you and he opens up with the most “puke-y” voice and most ridiculous radio name.  How am I supposed to take any coaching or advice from a person who still believes that programming philosophies from 1987 still are pertinent today?

Henry Winkler as The Fonze from "Happy Days"

There is nothing worse than answering the phone for that big interview you have been preparing for and some fake personality “Hambone Malone” introduces himself.  NOBODY TALKS LIKE THAT. Ever!  But how many of the Hambone Malone’s are still successful today? Not many, but still too many.  It is what I call the Fonzi Syndrome in show business.  Fonzi from Happy Days was so cool for who he was: hitting the jukebox, riding a motorcycle, picking up girls, but Fonzi was good at that when he was in his youth.  Fonzi as a character had no room grow up or evolve.  We fell in love with the man who hit on girls, made the jukebox work and rode motorcycles.  But how long could Fonzi keep up those things?  No one wants to see an old guy hitting on girls or trying to be cool by being a young rebel.

The most successful radio talent today are quirky because they are themselves, not just a character.  These are people who are relate-able, live their lives on the air and can keep their stories simple.  Not only are the best characters great hosts but they are even better listeners.  Longevity in a radio career lies with those who can host and entertain, but grow and evolve with society. 

So while the Hambone Malone’s  may seem cool, they are stuck in a time of radio that doesn’t keep listeners for the long term.  While continuing on the hunt, I look forward to the amazing conversations about programming and marketing philosophies with real people who love this business as much as I do.   The next Mr. Malone will get a dial tone.

For all of the Hambone Malone's, or those that just want to revisit Huey Lewis & The News take us "Back In Time." (This also happen)s to be on the sounds track to one of my all time favorite movies...