Posted by Allan Sniffen on September 30, 2009 at 10:44:59:
In Reply to: Profile of WFAN's Harris Allen posted by Jerry Barmash on September 29, 2009 at 01:20:07:
I have to agree with this statement from piece:
>>>His advice for hopeful broadcasters, though, is not as encouraging: “It’s not something I would recommend to anybody.” But Allen added that those who have the passion should follow their hearts. “Understand that it can be a rough road. I would not tell a kid of mine to do it; … It’s a little shaky out there right now.” <<<
That's the truth... and it's a shame. The business has just beat the enthusiasm out of everyone from major market pros to radio fans. Harris talks about his admiration for Dan Ingram and he's part of a small army of radio people who grew up admiring Dan. He inspired a generation.
The sad part is that when those who were infected by radio found no way to express it when they got into a professional situation where it would once have been possible to be a "Big Dan". The ground rules changed. If Dan himself were starting out today, even he likely wouldn't rise to a job like the one he had.
Good for Harris in reinventing himself and hanging in there. In many ways that's vastly more difficult than finding that illusive major market job a generation grew up believing would be the big challenge.