Day in the Life of a Radio Station Events Cooridinator

For the past five years, Jillian Wydra, 23 of Dorrance, Pa. has been a 'weekend warrior' as they say in the radio industry. While juggling college and extracurricular activities, Wydra also interned and began working part-time for a local radio station, or two.

She dressed up as the station mascot at live action broadcast, ran the board for syndicated radio programs and produced live talk shows-as well as read the weather. After college graudation in May, where she majored in communications and minored in business, she continued working in the radio world, awaiting a full-time gig.

In November of this year, the interning and part-time work (and patience) paid off. Wydra has hired as an events assistant for a local radio group's marketing department. As an events assistant, she helps plan, promote and run expos/shows sponsored by the radio group.

(PHOTO: One of the perks of a job in radio-- Jillian with country singer, Trent Willmon.)

Meet multitasker, Jillan:

Current job:
Events Assistant for a radio station

Length at current job
Well, I've been an events assistant since November 2006, but I've been with the station as an intern and part-time since June 2002

Tell me a little about your position and what you do on a day-to-day basis.
Well, I basically make calls and try to set up different vendors for the shows that we hold. I also look for various entertainment for the shows. I write the press releases for the shows as well as research different ideas for the shows.

What are your customers like? What type of people do you serve?
Well we look for different types of vendors who pertain to the specific show that we have going on, so it depends on what the show or event is.

Who are your coworkers, meaning what type of people do you work with? Are you in a team environment? Do you work independently?
Being an events assistant you basically work with everyone in the building...sales, promotions, programming, traffic, engineering, IT, web...you name the department and I work with it. We work together for the most part...if we didn't things would never get done!

What keeps you motivated to go to work each day?
The fact that there is always something different to do

What do you like best about your job?
I love working with my co-workers and meeting new people from all around the country. This is the job that I wanted.

Reflect back from Day One to now. How have you evolved in your current job?
How have you maybe evolved as a person?
Well, when I started I was slowly learning the process of what I had to do. I now have many more responsibilities with this job. I have learned to not panic if things go wrong and also to juggle many different tasks at once!

Tell me about any great success story you may have had at your job.
I have successfully booked the entertainment for the Women's Show that we have coming up...let's hope the show is a success now!

What advice would you give someone who is seeking the same line of work?
You have to learn to grin and bear it sometimes. Sometimes you may be doing the same thing for a week and you'll get bored. Just remember that the research is what counts in a job like this. Things need to be well thought out before they can be put together.

Where do you hope to go with this job, or in your career in general?
I'd love to work for a record company, maybe be a tour manager or agent. You basically plan the routes of the stars. I'd love to get into A & R one day.

How did you education or past experiences prepare you for this job?
While in college I learned how to multi-task, due to work, homework, and my internships. I also learned many aspects of the entertainment industry through working at the radio station for almost five years and through the internships that I did while in college.

Are there any challenges in your job?
If so, how do you handle them?There are many! I have come to realize that deadlines are just as important in radio as in newspapers. Commercials need to be made in advance, and paperwork needs to be filled out in advance of the commercial being made. You have to be very organized to know what ends and begins on what date.

Any funny stories?
When I first starting working part-time I was filling in for the afternoon guy at the AM station one day. A guy walked by in the hallway that I had seen somewhere before but I couldn't place where. A few minutes later the guy with a southern accent came in and started talking to me, asking what I did, where I went to school, etc. I asked him who he was and he said Mike, and I asked where he was from and he said Lonestar. I didn't realize that he meant the country band Lonestar, so I said "Oh I love their steak!" It was very embarrassing! (Michael Britt plays guitar for Lonestar!)

What is your proudest accomplishment at the job?
It will be the Women's Show if all goes as planned!

What do you think the climate is for your current industry? Where is it headed? How has it changed?
The climate is ever changing. Things are headed into a more digital era with HD radio coming soon. Also I think that more aspects will be moving onto the Internet in the coming years. It is going to be a totally different experience for everyone!

