BRIAN RUTTER, a 38-year-old Management Consultant with a love for radio, who wants to resurrect the passion and fulfillment he found as a 17-year old who made his way on-air at the area’s number one commercial radio station *Excerpt:
“…and made my own “demo” tape - four songs, short and sweet. Then, the next afternoon after school I got in my car with every ounce of gumption I could muster, drove to the offices of FM 97, and left the tape and a short note with the receptionist, asking her to give it to the Program Director …After spending a few weeks observing and learning on Sunday mornings at 5:30 AM, I was given that slot as my radio show!…it’s 2003, a year in which I have decided to pursue some long-term dreams. I’m the kind of guy who sets a goal and makes it happen... and it is simply time to make a major career change to do something out of passion instead of paycheck. Desire drives me a lot. I’m looking forward to working with you and my A.M.A. mentor to try to break in to something that’s been a huge interest for 28 years... my mentor will find me to be a very capable, very fast learner. I’m respectful of others – with no ego. I am confident but humble – no prima donna here.
“David Frost was my first television model. I wanted to be a talk show host like him, intelligent, sensitive, witty and great with guests. I asked myself…. Who do I envy? Barbara Walters, Bill Moyers… interviewers. Because I love those interactions where you are working to draw out something that is new and has not yet come forward. I have those skills, I learned them in business and now I want to apply them in the public arena on subjects that are meaningful.
So, my work life provides me with great flexibility and the ability to pursue interests that don’t have to pay a lot or at all. I feel grateful to have this opportunity because I am exploding with the urge to do different things…art classes, documentary making, radio and television work, etc. I am prepared to start at the bottom……….
Biography: BRIAN RUTTER, Atlanta, GA
(for Apprentice Mentor Association)
I just realized that it has been almost a full month since my last update. Sorry about that! Things continue to go well. At the time of my last update, we had completed lesson #5. I'm happy to report that, as of this writing, we have just finished lesson #9 (Sportscasting #2). All of the formal lessons are going well... every time I meet with Tripp I learn more, both formally through his lesson feedback and through my 100 questions as I watch him "do what he does." I know that he's not been great (understatement) about completing his paperwork (he tells me)... but we ARE doing the lessons.
Let's see....some details:
When I last wrote, I told you about being asked by a promotions person at the station to participate in a charity auction -- to be auctioned off for a date (one of twenty). I'm happy to say that it was a tremendously fun event; my "selling" price was $175. The winning bidder and I went on our "date" (at a very nice Atlanta restaurant) last weekend. It was great visibility; in fact, I ran into that same promotions person at the station yesterday on my visit and made of point of saying hello, offering to be involved in anything else for which she needs me. The event also allowed me to meet the 7-12 PM on-air personality, who hosted it.
In other news, after watching Tripp do production work at the station for months now (we typically hold our lessons in the production studio there), he suggested that, in pursuit of professionalism and higher quality, if I could swing it, I invest in some tools of the trade. Fortunately, my "real job" allows me this possibility. Working with Tripp's specific recommendations, I just purchased a new Dell desktop computer (no more cassette recordings!) with sound card, a Bheringer mixer, a studio condenser microphone, and Sony professional headphones (a mini home studio!). I have installed the identical sound editing software (with FX) on the computer that Tripp uses in the studio to produce and edit his commercials. Tripp has coached me through hooking up the mixer to the sound card, etc. The next lesson will be first class! He's even given me the Star94 weather bed with back tag. I'll send you an mp3 when it's done.
Another item of note: Tripp allowed me to once again come in-studio with him on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend while he was on the air... only my second time doing this. Star 94 uses large-market, highly sophisticated equipment. My focus during the visit (the usual 1,000 questions) was learning how to operate the board (very automated, but that doesn't necessarily mean easier). I want to be on air! We're gonna make this work, Phillip!
One final nugget: during one of our sessions, the following words came out of his mouth: "Wouldn't it be cool if we could get you a (radio) job before we even finish the (Getamentor) program?"
Think that excited me? You bet! Sorry for the length -- lots to tell!
Regards,
Brian
Hopefully getting closer in my pursuits of an on-air job at STAR 94!! Through nothing short of Diving intervention -- being in precisely the right place at precisely the right time (literally standing in the hallway) -- during my weekly lesson with Tripp, I got a spontaneous interview/meeting with the P.D. With no prior appointment, the man spent a whopping NINETY MINUTES with me. We connected like a dream.
Still 'no cigar,' but now he clearly knows me -- who I am and what I'm "all about." The full story is one that will definitely make it to my success story for you to share -- when I get the darn job! Thanks for your continued interest. Just keeping you informed.
Thanks for the update on the FCC license.
Funny how the world goes round. By no means do I expect you to remember this, but, several months ago I wrote to tell you that the promotions department at STAR 94 had tapped me for a singles auction to raise money for a charity.
Today, I received a phone call from the SAME STAR 94 EMPLOYEE who arranged the auction, conveying a message from the P.D., that he had not yet looked at my packet but would soon. I called her back (we "know" each other from that event); she told me that, ironically, it is SHE who also makes the arrangements for interviews if he is interested. Here's the cool part: She told me that, because she knew me from the auction event, she was able to walk into his office today and tell him a little about me, saying that she thought I would represent the company well, that I was personable and loaded with presence, and that I was not a flake (dependable). How about them apples?! Funny how things are connected together.. but you already knew that.
