Post by JVH (f/k/a Bob Dubilina) on Sept 5, 2005 2:42:27 GMT -5
The following is a message to Richard Wolod, Midwestern Rep for CO5 Music. This is the company that handles all radio requests for BFN Spotlight Artist Collective Soul. Enjoy!
BobbyDobbyD
Wow. Thanks for the inappropriate phone manner today, Richard. You know, I may be nothing more than a pesky college radio DJ in your book, but I deserve better from the likes of you. I've been burned by reps before. I've been left on the backburner and forgotten on guest lists – hell, I was once left outside for hours in subzero temperatures just to be sent away because the artist "wasn't in the mood for interviews" – but what you did to me today was a new low.
Our business is networking, Richard. Success is defined by communication. Communication is essential. Communication is key. As the radio rep for an ENTIRE REGION, this should be obvious, right? Then why the hostility today, Richard? After all, I was just doing my job. My job consists of networking with the proper label/radio reps and managers to fully promote my radio show and the artists that I feature on it. Your job is to make sure that the artist you represent gains a wider audience through the heavy rotation of their music as well as special radio promotion (i.e., in-studio/phone interviews). When you failed to do your job, it certainly wasn't my fault.
Now, before you begin to defend your inappropriate behavior to your colleagues – or attempt to portray me as a young kid throwing a tantrum, make sure to remind them that I never once did anything to you to deserve your ire. All I was trying to do was arrange an interview with Collective Soul for my radio show. You know, I had to call FIVE (5!) different companies just to find the guy who gets things done – that's you, right? – and not once did I get written off by a single person that I talked to. In fact, they were more than willing to help. (Special thanks to Amanda Hale at MSO for forwarding my info to CO5. Thanks, Amanda!) But I call you, and I get the third degree. What gives?
Let's set up a timeline to see if I've ever once overstepped my boundaries when contacting you:
My request was forwarded by Amanda Hale at MSO to your CO5 colleague Todd Sievers on 08/22. Todd forwarded it to you on Tuesday, 08/23. I called you on Thursday, 08/25 to confirm that you received the e-mail. You said you did. You also told me that an interview was possible – no guarantees, of course – but first I needed to send you all relevant info re: my show and my radio station. I sent that e-mail on Thursday, 08/25. I called your office on Tuesday morning, 08/29 to confirm that you sent out my request (you did) and Thursday afternoon, 08/31 to ask if you'd received any word from management (you hadn't). It's Thursday, AUGUST 31, Richard – three days before the show – and you said that you'd contact me the moment you knew anything.
And what happened? You never called me! Now, maybe you didn't get word. (I highly doubt this scenario, seeing as you are the REGIONAL radio promotions contact for a big-name act (right?), but let's give you the benefit of the doubt.) Even so, I still deserved a phone call. No, you don't have to heed to my beck and call, but you can at least give me twenty seconds of your time. I understand that you're a busy guy, but guess what – I'M A BUSY GUY, TOO! And just like you need to go through the proper channels – management, publicity, the band – to make this request happen, I have to go through the proper channels, too. I have to secure a timeslot that's convenient for the band. Not for me, but for the band. That means that I have to coordinate with the program director to make sure that the studio is available, and if it isn't, I need to send a request to the DJ who's on at that time to miss his show that week. You know what? I secured that radio studio for the entire day, Richard. I did it for your convenience – for the convenience of the band – and I couldn’t even get a simple "Yes" or "No" from you.
So you know what I decided to do, Richard? I decided to call you. But how to reach you? After all, it's the middle of Labor Day Weekend; nobody was picking up at the office. Oh yeah, that's right – you have a cell phone! It's listed on your web site! It’s public information. And it's 4 p.m. on the day of a big concert – chances were good that you were at the venue, with the band and had the opportunity to directly ask management if I could get an interview or not. It's four hours before the band was scheduled to play and – what do you know – I'm sitting in the goddamn radio studio! I've just completed one band interview today, why not go for that second one while I'm there? Can't hurt, right?
Oh man, I couldn't have been more WRONG! I call you, and you nearly bite my head off. In fact, you're hollering at me. Your spiel: "Listen, I haven't seen the band in years. I'm on the way to meet them right now. I have other things to take care of. I already said I would request an interview for you, but even if you were granted one, it probably won't happen for a few weeks. When I say don't call me, I mean it – don't ever call me! I'll call you! ”
Lovely phone manner. Do you do this with all of your contacts? Or do you just do it to college radio DJs who want to aim high and work hard? You really have some nerve, Richard. After all, I requested an interview with the band on the day of SEPTEMBER 4, 2005 – it was mentioned in both of my e-mails! You told me that you would request that particular date for me. So, when the request moves back by “a few weeks,” I think it's safe to say that I should know about this ever-so-important detail. After all, I'm the one who has to pick up the damn phone when they call the studio! Yeah, you don't have to heed to my beck and call, Richard, but I sure as hell don't have to heed to yours either! Believe it or not, my time is worth just as much as yours. GOT IT?
In the future, a simple "Yes" or "No" will suffice. However, since I'm certain that you'll do your best to ban me from all CO5 activities once you read this letter, I'm guessing there won't be a “next time.” Maybe it's for the best. I shouldn't have to be treated like shit just because I'm doing my damnedest to promote great music (on my own dime, I might add). Last time I checked, getting snapped at by you isn't what I would call a perk. I call that bullshit, plain and simple.
Thanks for the attitude, Richard. It's comforting to know that after years of waiting for Collective Soul to make a big return on their own terms, they have you to inspire such good buzz. Happy Labor Day, indeed!
