Outsourcing Horizon

[GregWilliams]

The January Clear Channel Clearance Event has really made me think of the future of broadcast radio, be it terrestrial or Internet based web-streaming.

Ever since 2000 when I was last employed as a Production Director and began my freelance career, my thought has always been, even if a station is JACK'afied or programmed with only syndicated shows, there will always be a need for someone to put the creative imaging together and voice/produce commercials. And with staff cuts coming down on a pink-slip avalanche, logic would reason that there will be fewer talented bodies in the building to do the work needed to keep a station hot and fresh. Those left in-house will be forced to wear even more hats than they already do now.

Tell me if I'm wrong. For what I have to offer, the future's looking bright from my perspective. What do you think?

Greg Williams
The Lighthouse Group
http://www.myspace.com/lhgearcandy

[Tucker]

I would certainly believe they are looking bright for you...you are after all "The Lighthouse Group" yes?

Seriously though, I agree with what you're saying. It seems logical, but this business is often times anything BUT!



T

[GregWilliams]

Thanks for validating my nomenclature, Tucker! I actually gotta give props to Mr. Alpha-Omega, 'cause I got it from Matt. 5:16. I hope He doesn't minds the plagiarism.

An old buddy of mine from my time in Montgomery and Birmingham radio, Paco Lopez just announced his intentions to join us in the trenches of VT prod. (AllAccess 01/27/09) Don't know if that includes editing and producing. I call dibs on contacting him first with that question!!

And to think, I knew him back when he was legendary only in his mind!!

Seriously, I love the guy.....he was a great help to my wife and me during our Alabama days back in the 80's (did I say "back in the...." LAUWD help me). PACO's been on some smokin' stations: WQHT (HOT 97)/NEW YORK, WPGC/WASHINGTON, KKFR (POWER 92)/PHOENIX, WHYI (Y-100)/MIAMI, WRBQ (Q105)/TAMPA and more.

Reach PACO for a demo at (407) 748-5300 or PacoLopezis@aol.com.

[AFrame]

The biggest problem I've run in to is the volume of people doing the same thing. When I retired from FT work to run my shop a few years ago, my call would be one of two or three a creative director at an agency or tv station (or GSM at a radio station) would get. Now, they get dozens of calls, fax-blasts, e-mail blasts, etc., daily.

The mass layoffs have put a lot of wannabe "producers" behind their copies of Audition and ProToolsLE doing work for scavenger prices. This is wrecking the business for those of us actually working to make a living off the craft. To make matters worse, many stations only look at the cost - and not the quality - when hiring a freelancer.

And, there are some wholesale styled operations that are using barter and low-dough talent to push the price point even lower.

The question is: Who's going to survive? How many of these laid-off radio people will be able to hang in there doing freelance work? How many of us veterans will be able to do the same thing? This depression is going to continue for another couple of years, and so far it's been brutal from any standpoint. Even "big time" voice colleagues have to admit to taking part-time gigs at the mall, or acknowledging their spouse's paycheck is the primary income.

I'm not being critical of anyone here. While the "horizon" may appear to be full of opportunities, often those opportunities come with little to no funding. We're all in for a long haul.

[GregWilliams]

Yeah, AFrame, sometimes I think I've kept the rose-colored headphones on too long. 8 years and counting since I last had a full-time radio gig; 10 years at this freelancing folly. Something's gotta break soon..... or I just might