When I was in school, I used to look forward to the day where I would have more time to myself. Those days when I would have a job and have free time outside of work to do the things that I enjoyed. Reading a book, watching movies, or what have you. These days, I look forward to the point in the day that I just get to be at home. After that, sleep. Free time is rare. I don’t think I was ever this busy during my entire time in school. Odd thing is, I’m not tired. When I hit the bed, sleep comes very quickly. On top of that, motivation in the morning is never lacking.
This week has been trying, to say the least. WSUI’s transmitter was a kick in the head. I guess I should say transmitters. People are leaving us, new people are coming in, and changes are all over the place. The new database will go live at the start of June. Jim is leaving that for me to babysit. CPB funding has come through to take KSUI digital, and WSUI should be receiving the same good news very soon. Those new transmitters will have brand new generators to keep them up and running when they arrive. That project is slated for May. That will involve some muscle and time in the sun. And then another BMX digital console coming into the KSUI control room in about a month or so. So there’s the game plan for the summer. I love this job, and I love working for the number one radio station in the market.
The side work at KRUI is about forty percent of the way done. George, Scottie, Jim, and I all busted our butts this week to get it ready for the “official” opening on the new space. Smoke and mirrors, but the event went off beautifully. Unpacking all of the equipment, I just kept asking myself, “What was I thinking?” I would ask George about some of the things we were installing and kept asking why he got so many of this or that. He just told me that he took the list that I compiled nearly two years ago and tweaked it to make it right.
People kept asking me what I thought about it all. First off, it’s going to be a great facility for a college radio station. I finally feel like it’s on pace with other Big Ten radio stations like Radio K or Impact89FM. However, if I knew then what I know now, I would have done some things differently. Getting into those specifics are pointless and petty at this point. Jim put it to me the best way. “Every time you do this, and every project you are apart of or responsible for, it’s a learning process for the next one.” Based on the relationship that I have begun with Jim, George, and Scottie, I understand that the next time will probably be sooner than I think.
Here’s what I do know. A great radio station is not a result of how it is constructed. You can have the best equipment in the world and it can still be awful. Some of the best radio stations in the nation are those held together with the bare necessities. What makes it good is the product. No matter what kind of station you have, it’s the bottom line. No matter if it’s a major donor, an underwriting contract, a commercial sponsor, or some one who just wants to give you five bucks, the product has to be something that is responsible, solid, and something that can be believed in. That means you also need a goal. This can trip you up, so you have to choose wisely. Do you shoot for the moon or chip away? Based on the education that I am getting right now, I’d choose to chip away. Remember, giants can, and will, fall.
Everyday is a learning experience in this business. You have to always remember that. These are just the core ideas that I’m absorbing into the neural networks that run through my brain. Thing is, this is fun for me. I am having a blast.
The only thing I fight with these days is the urge to roll over and sleep in.