The yr was 1989 and I had been working as a Native Gross sales Assistant for the previous 3 1/2 years at what was then WTNH Motion Information 8 Tv in New Haven, CT.
I used to be relieved once I initially landed this assist place as a result of though I had my B.S. diploma in Media Research from Sacred Coronary heart College in Fairfield, CT, it took a very long time again then even for a school graduate to land an honest job within the media trade.
These have been, what I used to be to seek out out a lot a lot later, the glory days of tv. Al Terzi, Janet Peckingpaugh and Mike Bogoslawski have been the Native Information Anchors on the time. And there have been solely 3 networks again then (ABC, CBS and NBC) so our ABC native community affiliate’s share of pie was enormous and cash was flowing!
As soon as once more, I initially took this assist place as a result of I might see how onerous it was to interrupt into “the enterprise” so I figured if I used to be round people who did what I aspired to do, it might be a lot simpler. Boy was I unsuitable! As a result of again within the day I needed to be the host of my very own Group Affairs program. So I labored all day lengthy as a Native Gross sales Assistant for six to eight sellers and three gross sales managers; no less than 2 to three nights every week, I hung round and shadowed the Group Affairs Director. To my delight, a Host place lastly got here up for the brand new Group Affairs program and it was instantly given to one of many TV Information Reporters – not solely was I not even thought of, I wasn’t even on the record!
Then alongside got here a BIG shock. The Sally Jessy Raphael Present (a nationwide program!) moved into our New Haven studios to tape their every day 10am present. My world had now modified for the higher. I used to be capable of sneak downstairs to take a look at well-known individuals virtually each week for the following 2 years. It was an enormous occupational perk and an enormous motive for me to stay round. I met then President Jimmy Carter and his spouse Roslyn, Suzanne Somers from Three’s Firm, the notorious Donna Rice, Marlo Thomas from That Lady and her hubby Phil Donahue from the Phil Donahue Present simply to call just a few. When The Sally Present moved on to New York, it was time for me to go as nicely.
So on my final week the gross sales staff and gross sales managers, whom I cherished working for, offered me with a leather-based briefcase and ordered me to fill it up with numerous contracts. I had beforehand met with just a few of the Native Account Executives alone time and principally questioned them on what to anticipate on the earth of broadcast gross sales. They have been tremendous useful however to be trustworthy, promoting is one thing you actually be taught by doing. You both have it, otherwise you don’t. It’s not like something I’ve ever finished in my life and I nonetheless take pleasure in it, even these days…
After I left Motion Information 8 I used to be making a paltry $19,500 a yr (after a increase!) which was sufficient to pay the lease on my studio condominium within the East Rock neighborhood of New Haven, however not sufficient to purchase a automobile. And that is with waitressing on the weekends at Pleasant’s Ice Cream in Hamden, CT. Right here I used to be working 2 jobs and moonlighting on Monday evenings as a Group Volunteer Radio Announcer for WYBC 94.3FM in New Haven. Lovers Nook with Lajeune was the identify of my present – the very best in R & B love songs. A real labor of affection (smile).
My first broadcast promoting job was at WEBE 108FM in Bridgeport, CT. Fortunate for me my oldest sister Dana had purchased a brand new automobile so she gifted me together with her older AMC Gremlin to commute forwards and backwards on a regular basis from New Haven to Bridgeport. My promoting territory was Fairfield and New Haven counties so I might be spending numerous time on the highway. The Gremlin wasn’t excellent however by God’s Grace and Firestone Tire Facilities, it held its personal (smile).
On the time I used to be employed, there have been 2 radio stations in the identical constructing and on the identical flooring: WEBE 108FM and WICC 600AM. I used to be employed by WEBE so I used to be actually promoting towards the account executives at WICC who sat proper across the nook from me. It was a wierd feeling for certain. After I accomplished my first yr promoting, the radio station grew to become a “Combo” which meant they might not want as many people in order that they trimmed the gross sales groups again to 9 sellers from a mixed complete of 15. I simply knew I used to be a goner as a result of I used to be nonetheless inexperienced and nonetheless chopping my tooth however they stated I used to be staying as a result of they cherished my sunny and optimistic ‘Can Do’ angle (smile).
Right here is the image of me that was taken for the e-newsletter they despatched out to Fairfield County residents to welcome the newly mixed WEBE and WICC Radio stations:
i cherished promoting WEBE and WICC not simply because I used to be studying a ton working with a seasoned gross sales staff but additionally as a result of the corporate offered us with a complete radio gross sales coaching program and loads of radio trade assets to again it up. However to be trustworthy, I had entered yr 2 and was nonetheless not making any cash. I labored on commissions towards draw however since I had no record, I principally needed to continually chilly name for appointments after which begin from scratch once I landed a brand new account. Since I used to be principally engaged on promotional accounts, it was exhausting…
Then as luck would have it I obtained a cellphone name from the Native Gross sales Supervisor at WNHC 1340AM, the Rhythm of the Metropolis. WNHC was an R & B (no Rap!) radio station in New Haven, CT so I figured I had nothing to lose. Throughout our interview, the Native Gross sales Supervisor principally painted the proper image for me – sure, you might be leaving a 50,000 Watt FM radio station in rich Fairfield County for a 1000 Watt AM radio station in New Haven, however with us, the sky is the restrict. After I advised my Native Gross sales Supervisor I used to be leaving them for WNHC in New Haven, not solely did she assume I used to be loopy however so did the vast majority of the staff (LOL!)
It’s no secret that I take pleasure in a problem and what I noticed in entrance of me was alternative for progress and a brand new, close-knit work household that I might actually get behind. Consequently, in my 5 1/2 years at WNHC, I greater than excelled. I moved up from Account Govt to Native Gross sales Supervisor to lastly Nationwide Gross sales Supervisor. I additionally loved assembly tons of well-known individuals at free live shows and performs – principally singers and performers. I carried out my very own African-American On-Air Guide Overview as soon as every week and was continually chosen to serve on quite a few committees, choose space style exhibits, communicate to the New Haven youth about careers in media gross sales, and so forth.
When WNHC Radio went bankrupt (that will probably be lined in one other weblog) I made a decision to pursue the print world. I travelled again to Bridgeport, CT to work for Umoja Information, a month-to-month City start-up newspaper that lined occasions that I felt captivated with. The founder and I labored intently collectively. She dealt with the day after day operations and I ran the gross sales division. I wrote a gross sales coaching guide, employed 3 native sellers and dealt with the full-page regional accounts. I stayed rather less than 2 years as a result of I couldn’t get into the tempo, i.e., working like a madwoman for just a little beneath every week each month to fulfill these loopy deadlines after which spending the remaining 3 weeks of the month calling on new enterprise. I discovered it cumbersome.
In my subsequent weblog submit I’ll discuss my journey again to broadcast radio gross sales this time with know-how and many expertise.
