99.9 percent of the time I refrain from trying to speak for Jason Barrett. However, there is one exception. When multiple high-level sports radio programmers continue to make the annual trip to the BSM Summit, I feel confident speaking for Jason that it’s the biggest ringing endorsement the event can have. More than words and nice compliments, those faces being in the crowd every single year is the best way to say the event is worth the time and money. Brian Long of San Diego Sports 760 and KOGO 600 in San Diego is one of the program directors that keeps making the trip to the BSM Summit. This will be his fourth time participating in the event.
‘I’m a big fan of what Jason has built,” said Long. “To watch it grow from the Chicago summit to what it’s going to be now is exciting. It’s certainly great to reconnect with a ton of colleagues.”
Long has found that entering the BSM Summit with an open mind is the best way to go about things. There’s never a thought from Long that a particular panel isn’t going to do anything for him, it’s more so taking everything in and seeing what new idea sparks from the conversation on stage.
That mentality cannot be appreciated and endorsed enough. It’s that mentality that will have you leaving the two-day event with the best new ideas.
“So I’ve learned the best thing you can do is go in with a completely open mind to every panel,” said Long. “Usually it’s out of that, that something really smart comes up that you didn’t think of. And sometimes it’s not even the focus of the panel, but it will morph into someone saying something that’s a bit of a thought starter. I try to go in without one expectation of ‘Ehh, this panel doesn’t really do anything for me, I’d like to see this person or that panel’. I try to take it all in, because usually, it’s out of that nugget you weren’t thinking about that provokes some thought and it’s something you can take back to your market.”
Regardless of your job title, you’re guaranteed to leave the BSM Summit with ideas on how you can improve yourself and your station. But it’s more than just that. The networking opportunities are equally as beneficial, whether you’re looking to reconnect with colleagues or trying to make new connections.
“With what Jason has built, it’s a great networking event,” said Long. “It’s a small fraternity and you realize that when you put a bunch of really smart, creative people in one room. I’ve always found everyone to be very open to talking to everyone, at whatever level, whether they’re starting out or a seasoned vet in the business.”
For a show host that’s looking for a new opportunity in a different market, or even an opportunity to do a national show, the BSM Summit is a great opportunity to meet and interact with the programmers that run those particular stations. So what’s the best advice from a program director that could be sought out during the event? How should a host approach and interact with a programmer at the event?
“I think these are great opportunities to walk up and introduce yourself and really listen to what that person is saying,” said Long. “You get a little bit of an insight, further than just listening to their radio station as to what drives them, their philosophy, and their ideas. As it relates to whatever that turns into a job, I think it’s more about this being a great first step. It’s a great opportunity that goes beyond sending an email. It’s a great opportunity to stand in front of somebody and talk for a minute or two. And then maybe it puts in motion the idea that down the road something might be there.”
Not only will Long be looking to learn and interact at the event, but he’ll also be on a panel on day two of the BSM Summit. In the words of Jason Barrett, who will be moderating the panel, “The Last Call” will explore unique revenue opportunities created by local brands and examine a few new ideas and missed opportunities that brands and managers may want to take advantage of in the future. He’ll be joined by Matt Fishman, Rob Parker, and Sean Thompson.
When Long is on the stage, he’ll be listening to the guys sitting across from him. He’s adamant about not letting any opportunity go to waste. Who knows, maybe even an idea will spark for him while he’s on stage.
“At the first BSM Summit, we were pre-pandemic and it was still a lot of blocking and tackling on how to do a radio station,” said Long. “I’ve seen the panels change and it’s morphed to people outside of just our radio industry. I think with that it brought ideas out that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
Tyler McComas is a columnist for BSM and a sports radio talk show host in Norman, OK where he hosts afternoon drive for SportsTalk 1400. You can find him on Twitter @Tyler_McComas or you can email him at TylerMcComas08@yahoo.com.
