[BC] How we got our first break in radio....

[Bob Barnswatts]

All this talk about starting out in radio made me wonder as to exactly 
HOW many people got their start.  I didn't know anyone in the business 
and lived in a small midwest town that had 2 AM radio stations back in 
the 70's.   I annoyed the hell out of both stations trying to get a job 
as a DJ but was turned away at every corner.  Only the kids of big 
advertisers ever got to be DJs in those days.   I even went and got my 
3rdphone FCC license so I'd be ready.  Remember when you had to have a 
3rd phone to run board/transmitter at a directional AM?  Still no job.  
Then one day I was working at age 17 in a KFC restaurant in town and I 
was telling another employee about how great such and such a radio 
station was as opposed to the OTHER radio station in town which everyone 
seemed to prefer even tho it was a lightweight in power and coverage.  
Being a nerdy type of course I went on and on about how station A had 
more power and a bigger transmitter than station B.  A customer enjoying 
his meal called me over to his table and asked me if I really meant that 
stuff I was saying and how did I know all those technical things about 
station A.  I explained I loved radio and knew all about the 
transmitters they were using and all this.  The guy said that impressed 
him and introduced himself as the new station manager of station A.  I 
was surprised and said I had been trying to get a job there for over a 
year with no luck.  He said come see me Monday morning.  I did, and the 
rest is history. I was given the signoff shift which I worked at 
diligently.  Once you're in, your in in this business.  But getting in 
can be a brick wall.  For me it was complete happenstance. Being in the 
right place running my big mouth at the right time. And fortunately 
running  my big mouth positively about the station that had its new 
manager sitting in the chair nearby.  :-)

Bob Barnswatts
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