What types of jobs have you had in the past?
I have held clerical jobs in the past. I was a recruiting coordinator for a company called Vector Marketing for a year and a half. At the radio station I have been a board operator and producer for some live local talk shows for about two and half years, and now have an on-air shift was well.

Tell me a little bit about your life outside of work.
I am still living at home and probably will be for the next year. I plan on moving to Nashville in the coming years to be closer to the record industry.

What are your hobbies outside of work?
I love to dance. It is a great form of exercise. I'm taking lessons for e-factor pole dancing which sounds dirty but isn't! It is a great work out! I also plan on taking Latin dance lessons. I enjoy photography and I love nature! I also enjoy interior design and hanging out with friends!

A Day in the Life of an American Student Studying TV in London: Meet Andee

Andee Scarantino, 21 was a ‘big fish’ at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania’s Wilkes University. She was a multi-media guru and a 4.0 student. And, the big fish swam across the Atlantic for a semester in London, where she is not only studying abroad and interning for British television, but also getting used to a new culture.

The once small-town girl has high hopes of returning to London for a career in television after she completes her senior year. In fact, she now speaks in the style of a Brit and another sign of her acclimation to the culture—she enjoys tea with her coworkers.

Learn about how she transformed herself, made it further than her high school teachers ever thought she would and how a ‘poor girl from NEPA’ ended up on a rich London neighborhood in an interview with this fascinating young woman:

Current job:
I am an intern at Travel Channel International Ltd. They are a satellite (cable isn't common) channel in the UK. I write shows and do various work for Thomson TV. Thomson TV people work for Travel Channel, but make television shows for the company Thomson, which is one of the largest holiday companies in the UK. They are owned by the German parent company TUI. I get to write scripts and such in a British workplace, which is totally awesome. In addition, I also get to do work for Travel Channel when things get slow with Thomson. We are located in Soho, in London's West End.

Oh, and I'm a student studying British Film and Television, and a student at home studying TV and Journalism. And I'm a waitress... at home. I have been there since March. I work until I come home in early May.

Tell me a little about your position and what you do on a day-to-day basis:
My position is great, because as an intern, it always changes. Sometimes I'll be writing a show about Greece. Sometimes I'll be sitting and transcribing tapes for Travel Channel. I do different things, depending. The real highlight is working in a British environment. The employees are all very nice, easy-going, and far less P.C. than American employees. They really know how to make an American feel welcome. One day, the broadcast director for Travel Channel needed my help with a series called "Hollywood and Vines" starring Jason Priestly. It's a program that's very American, so I needed to pick out some serious bits for PR purposes, as to try and "sell" the show to the British audience. It's great to have an American perspective in the British workplace.

Tell me about your ‘customers.’
Travel Channel's "customers" want to watch TV. Thomson's customers want to buy holidays. Brits just LOVE beaches. It's funny- because I have to write very cheesy travel material. "If you're a water-baby, take a dip in the large pool, or, stretch out on the golden sands of--" It's never boring.

Tell me about your coworkers:
My colleagues are fantastic. They're a fun-loving bunch and get on quite well as a team. They're young, funny, and love to drink tea.

What keeps you motivated to go to work each day?
I'd have to say working in Soho. The whole area is packed with production companies. Soho is also filled with other things, like an alternative culture and sex shops. I work off of Oxford Street, which is a very long street. Every type of person you can imagine is walking down that street at any given time. It's fun just to be a part of it. (But not fun to walk through it at lunchtime when all the shoppers are out.)

What do you like best about your job?
That it's television in London, and nobody wants to jump down your throat. Nobody feels threatened, here, because we don't have the "American Dream."

What do you like least about your job?

Probably that I don't get paid (Interning is sucky.)

Reflect back from Day One to now. How have you evolved?
I used to think it was all about being a "big fish," a "go-getter," and from prior experiences, everyone around me felt intimidated by that. When I came to London I realised I didn't have to be a huge fish. I could work five days a week, here, get 6 weeks of holiday time a year, and just have a good time making TV.

