[BC] What is our business...

[Dana Puopolo]

Burt is right. In the movie business we'd be known as "below the line
employees".  We are NOT the movie stars. We are the editors, the gaffers, the
sound mixers, the Foley persons, etc. etc. However, there's one BIG difference
between our jobs and those similar ones in the movie industery. Below the line
employees are represented by COLLECTIVE BARGAINING!   Want me back in less
then 12 hours? You PAY! Want me to work over 8 hours. No problem: But you PAY!
 Want me to work over 8 hours on a Sunday or holiday? You REALLY PAY!  (this
is called "golden time"). This is the reason that my friend the Assistant Film
Editor made over $250K last year, doing the same type of work that each of us
does for a quarter of her income....and I won't even mention that they
generally are NOT on 24 hour call (wait- I just did ;-).

Now, there are some disadvantages to unions, one of which is that they tend to
keep you in your place.  BUT that said, generally speaking, represented
employees do MUCH better salary wise then non represented ones.

Ask yourself this question: Who's more important to me: My family or the big
corporation I work for?  My answer is my family.

-D   

------ Original Message ------
Received: Sat, 31 Mar 2007 12:24:46 PM EDT
From: "Douglas B. Pritchett" <wbzq1300 at verizon.net>
To: "Broadcasters' Mailing List" <broadcast at radiolists.net>
Subject: Re: [BC] What is our business...

Burt, speak for yourself (humor added). Coming from the perspective of 
ownership, I have to say I'm on both sides. I've got to offer a 
compelling and entertaining product and I've got to get it to the market 
in a reliable and easy to access manner. If I falter on either point, 
I'm screwed. Add to that, I have to use that compelling and entertaining 
content to generate revenue to sustain that service. Most of the 
talented and successful people on this forum (and that absolutely 
includes you, Burt) are experts in your areas, but also have a deep, 
working knowledge of the related aspects of the business. We are, after 
all, broadcasters. That is our business.

-- 
Douglas B. Pritchett
Fort Wayne, IN (really, don't laugh)
wbzq1300 at verizon.net


Burt I. Weiner wrote:

> The answer is simple.  We are in the technical side of show business.  
> Plain and simple.  Show business is all about content.  It is our job 
> to transport the content to the public.  People do not tune in to 
> listen to our transmitters.  They tune in for the content - nothing 
> more.  If you doubt that, try putting a tone on for a day and see how 
> many people write in about how nice and pure the tone is.
>
> Burt
>
_______________________________________________

The BROADCAST [BC] list is sponsored by SystemsStore On-Line Sales
Cable-Connectors-Blocks-Racks-Wire Management-Test Gear-Tools and More! 
www.SystemsStore.com       Tel: 407-656-3719    Sales at SystemsStore.com