Spreadin' The Word

32 DAYS TO SPRING!
As regular readers know, I've been without a full time job for quite a while now. Since November 5th of 2010, to be exact. I have applied for countless radio jobs of course, since that's where I have the most experience (over 20 years on the air, 5 years in major markets). But I'm also well aware that because of automation technology and industry consolidation there are FAR fewer radio gigs to be had these days than when I started in the 80's, which means applying outside the radio biz as well, which I have done many times on this job quest.

I wouldn't call this a last ditch effort to save the radio dream, but we could be close to that reality. A few days ago I got an idea for a new demo from an ad I saw in the radio classifieds, which called for a demo no more than two minutes in length. I had always done demos that ranged anywhere from three and a half to around six minutes, but figured I might as well try a two minute deal. Nothing to lose.

Here is the result. It's the video version, but I also have the mp3 available for anyone who wants it.

Ah, but now how to promote this new demo? It's posted in the radio trades of course, but I wanted to reach out beyond the normal sphere of influence, exposing it to people who might have some relevant connection but who would otherwise not see or hear it. Then it hit me: The Old Truck Runs Again video has been getting 200-plus hits every day for months. Why not change the annotations, put a link to it in the video info there and ask people to check it out and share it? After all, all kinds of people like old trucks, right? Maybe one of them is a radio honcho who likes what he or she hears, or an agency person looking for just the right voice for a big project (the channel where the radio demo is posted also features my voiceover demo, which is also posted on the right of this page), or maybe someone who does business with them.

Who knows? Sometimes it's the oddest of connections that leads to the biggest of breaks.

###

Pressing Forward

41 DAYS TO SPRING!
Just wondering... Isn't there always about six weeks of winter left regardless of whether that silly groundhog sees his shadow? I've never understood that whole ritual. Maybe we'll go pay that little guy a visit to see what he's all about after we get the truck on the road.

Another tough setback on the job front this week. Missed out on the radio gig I was going for. I had been told I was one of the top three, but they're going with one of the others. It was very difficult to hear that news, especially after working so hard to get the job. But as I've learned over the years in these situations, extended wallowing in the misery of it all only serves to cloud your forward vision. Have a little fit if you need to, then shake it off and move on.

Of course, the continuing lack of full time work means there won't be much we can do when we take the cover off, but we'll at least be able to charge the battery and hear the sweet sound of that old Stove Bolt engine doing its thing. And that alone will make things at least a little better...

###

Itchin' to Drive

49 DAYS TO SPRING!
Four break drums. All the front bearings. Install and bleed the brakes.

That's how close we are. And the anticipation grows that much more when the temperature hits the 50's (as the forecast calls for today), providing that little hint of Spring.

I was a passenger many times back in the day, but I have never driven this truck. It will be another momentous day when we can finally take this old thing off the blocks and take it down the road once again. And as you might imagine, I'm already conjuring up production ideas for the video. Meanwhile, the view total on the original video continues to grow. We're up to 200-plus hits almost every day.

Of course, progress on this project depends largely on the job situation, which as of this writing still has not changed. I've been told I'm one of the leading candidates for the radio gig I auditioned for recently, but still waiting for the official word either way. Hopefully soon...

###