Radio broadcast experience

[Beerfest]

Hey, so im currently enrolled in Radio Broadcasting at SAIT for next year. (Im also enrolled at Olds College for Turfgrass Management)

Im currently leaning towards taking Radio Broadcasting, has anyone here taken it before? Anyone taken it at SAIT?

After completing the two year course what kind of oppurtunites were presented to you?

Id preferably like to work in Sports Radio.

Any help would be awesome.

Thanks

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Beerfest

After completing the two year course what kind of oppurtunites were presented to you?

Food stamps.

[taco.vidal]

Learn a trade like pipefitting or welding? Radio and turfgrass are so far apart it doesnt seem you know what you really want. If sports radio is your passion then pursue it but it can be a long hard road with no guarantees.

[sclitheroe]

How many on the air sports broadcasters are there in Canada? That's got to be a tough gig to land.

[Beerfest]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

How many on the air sports broadcasters are there in Canada? That's got to be a tough gig to land.

SAIT is apparently a great school to go to for Radio Broadcasting.

There were apparently three different interview sessions this year at SAIT for the course.

Each time there were around 20ish people applying for the course, of those they would take 6 or 7 of them for the course.

So each year there around 20 new people for the SAIT course.

A job like Kerr, Boomer, Steinberg, etc have would probably be hard to get to start with, but you have got to work your way up in the industry.

[Beerfest]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

Learn a trade like pipefitting or welding? Radio and turfgrass are so far apart it doesnt seem you know what you really want. If sports radio is your passion then pursue it but it can be a long hard road with no guarantees.

After this year ill have had two years experience of working at a golf course, I feel like Turfgrass is something that would be available to me if Radio Broadcasting doesnt turn out.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Beerfest

A job like Kerr, Boomer, Steinberg, etc have would probably be hard to get to start with, but you have got to work your way up in the industry.

I don't want to be too harsh here.. but you're in for a rude awakening.

SAIT has a good course, but so does a place like MRU, and BCIT in Vancouver.

For everyone Kerr, Boomer, Steinberg, there are thousands upon thousands of Radio and TV grads who have given up on that dream because of how massive the competition is.

I'm not saying you give up... just expect to work in some rural community to start, making very little, if you're lucky. Basically Rock 97.9 in Fort McMurray will be your first employer.

[JiriHrdina]

Yeah you need to go into the business with eyes wide open. It's a harsh industry that takes a huge toll on your life in every way including financially. The hours are awful, the pay sucks huge, and you work your arse off.

It can be a ton of fun but a lot of people can't get through 2 years let alone longer because it is such a grind.

But that being said you are young and if it is your dream go for it.

[Beerfest]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

I don't want to be too harsh here.. but you're in for a rude awakening.

SAIT has a good course, but so does a place like MRU, and BCIT in Vancouver.

For everyone Kerr, Boomer, Steinberg, there are thousands upon thousands of Radio and TV grads who have given up on that dream because of how massive the competition is.

I'm not saying you give up... just expect to work in some rural community to start, making very little, if you're lucky. Basically Rock 97.9 in Fort McMurray will be your first employer.

Yep, thats what I would be expecting, its something im passionate about, so the money/location are not very important to me at the moment.

Id rather try something like this, then not try it at all.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Beerfest

Yep, thats what I would be expecting, its something im passionate about, so the money/location are not very important to me at the moment.

Id rather try something like this, then not try it at all.

Good luck man.

[Mango]

Your dream is your dream. I understand how badly you may want something. I felt that way too.

When I finished the post-degree J program at MRU, I was very lucky because I had a friend who was a connection to get me a job in Calgary. If not, I would've been working in Medicine Hat, Brooks, Lethbridge etc. Keep in mind, I certainly have nothing against those markets, but generally, that's exactly where graduates needs to go to find employment out of school.

I'm 3.5 years into a broadcasting career, with most of my focus thus far on radio. I can tell you that I'm exhausted and feel like I've basically gone...no where. As mentioned above, I get paid very poorly, the hours are awful, and it takes over your life. I love broadcasting. I love sports broadcasting. However...the cons are out-weigh the pros.

My suggestion...do freelance broadcasting and pursue another career if you can. I'm moving into communications, while doing freelance stuff on the side.

Drop me a line if you want and we can chat more.