Tell me about any great success story you may have had at your job.
I cannot really think of any, except that I got there. A poor girl from Northeast PA (NEPA) who gets to live in South Kensington in London (home to some of the richest properties in the world) and work at Travel Channel for a few months is success within itself, to me.

Where do you hope to go with this job, or in your career in general?
I hope to finish school and move back to London to work. It's a very difficult process for an American to get a permanent working VISA, but I have confidence in myself.

How did you education or past experiences prepare you for this job?
I think my time at school really helped me. My classes were mediocre, but I spent a lot of time teaching myself different skills in our studio. I asked a lot of questions, and learned a lot of skills. When I came here, the producers were surprised I knew how to work a "Digi Machine." That is essentially a high-priced VCR that plays Digi Beta tapes. I was an intern in NEPA before coming to London, and I can firmly say I was surprised how WARM the people are over here compared to back home.

Are there any challenges in your job? If so, how do you handle them?
My challenges were being an uncouth American who has never traveled much, and writing about exotic places that, to Brits, are: "I've been there 10 times" experiences. I can say, though-- that now I know about more places in the world than I ever cared to locate on a globe.

Any funny stories?
I was writing about a hotel, one day, for some deal Thomson was selling. The one producer was looking it over (as I am an intern) and read the line "Dining catered to British tastes." "Catered to British tastes?" she said. "Sounds like a real s*** hole." We recognise the amount of cheese that we write, and there's always a laugh.

Tell me a little bit about your life outside of work.
I went to one of the worst schools in Pennsylvania for high school. My teachers found me to be rude, annoying, and least likely to succeed, I'm certain. They never encouraged me. They never saw a hidden brain under my, at the time, blue hair. I went to a third rate university, which I grew bored with very quickly. I worked hard, though, and now I study abroad with people from various universities. Some go to BU, some go to Cornell, etc etc.

My life has drastically changed in the past four years. Four years ago I had ugly clothes, acne, and worked in a grease pit in Old Forge Pennsylvania. I firmly believed I could do that forever. I think now, after living here, and attending a program with rich, well-traveled people, I realise how petty my life was before. I hated it, and I hated how America made me feel about myself.

Can you elaborate on that, about your opportunities?
What I really hate, though, is the fact that good, intelligent people like me and my family, are held back in society. My one professor and I compared families. He lives quite comfortably. He has a ton of money. His parents were professors. Their parents were teachers/principals. My parents barely can find work, and my grandparents worked in factories. No matter how intelligent I am, I don't get the luxuries in life OTHERS get.

This is why my long-term goal, and one of the reasons I came to Britain, is to bring social realism to America. It's a popular TV genre, here. I want to write a sitcom/drama based on the American suburban upper-working/lower middle class. I think those people quite often are not seen.

What are your hobbies?
I drink and watch people. I also like to travel.

Anything else you can share?
I'm just happy I've come this far.

A Day in the Life of a Forklift Technician: Meet David

Since he was young, David P., 27 of Sweet Valley, Pa. loved to tinker with things. It’s no surprise that after a string of trade and production jobs the handy man landed a job as a forklift technician.

People sometimes take for granted where stuff comes from. But David knows. Day in and day out, he visits logistic centers, warehouses and other storage centers. Some of these are in freezers and some measure in at a over a million-square feet; all are filled with ‘stuff’ waiting to be shipped to stores. Forklifts and high tech lift trucks help stock, store, load and unload the things we need in every day life.

Meet David:

Current job :
Forklift technician for a dealership of a major forklift brand.

Length at current job:
Three years.

Tell me a little about your position and what you do on a day-to-day basis.
Well, my position is to go to a customer’s location and repair any breakdowns on their forklifts. If my day doesn’t consist of breakdowns, we have a scheduled maintenance list where you service client equipment for preventative maintenance. Also, when a customer gets new equipment, we have to install it. Soon as I roll into town, I call the dispatch to see if there are breakdowns. If not, I do maintenance.

