A lot of people ask me what my job is and I can never give a definitive answer because it’s a little bit of this and a little bit that…a whole lot of this and a whole lot of that. I make the station look good on site, but I have a team that helps me because I can’t be at every event so I can really say, I don’t necessarily make the station look good on site EVERY time.
Today, I just came up with job description of “I corral people.”
If you had asked me in 2001 when I started for the radio station what my job duties were, I wouldn’t have included the term “Mama Bear.” I say and mean “Mama Bear” with love and the utmost respect. I’m the promotions director/marketing director over two rock stations. One is a classic rock and one is a new rock. Complete opposite ends of the spectrum but also kind of the same.
I call my part timers “Baby Bears,” because I am like a Mama Bear protecting her cubs. I love my part-timers. They may aggravate me like real kids, drive me up the wall, work hard and bust ass, and so on, but it comes right down that if you attack one of my part-timers (aka Baby Bears) or try to throw them under the bus, you are attacking me and trying to throw me under the bus. There is nothing I won’t do for those kids who bust their ass for me. And I say kids loosely because some aren’t kids at all, but if they’re kicking ass for me, then I sure as hell am going to kick ass for them. The work they do, I’d do if had too. I don’t ask them to do anything that I wouldn’t do. I have a great group right now. I didn’t think I’d ever have the same feelings as I did toward a group of part timers as I did last year. When we had to let that group go because of cut backs and such, I cried so hard that I couldn’t even tell them how much they meant to me or that I had to let them go. I had to have one of my peers do it. Once you become a “Baby Bear,” you’re family to me. And once you’re family, you’re stuck with me as long as you’ll let me be part of your life.
So a few months ago, we brought round two of End Girls around. I was a naysayer. I won’t even lie about it. I got shafted with the job of being in charge of the first bunch of girls. It was a disaster. They weren’t what I hoped them to be and they were short lived. It turned out to be a hassle more than a help. With the round two of End Girls, I went in with pretty damn high standards. I expected the ladies to be smarter than the average bear (and I don’t mean Baby Bear way, I’m stealing that straight from the Yogi Bear cartoon) and I expected hard work. I’m a female, I worked hard to get where I am and I didn’t use my body to get to it. I hoped for at least 40% to think the same way.
The station had hundreds of entries and we narrowed them down and we have a group of about 10 to 14 (the exact count is hard to remember this late with this much tired coursing through my body) and I couldn’t have asked for a better bunch. Yes, I feel like a pimp and yes it makes me feel bad asking them to put on something sexy when I would rather get shot in the face than have to put on heels and something sexy. Here’s where my Catholic guilt from another life sets in. Any grunt work I normally ask someone to do, I’d do myself, but getting dolled up and looking pretty, not one of them. These ladies work hard, wear insane high heels, endure the lusty leers, come ons, and douchiness of men (and sometimes from the ladies). They strut their stuff and work a crowd. They smile politely and get their picture taken. Go them. Me, I’d rather not have any of that at all.
Today, we had a photo shoot, and we threw the elements at them. Cold rain being one of them. I know they would have rather been at home in their comfy clothes with the ones they love than hanging out with me on their free day (and vice versa for me), but they were there and I couldn’t have imagined spending my Sunday with anyone else than those girls. They crack my shit up & are so much fun to talk to and hang out with. Did I mention, they crack me up…(that means they make me laugh!) I thought it would be all drama. I mean come on, you put females in a room, and you’re bound to get something, but these ladies weren’t like that at all. Any sort of drama was held at bay and they were always there & ready to help the other if needed.
- Ally is calm, cool, & collected. She’s a star-gazer (and I don’t mean celebrity) and believer in the big picture & unknown.
- Amy is the quiet & shy one but has a 1000 watt smile and a heart of pure gold.
- Brionna is also shy & quiet but can work a pair of freaking 5 inch patent leather stilettos like no one’s business.
- Brittany is a hard-working single mom trying to provide for her son who loves her more than words & brought her to tears on how much he loves her.
- Christy is a rocker. Honest & balls to the wall. And she puts me to shame in drinking tequila. She wins. I loose.
- Deanna is a girl who people might see as dumb but has enough savvy to run her life & her career.
- Heather is a freaking giant (and I mean tall, but I’m 5’3 so anyone over that is tall) but commands attention because she’s just down right fun and I sense that little bit of insecurity in her that makes her a bit innocence.
- Kristen is as brutally honest as I am. She had me in stitches all day. As she said several times today, “Why do you let me talk?” Because she’s honest!!!
- Mimi is a reminder of my little sister. Sweet & innocent but balls out and full of energy. She puts energy drinks to shame.
- Robin is all sweet & innocent but I’m sure that she would not waste time in knocking you down a notch or two if needed.
So I have a new batch of “Baby Bears” and I’m going to have to work on a name for them because they’re not exactly babies as they would all kick anyones ass if they had to and I don’t want to refer to myself as a pimp or them as my “ho’s” because they are not no matter how they are perceived to the world.
But what I did learn today was that, I would do just about anything for these ladies as I do my part-timers so if I do need to get a “pimp stick” and beat some jerks in the ass for them I would. They might walk around in higher heels than I have ever owned in my life but that doesn’t mean I don’t respect them and expect others to respect them. They may put themselves out there to look smashing in a bikini or other outfit, but if you’re disrespecting them while they’re working for me, you’re disrespecting me and I don’t take lightly to that at all.
More importantly, the ENDmates made me realized that I do love my job maybe even more today than I have all week. They made my week end nicely with a lot of laughter and a lot of attitude.
So thank you ladies…the ones at the photo shoot and the ones who weren’t…for everything that you do for me and for the station but mostly, I’m proud of you gals. I’m glad to call you co-workers and friends.
