Upward mobility is the name of the game for guys of a certain age in sports radio. Young guys go wherever they get their first opportunity and then proceed to work their way up until they eventually land their dream job in a much larger market.
Having goals isn’t a phenomenon limited to any particular age group. There are always obstacles to overcome when trying to move from point A to point B. Broadcasting in a market with a triple-digit Nielsen ranking that begins with a 2, 3 or 4 comes with some very specific challenges.
Brady Farkas and Ed Lane are two guys that are not currently looking for new jobs, but they have done their share of poking around in the past. Those experiences have given them the chance to learn what they can do better and how their work and success are perceived.
I asked both of them the same three questions. Whether the day comes again that they are looking for a bigger opportunity, or whether it is just knowing they can impart to help someone else, I appreciate their candor and willingness to participate.
AS YOU APPLY AND INTERVIEW FOR BIGGER GIGS, WHAT MISPERCEPTIONS OR BIASES DO YOU HAVE TO OVERCOME BEING IN SUCH A SMALL MARKET?
Brady Farkas (WDEV – Montpelier, VT): Ironically enough, I think one of the things you have to overcome is your relatively small social media following. When you come from a smaller market, you just don’t have as much ability to generate a social media following, so you have to fight the notion that that’s because your content is not relevant or impactful. You have to find a way to show that what you are doing in the community is impactful and you are reaching the people that you should be reaching. It’s nice to hit and make an impact across a region, but if you have a small following, you want to show that you are still impacting the community you are serving.
Furthermore, you have to show that you still have a robust network. Just because you don’t get to go to the game like big market guys do or you don’t have guests coming in studio like they do, it’s still possible to have a very strong network. I’ve still come across very influential sports figures and covered big games and met a lot of people, and a lot of those people have come on my show, and that network can continue to serve you as you move up the chain in terms of market size.
Ed Lane (CBS Sports Radio Lynchburg – Lynchburg, VA): There’s a miss perception that you will struggle to adapt to a PPM market when you come from a smaller market that is either using the antiquated diary system or is not rated at all. The reality is with over a decade of coaching, including constant dialogue with program directors in larger markets, there are certain skills they’ve been gracious enough to help me hone that frankly, anyone can practice.
These include getting to the point early in segments, polished live messages (heck I’m selling the messages, shouldn’t I care about the client getting results?), effective use of soundbites, and strong, well-researched opinions. Just because Nielsen chooses not to invest in PPM in the smaller market doesn’t mean that I don’t have the skill set to adapt.
Another misperception is that I can’t learn about or may not even have working knowledge about topics of interest in a different market. As you research for a broad number of teams like I do in my market, you inherently come across info that is pertinent to other fan bases as well as your own. A lot of that comes from just having a growth mindset and constantly wanting to learn so that you both educate and inform your listener wherever you are.
HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT MAKING SURE THE PEOPLE YOU WOULD LIKE TO EVENTUALLY WORK FOR KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU DO?
Farkas: I make sure that influential people with connections know who I am, and I reach out to them to check-in or keep a relationship strong. This is going to sound like a line solely for this piece, but it’s not: I make sure that the people at BSM are aware of what I’m up to and I like to check in with Jason and Demetri. I may not have a direct link to a company or a PD, but I know they likely do, and that’s a good first step.
I’ve also come across several influential PDs in my career and I like to maintain a relationship with them so there’s always the ability for them to recall you should they be talking to a person in power. And then, you also have the ability to use your guest list and network. These people all work for places too, and they may be able to help you when it comes time at their place of business or at a place where they know someone.
Lastly, I just try to use social media to my advantage. If I put out a piece of content that I think is relevant, or if I have a guest that is relevant, I make sure to tag the appropriate parties that may be interested. And maybe it helps generate a following for me or a topic of conversation on my show, but it could also lead to my profile being clicked on by someone in power somewhere as well.
Lane: A lot of it is about establishing connections and then maintaining connections with people who genuinely have an interest in helping others. Once you establish that connection I try to utilize multiple forms of networking sites including LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to keep them abreast of what I am doing daily, and of course continue to learn more about what they are doing and who they are as people. Some of this goes to just establishing your “brand“ but a lot of it is also giving them some insight into who you are and helping build up that level of familiarity. Additionally, it’s helpful to understand how they preferred that you contact them and how often they are open to dialogue.
WHEN YOU’RE IN A MARKET LIKE THE ONE YOU ARE NOW, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT THAT YOU NETWORK WITH PDS AND GMS IN LARGER MARKETS?
Farkas: I think it’s important to network with the right people, not necessarily a certain number of people, or even just only PDs and GMs. I don’t just reach out to everyone in the country and drop a resume, but there are people and stations around the country that I really like, and I like to pick their brains about how they’ve done what they’ve done or how they’ve built what they’ve built. And that information and those tips can help me grow both now and in the future. And as those relationships get built and conversations get had, a hiring person can draw on that more intimate relationship, rather than just a one-time email.
Lane: For the record, the term “network“ is not necessarily my favorite if only because there’s some truth to the idea that the term is more about what you can gain as opposed to a reciprocated mutually beneficial relationship. It’s absolutely true that when you are a smaller market host reaching out to decision-makers in larger markets there is an implied positioning that you want to be in consideration if an opportunity opens up in their market or if they know of one they can fit for you. That said, it’s also wise to try to make sure there is a level of dialogue and genuine caring about that individual by coming prepared with ideas on how you can help them & their business.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Demetri Ravanos reached out to Brady and Ed on his own. These conversations were not the result of those gentlemen asking to be featured in this way.
Demetri Ravanos is a columnist and features writer for Barrett Media. He is also the creator of The Sports Podcast Festival, and a previous host on the Chewing Clock and Media Noise podcasts. He occasionally fills in on stations across the Carolinas in addition to hosting Panthers and College Football podcasts. His radio resume includes stops at WAVH and WZEW in Mobile, AL, WBPT in Birmingham, AL and WBBB, WPTK and WDNC in Raleigh, NC.
You can find him on Twitter @DemetriRavanos or reach him by email at DemetriTheGreek@gmail.com.