What are your customers like? What type of people do you serve?
Most of our customers are warehouses and distributions centers—people who have to move material around warehouses. Some examples are frozen food warehouses, clothing warehouses, candy distributors, etc. Generally, they’re fair as long as you get there in a timely fashion. There are a few that no matter what you do, you cannot please.

Who are your coworkers, meaning what type of people do you work with? Are you in a team environment? Do you work independently?
We have seven guys in our territory, with one lead tech. We work independently, but we also work as a team to accomplish our goals. Sometimes we work together. We really communicate to make a smooth operation.

What keeps you motivated to go to work each day?
Money. Independence. I don’t have a boss hanging over me all day. I pretty much make my own schedule. That’s what really gets me up in the morning; knowing that I don’t have a boss.

What do you like best about your job?
Having a free vehicle and gas to go to work with. Sometimes perks are getting free stuff from customers, like candy. Again, no boss.

What do you like least about your job?
When the customer is really giving you a hard time, and you have a complicated breakdown. If the customer needs that truck, the pressure is on.

Reflect back from Day One to now. How have you evolved in your current job? How have you maybe evolved as a person?
From day one it was really intimidating because you are just getting familiar with the particular equipment you are working with, like if you’ve never been a forklift technician. You have to know your territory, where your customers are located and that can be overwhelming. Also, how to get inside the buildings and where to go and not to go once you are on the property.

Now that I’ve been there for three years, I got to know the customers and got more efficient at repairing the equipment so my job is a lot easier now. Most techs that start don’t make it a year in our business, so I feel that I made it through the hurdles.

Outside of work, I’ve gained more patience to deal with people and be a little more sociable.

What advice would you give someone who is seeking the same line of work?
Learn. Take advice from your coworkers that have been there for years. Ask tons of questions. Be coachable.

Where do you hope to go with this job, or in your career in general?
If our area expands and our lead tech gets promoted to supervisor, I’d like the position of lead tech. I like coordinating things and I like a smooth operation and I feel that I could do a good job at it. I really want my wife-to-be’s writing career to take off so she can earn the money and I can open my dream ATV/motorcycle repair shop.

How did your education or past experiences prepare you for this job?
As a kid I’d always be in the garage working on go-karts and dirt bikes and ATVs. Then as I got out of school I worked at an automotive shop. I had a strong mechanical and electrical background, so it helped me out a lot with everyday issues on the job.

Are there any challenges in your job? If so, how do you handle them?
Yes. Lots of challenges. For one, trying to keep the customer satisfied. Second, if a difficult problem occurs, you have to have the resources to figure out the problem and get the customer’s truck up and running.

Any funny stories?
(laughs) When I was repairing a lift in the maintenance shop an operator came by and smashed into a fence. He jumped off the truck, but was still attached to the safety harness and flew back into the truck. (laughs) He didn’t see me laughing though. (laughs again.)

Any injuries?
I was pounding in an axel shaft when a piece of the metal flew off and braised my forehead. Blood gushed out.

What is your proudest accomplishment at the job?
Sticking with it and really getting to know my job through the thick and thin.

What do you think the climate is for your current industry? Where is it headed?
It’s growing by leaps and bounds. Industrial places are really booming in our area right now. We have new distribution centers being built all over. It doesn’t mean that our forklifts are going in there, but it’s economical growth for the industry.

What types of jobs have you had in the past?
Building construction, automotive technician, factory work, tree farming, masonry

Tell me a little bit about your life outside of work…
I come home to a beautiful fiancé, I tinker with stuff in the garage, I relax, watch TV. Also, I come from a big family- four sisters and two brothers.

What are your hobbies outside of work?
When I had a four-wheeler, it was going four-wheeling. Also, working on the house, making home improvements. I would love to restore another Chevelle.

Entry Uno

Today in the Life....

I had an idea for a series of articles for a site I contribute to, Associated Content. I realized that while I will still make the stories available there, that a blog fits this series perfectly!

Post Secrets has become a blogging phenomenon, so I know that interesting blogs have potential. So, here is my quest to introduce real folks to other real folks. It's like a little reality blog, if you will.

Happy reading!