[Prototype]

For what it's worth, I graduated with Steinberg from SAIT In '04. Worked with Boomer and Walker in Red Deer a year later. Don't half ass your opportunity. Do everything and anything you can to get to the next step. Take the schooling seriously, and keep your head up. Op while in school to get the experience. Love it, or get out. There's no in-between.

[UpperLoge]

SAIT is a good program. NAIT's practicum is longer (thus a tougher expense to bare up front) but gets you more experience in the building. That said, SAIT is a good program and well respected.

If someone tries to give you a job in Calgary/Edmonton out of school, run. Run as fast as you can until you're in a town that has one Subway and if you're lucky a McDonalds and will have you doing more than getting coffee for somebody who's doing the job you want to do. Go somewhere that finds YOU doing the daypart and if you're lucky have someone with some chops above you that you can learn from. Realize that it's a trade and the 2 years in school is just the START of your education. Call around, ship tape out, find mentors and be winning to bust your ass and then some.

The pay isn't great, there are definite fringe benefits, but if you're doing it right you'll be a decade in and realize you haven't actually "worked" a day in your life.

[Sliver]

I think you should be scared of the "crappy money" comments in here. You're young so you're probably a bit idealistic and think you don't need money to be happy, but you are going to need more than a few bucks over the next 5-10 years for a downpayment on a house, better car, furniture, girls, etc. Life is expensive and just getting by would suck balls. Your time has a value so don't go for a job that places a low value on your skills, education, and abilities. Find something that will pay you well.

Dreams don't pay the bills.

[CaptainCrunch]

Be prepared to be doing a 3 am gardening show in crapberg Northern Alberta to start.

If thats available.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Be prepared to be doing a 3 am gardening show in crapberg Northern Alberta to start.

If thats available.

You thinking about quitting?

[CaptainCrunch]

heh, I actually wanted to get into the radio biz and applied to Sait, but I joined the army instead, the pay was better (even though back then it was terrible) and you got to shoot stuff.

[OilKiller]

I took the amazing course at Columbia Academy of Broadcasting way back when. Don't think they are still around anymore. They were in Calgary. I sat right next to the guy with the lisp in class.

Started out in Salmon Arm, B.C. - It was that or Peace River. I had the choice. Funny how I decided huh? Spent one year and 9 months there and then got a job in Drumheller. Spent 3 months there...longest year of my life.

Then got a job at 107 CKIK FM. Best station ever.

After leaving CKIK and moving to Edmonton to follow some chick....Got a job at MG1200, worked there for about 2 years and the then worked at CHQT.

The opportunities are there if you have the voice. I had it, so I was OK. Not sure what it's like these days though.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I took the 2 year program at BCIT in radio broadcasting. Loved the course, was a lot of fun and I learned plenty. The last 6 months kinda dragged and I just wanted to get out into the industry. I was relatively lucky and got a part time job with a Vancouver station while I was going to school which led to a full time job when I graduated. I would say 80 percent of the people from my graduating class that took jobs in broadcasting took those jobs out of market. Plenty of small market cities. Lots of country stations up north. If you're willing to move away from home, if you're willing to be poor for a bit, then go for it.

Something that I always tell people who are interested in doing the course is you may go into thinking you wanna be on air and on air only. After two years, learning the industry and what else there is out there, you might change your mind. Before I went to BCIT, I was convinced I wanted to be on air and wouldn't change my mind about it. Through the two year program, I realized that the behind the scenes stuff was more suited for me. Working at a station while going to school also made me aware just what it takes to be on the air, and frankly, I just didn't have it. I love being behind the scenes as a producer.....Yes, it's not all that glamorous, but I love it.

Good luck to you.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I think you should be scared of the "crappy money" comments in here. You're young so you're probably a bit idealistic and think you don't need money to be happy, but you are going to need more than a few bucks over the next 5-10 years for a downpayment on a house, better car, furniture, girls, etc. Life is expensive and just getting by would suck balls. Your time has a value so don't go for a job that places a low value on your skills, education, and abilities. Find something that will pay you well.

Dreams don't pay the bills.

You make it sound like there is ZERO money in radio, like everyone makes 30k a year or something. When I went into the parking garage a couple hours ago, I saw a few new BMW's, a Range Rover, a new Camaro and a slick Audi. I'm not a huge car guy, so I don't know the models, but I can't imagine those cars came cheap. There is money to be made in the industry.