If this is radio, then I would rather be a farmer

[Billy Uranus]

This thread doesn't have much to do with radio, and I don't really expect anyone to read it. I just want to get a few things off my chest about trying to break into radio. Any thoughts or comments are very much appreciated.

You guys probably know that I've always wanted to be a part of this business. I've been making radio playlists since I was 12 years old, and since I was 15 I have seldom thought of doing anything else for a career. Lately I have been starting to realize how that might have been a stupid way of thinking. The chances of getting into radio are slim, and it's not like you're guarunteed to work as a DJ who gets to play music you truly enjoy. For all I know, I could end up being the producer of a country station's hillbilly morning show.

Back in September, I finally got to start taking a true radio course at my community college. In the last two months, we've learned how to run audio boards, produce commercials and other random things. But what I've learned the most in this course is that our teacher is a total jerk. Here are a few examples:

1) He doesn't like to help students. If you ask him to help you on a project, he might just walk away.

2) He says that he hasn't been wrong since like 1981 or something. The thing is, he was wrong in class last week. He called Sophie B. Hawkins' "Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover" as "Damn I Wanna Be Your Lover." I corrected him, and he ignored me like the jackass that he is.

3) He was absent one day, and I didn't know where to go to work on the commercial I was supposed to do. I went to talk to him about it next class, and he gave me a 0 for not having the project that day.

So you get the idea...he's not a nice guy. And I'm not good at doing the stuff in his class. I can't read commercials well, and the audio board is too confusing for me. I somehow feel that if I was being taught by the guys at 98 Rock, I'd be doing everything perfectly and be having a great time. But at school, I'm angry and am probably going to switch majors.

[Heartbreak On Vinyl]

OMG I'm so sorry. Is the teacher just for this semester or is it one you're stuck with your entire time in college? It would be awful to have someone keeping you from doing what you love, but I know it's tough to work with people who are total dickheads, I simply can't work with them. I hope things work out for you, though! Stay strong. xx

[Billy Uranus]

The teacher is the teacher for all of the radio classes at my school. He even said "radio majors...you're stuck with me." I really can't see myself taking another class with the guy.

And sorry for the late reply, man.

[Pipa]

If you had stations that were half as crappy as ours, you'd definitely think twice before going into it.

[BRiTNASTY]

Why do you think I switched majors? I LOVE music, I LIVE for music, but its basically a giant mindfuck now.

I've worked in it for close to 6 years now and its really nothing amazing like I thought it was going to be.

I'm much more happy in my current path then I've ever been in radio.

[JessiePie]

That's awful I was considering radio for awhile too but I know it's not as big of a market as it was in the 80's/90's. Your teacher seems like a total dick.

[Billy Uranus]

^That's why I was hesitant at first to go into radio. I just felt so passionate about it, I figured it wouldn't make sense to go into anything else regardless of how much radio has slipped in the era of ipods and the internet.

My teacher is a total dick. His teaching ability in the classroom is fine, but other than that he is probably the worst teacher I've ever had.

[Atlantaboy]

(Sorry just saw this for the first time)

I wouldn't let one incompetent teacher convince you not to follow your dream career - the thing about radio is, though, most people I've talked to (online) that are in radio have no control over what music they play, and many play songs all the time that they don't like - that's basically what turned me off

[Billy Uranus]

^Yeah, I've been thinking about it and decided that I can't let one teacher ruin it for me. While I hate the fact that every radio class is taught by this guy and that he runs the college station, there is nothing I can do about that. I know about having to play songs I don't like, and that does make radio less appealing. I just try not to be picky when it comes to that kind of stuff.

Did you used to want to do radio?

[Pipa]

But KP, if you stick to it, you'll be the only DJ that likes Nickelback!