Bottom line, we're in a holding pattern until he gives it a listen/look, but the wind is blowing in the right direction. I'll keep you posted! (and you can bet that the above will be part of my written success story for your web site!)
April 6, 2003
Mr. Phillip Trout
Apprentice Mentor Association
Dear Phillip,
As I told you on the phone when we first spoke, 2003 is my year to pursue a dream. That dream is a career in broadcasting. “Why 2003?” and “What makes broadcasting your dream?” are questions that you may be asking. If you will allow, I’ll answer those (and others) with the following story:
My recollection of first being interested in “things radio” is at age ten. I recall vividly the first night that I started listening to music radio at night. The popular radio station in my hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania was WLAN. At the time (doing the math, this was 1975), the company’s pop music format was found on its AM station (WLAN 1390); its FM station (WLAN-FM/FM 97) was news and talk. The stations and formats were later reversed. FM 97 subsequently became “the” 50,000-watt, commercial radio station in the region
I listened to the radio every night at bedtime. From someone, somewhere, I eventually was given a radio that included a sleep timer so I could set it and fall asleep. And I did. Night after night... and then all the time when not in school.
At some point, I began to mimic the announcers on the air. I simply became fascinated with all things voice-related. As crazy as this sounds, I saved enough money by the seventh grade to go out and purchase my own P.A. system at Radio Shack – what for, I really have no good answer! But, speaking into that microphone – even endless babble – was so much fun! For a kid, I became pretty good at “pseudo-announcing.”
Fast forward to high school, junior year, 1982. I was 17 years old and my passion was to be on the radio! To this day, I still find it incredible that I had the guts to go for it as I did. I borrowed my friend’s father’s reel-to-reel tape deck and, along with my own cassette deck and turntable (1982 = good old vinyl LPs), hooked it up to the amplifier of the P.A. system (above)... and made my own “demo” tape - four songs, short and sweet. Then, the next afternoon after school I got in my car with every ounce of gumption I could muster, drove to the offices of FM 97, and left the tape and a short note with the receptionist, asking her to give it to the Program Director.
The next week, I had just walked in the door from high school to my phone ringing at home. I answered it, only to find the voice on the other end saying, “Hi, Brian, this is “John Doe” (program director) from FM 97.” To cut to the chase, two afternoons later, after school, I was sitting in his office (on the other side of the gatekeeper receptionist!!!). I remember clear as day his saying to me, “Who taught you about the donut?” I said, “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what that is.” He explained that, in my demo tape, I had used the station’s call sign as the first thing coming out of the former song and the last thing going in to the next one. Together, we decided that I had simply picked up on that practice from listening. Net-net to the story: After spending a few weeks observing and learning on Sunday mornings at 5:30 AM, I was given that slot as my radio show! So there I was, a 17-year-old high school guy with a real radio show on the area’s number one commercial radio station! Never mind the 3:30 alarm clock each week (while in school)... I had made “IT” happen! Every once in while, I subbed for another slot – like the night of the station’s December holiday party... the program director appeared to feel bad asking me to take the 7 PM – 12 midnight slot while all of the “real” DJ’s were at the party. Are you kidding??? I was in heaven – live on the radio at the station’s most popular time!!
Fast forward again. After high school, I went to college, got my degree in business, and entered and progressed through the business world: 7 different large cities around the country in 16 years. My only radio-related experience in all that time was to voice a commercial for the product of the Fortune 500 company for which I was working. “My” spot ran on radio stations all over the state of Virginia for a month in 1990.
Today, I am 38 years old (very upbeat and enthusiastic) and have a seemingly great job in the field of management consulting. “Doing great,” it would appear to many. And I am – but I find work less interesting with each month that goes by. My passion for broadcasting has NEVER died. Over the years, all of my friends in all of the cities I’ve lived have heard me go into “radio mode” time and time again. Many say that I would be the perfect game show host (great voice, great personality, etc.). Many have said, “If you think that you love broadcasting so much, why don’t you do it for real?” My answer has been something like, how in the world would I break in? Then one day, not long ago, while searching the Web for broadcasting, I found getamentor.com.
Phillip, it’s 2003. A year in which I have decided to pursue some long-term dreams. I’m the kind of guy who sets a goal and makes it happen... and it is simply time to make a major career change to do something out of passion instead of paycheck. Desire drives me a lot. I’m looking forward to working with you and my A.M.A. mentor to try to break in to something that’s been a huge interest for 28 years.
Phillip, my mentor will find me to be a very capable, very fast learner. I’m respectful of others – with no ego. I am confident but humble – no prima donna here. And I am a “glass is half full” kind of guy who is ready to do what it takes to make this happen. I’m not doing this for money, as I am keenly aware that there is no magic pot at the end of some fictitious rainbow; it’s my desire that’s driving this decision. My professional record of achievement, which can’t be fully explained here, demonstrates my commitment and reliability. I am solid as a rock, energetic, enthusiastic, and highly motivated.
I cannot wait to get started. THANK YOU for your help in securing my mentor here in Atlanta, and for the role you will play in monitoring my progress and success.
Sincerely,
Brian Rutter
Atlanta, GA