Sincerely,
Justin Velander Holt
"Bob Dubilina"
BFN Networks
www.BFNinYourEars.com
P.S. In case you somehow lose this e-mail, you can always reread it on the BFN Forums. Thanks for contributing!
BobbyDobbyD
=====================================
Wow. Thanks for the inappropriate phone manner today, Richard. You know, I may be nothing more than a pesky college radio DJ in your book, but I deserve better from the likes of you. I've been burned by reps before. I've been left on the backburner and forgotten on guest lists – hell, I was once left outside for hours in subzero temperatures just to be sent away because the artist "wasn't in the mood for interviews" – but what you did to me today was a new low.
Our business is networking, Richard. Success is defined by communication. Communication is essential. Communication is key. As the radio rep for an ENTIRE REGION, this should be obvious, right? Then why the hostility today, Richard? After all, I was just doing my job. My job consists of networking with the proper label/radio reps and managers to fully promote my radio show and the artists that I feature on it. Your job is to make sure that the artist you represent gains a wider audience through the heavy rotation of their music as well as special radio promotion (i.e., in-studio/phone interviews). When you failed to do your job, it certainly wasn't my fault.
Now, before you begin to defend your inappropriate behavior to your colleagues – or attempt to portray me as a young kid throwing a tantrum, make sure to remind them that I never once did anything to you to deserve your ire. All I was trying to do was arrange an interview with Collective Soul for my radio show. You know, I had to call FIVE (5!) different companies just to find the guy who gets things done – that's you, right? – and not once did I get written off by a single person that I talked to. In fact, they were more than willing to help. (Special thanks to Amanda Hale at MSO for forwarding my info to CO5. Thanks, Amanda!) But I call you, and I get the third degree. What gives?
Let's set up a timeline to see if I've ever once overstepped my boundaries when contacting you:
My request was forwarded by Amanda Hale at MSO to your CO5 colleague Todd Sievers on 08/22. Todd forwarded it to you on Tuesday, 08/23. I called you on Thursday, 08/25 to confirm that you received the e-mail. You said you did. You also told me that an interview was possible – no guarantees, of course – but first I needed to send you all relevant info re: my show and my radio station. I sent that e-mail on Thursday, 08/25. I called your office on Tuesday morning, 08/29 to confirm that you sent out my request (you did) and Thursday afternoon, 08/31 to ask if you'd received any word from management (you hadn't). It's Thursday, AUGUST 31, Richard – three days before the show – and you said that you'd contact me the moment you knew anything.
And what happened? You never called me! Now, maybe you didn't get word. (I highly doubt this scenario, seeing as you are the REGIONAL radio promotions contact for a big-name act (right?), but let's give you the benefit of the doubt.) Even so, I still deserved a phone call. No, you don't have to heed to my beck and call, but you can at least give me twenty seconds of your time. I understand that you're a busy guy, but guess what – I'M A BUSY GUY, TOO! And just like you need to go through the proper channels – management, publicity, the band – to make this request happen, I have to go through the proper channels, too. I have to secure a timeslot that's convenient for the band. Not for me, but for the band. That means that I have to coordinate with the program director to make sure that the studio is available, and if it isn't, I need to send a request to the DJ who's on at that time to miss his show that week. You know what? I secured that radio studio for the entire day, Richard. I did it for your convenience – for the convenience of the band – and I couldn’t even get a simple "Yes" or "No" from you.
So you know what I decided to do, Richard? I decided to call you. But how to reach you? After all, it's the middle of Labor Day Weekend; nobody was picking up at the office. Oh yeah, that's right – you have a cell phone! It's listed on your web site! It’s public information. And it's 4 p.m. on the day of a big concert – chances were good that you were at the venue, with the band and had the opportunity to directly ask management if I could get an interview or not. It's four hours before the band was scheduled to play and – what do you know – I'm sitting in the goddamn radio studio! I've just completed one band interview today, why not go for that second one while I'm there? Can't hurt, right?
Oh man, I couldn't have been more WRONG! I call you, and you nearly bite my head off. In fact, you're hollering at me. Your spiel: "Listen, I haven't seen the band in years. I'm on the way to meet them right now. I have other things to take care of. I already said I would request an interview for you, but even if you were granted one, it probably won't happen for a few weeks. When I say don't call me, I mean it – don't ever call me! I'll call you! ”
Lovely phone manner. Do you do this with all of your contacts? Or do you just do it to college radio DJs who want to aim high and work hard? You really have some nerve, Richard. After all, I requested an interview with the band on the day of SEPTEMBER 4, 2005 – it was mentioned in both of my e-mails! You told me that you would request that particular date for me. So, when the request moves back by “a few weeks,” I think it's safe to say that I should know about this ever-so-important detail. After all, I'm the one who has to pick up the damn phone when they call the studio! Yeah, you don't have to heed to my beck and call, Richard, but I sure as hell don't have to heed to yours either! Believe it or not, my time is worth just as much as yours. GOT IT?
In the future, a simple "Yes" or "No" will suffice. However, since I'm certain that you'll do your best to ban me from all CO5 activities once you read this letter, I'm guessing there won't be a “next time.” Maybe it's for the best. I shouldn't have to be treated like shit just because I'm doing my damnedest to promote great music (on my own dime, I might add). Last time I checked, getting snapped at by you isn't what I would call a perk. I call that bullshit, plain and simple.
Thanks for the attitude, Richard. It's comforting to know that after years of waiting for Collective Soul to make a big return on their own terms, they have you to inspire such good buzz. Happy Labor Day, indeed!
Sincerely,
Justin Velander Holt
"Bob Dubilina"
BFN Networks
www.BFNinYourEars.com
P.S. In case you somehow lose this e-mail, you can always reread it on the BFN Forums. Thanks for contributing!