Happy New Year!
I honestly can’t believe that 2012 is here already – I am still at a loss of what happened to 2011. It was a year that defined me in so many ways with regards to my career. It was the year I celebrated 30 years in the broadcasting industry! It felt like it was just yesterday when I received my 25 year certificate from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters for what I call “surviving” the business. Today I’m semi retired from it. I’m as busy as I want to be with Global Edmonton and Global BC .. voicing radio and TV commercials, hosting documentaries, emceeing events – it’s a much better lifestyle than an alarm clock blaring at 3:30AM.
I am still very passionate about broadcasting but like every business should, it’s changed so much in 30 years. I was spinning records when I first started in radio and now, a computer does it and records are long gone. I was one of the only females spinning vinyl when I started and today, I’m sure there are more women in broadcasting than men .. and 30 years ago in TV, we had make-up artists make us look very well put together and today, when we need it the most thanks to HDTV, we have to do it ourselves. OK – so the makeup part is pretty minor in the big picture .. technology has changed our business the most .. and so have the new ways of measuring ratings – PPM’s. Broadcasting is still fascinating. It’s still a medium that runs thick through my veins and I still get a rush when I read articles about the business and speak to friends who still collect a regular paycheck from it.
I read an article the other day that explained our business perfectly. It relates to the movie The Company Men. The theme of the movie, like in real life, is about how older employees with experience just aren’t worth keeping because things change so quickly in today’s business world. Younger employees who have the experience of the new way of doing things are much cheaper than older employees who may hang on to the old ways. Broadcasting is not an industry where you can age gracefully and be guaranteed a job for life. I was given the advice when I took my first job on-air and that was to “make hay while the sun shines” and I’m glad I did. I have LOVED every minute of my career in broadcasting and although I’m not quite 50 yet, I do have a target on my back .. so for me, winding down with some freelance work suits me just fine. I am absolutely thrilled I have lasted in my career this long – I know many, many others who haven’t and I have made one heck of a great salary doing what I love – getting paid to talk, play music, interview people – does it get any better than that?
I will now have time for my website and some regular blogs. Some will be about broadcasting, some won’t be. I’ve never confessed to being much of a writer but hey, I need to keep my website happy in the eyes of Google.
One thing I will continue to do is to MC events so my blogs will start with a few helpful tips on why an MC is important and what you should look for if you need to hire one for your next event. By the way, I’d be thrilled to be considered to MC your next event.
