kristen bowie

So first off, this is kind of inspired by an earlier exchange of “niceties” on Twitter.

8 years ago, I was almost 19. I had stars in my eyes and was on the verge of getting my first college degree. The goal was New York City in 10 years. As a program director of a radio station.

I got hired on at KUPL shortly after getting that degree. After about 2 years of not really doing any advancing, the station changed management and I found myself dj’ing country music–horribly. Doing that for awhile led me to greater things, I got to meet Rick Emerson, who, in turn, gave me a chance on his air on KCMD…which led to my own show.

Musicology was fun. But the economy wasn’t. Eventually, I tired of being yelled at every other day and I gave up the fight and headed to office land. At least I had a job in the industry, right? That’s what everyone (save Rick and a few other people) kept telling me.

Over the months, I noticed a change in the people I looked up to. They were scared. CBS went through 84 firings in less than a year and they had kids, mortgages, and a lifetime invested in this industry. John Lander from Z100’s heyday had a fucking ten share and has been on the beach for a year and a half. A ten share. There was a definite change in the atmosphere. It was no longer jovial and fun. This was serious business and the only people that could survive were the ones to keep their mouths shut and keep their heads down.

I got sick of being told I should be lucky to have a job. No one in this fine country should feel lucky about being able to feed their family. I had gone from great amazing management to being yelled at on a regular basis–for doing what I was told to do. I had gone from being relatively healthy to the sickest I had been since I was six years old.

When Alpha bought us out, I was ecstatic. We were told that they believed in live and local radio, there was an inspirational speech by Larry Wilson himself and free booze. CBS hadn’t gotten us free booze in years (!!!) so that was something, right?  Shortly after that, they fired the rest of my friends (save one or two), they fired my insane boss (!!!), and multiple other people. There was no HR department, they fired that guy.

In September, I started emailing my demo around. I got about as much answer from that as I did asking any of them about actual work matters. For a business in the communications industry, there’s a decided lack of communication. Then I started listening to Portland radio…closely. Outside of the shows that a few people I know slave over, I wasn’t really compelled by anything I heard. I could hear that same stuff in Pittsburgh. Or in Montana. Or San Francisco.

I thought about this rather deeply…for three weeks after Cort and Fatboy, Rick Emerson, Tim Riley, Sarah Dylan, Greg Nibler, and even Buzz were pushed off the air. Do I have what it takes to work in radio, right now? Can I sit around for another 3 years before I can get back on the air?

NO.

I have bills to pay. Oh fuck, do I ever. But I refuse to become that desperate bitch that throws everyone under the bus.

I refuse to allow a business to make money off of me if I am embarrassed by the product or the treatment I receive in return for my labor.

I will not be taken advantage of. Ever.

Moving onto my next point. Claiming that anyone can do something that creative people have become successful at is ridiculous.

Anyone can act.

Anyone can have a pirate radio station.

Anyone can make movies.

Anyone can do an online radio show.

While this is true in the most black and white sense of the term, not everyone can do it successfully.

However, looking at things in the most black and white sense causes one to skip over a lot of grey area. There’s a lot of variables that one misses out on.

Sure, anyone could do a podcast…but do they have a business plan? Do they have an idea of how to prep for a show? Are they entertainers, or are they seat warmers? (Seat warmers are leeches. One who does nothing really remarkable but does a mediocre job when they are employed. The person who inspired this is such a person.)

I left radio to pursue a business plan that involves taking the step to have creative control over my career. I’m not a seat warmer, I was sick of feeling like one. I’m an old school of radio pro. I make things happen. I don’t let it come to me…I go to it. Or I show my skills off through good old fashioned busting ass.

I won’t let the deals come to me. I’ll create them. You never could do that, you’re right. That’s what makes you a seat warmer (who, by the way, is part of the problem in radio…nothing is handed to you in this business. You don’t deserve anything. You aren’t owed anything. And I see too many people like you get jobs while good talented people wait on the sidelines.).

I refuse to be like that. Ever.