There is an expression, "Strike while the iron is hot".
That expression comes from cattle-branding on the ranch, where an iron brand was heated over a fire and while it was hot it would be used to burn the ranch's brand onto the hide of the cow so it could be identified.
Right now the political bonfires are raging and part 15 radio stations looking to earn $$$ should print professional-looking station rate sheets for political ads and get them around to the election headquarters and advertising agencies that do political spot placement.
Act now because you'll have to wait four years for the next big political season.
Thanks Carl, I didn't know that phrase came from the disfigurement of a cow's hide by a branding iron.
It's kind of sad to hear that stations are going after the bucks, I like the idea that P15 can be commerce free, at least that's the way I want to always run my station. I like it as a hobby, and it really doesn't cost that much to keep running, the enjoyment of having a station is my payback. I hope that whatever improvement is in store, that we always have that option.
Commercial stations look for the same kind of windfall around the major holidays, like playing Christmas classic hits along with lots of related ads.
Having some farm experience I can say that you do not strike cattle while branding them. A blacksmith, however, does strike the iron which must be hot in order to form it, hence the origin of the saying.
My station is not available to be used for political purposes free or paid.
Neil
Actually, I didn't intend for the subject to tie money into politics, LOL.
As for me, I sell advertising on my station, but I sell NO advertising to any business that can hear my over the air signal. Which basically means the ads are completely free for every business in the two small towns I serve.
I do sell adversiting outside the area, 95% of it comes from internet sales. Authors, mail order businesses, web sites, etc buy my spots at about 30 cents a pop. Basically it's 15 for $5, or 40 for $10. This allows me to use money from outside the community to support community causes. The station sponsors the poster printing for the local festival in the fall. I buy a spot on the high school sports teams posters, the high school yearbooks, run a weekly ad in the local paper, and donate to local causes and promotions of the local business community. It also allows me to use quality equipment in the station, and purchase and maintain test equipment for testing Part 15 equipment (I've got a couple interesting tests planned for this spring). It also allows me to purchase music to keep the air sound fresh (the library grows regularly) and to pay for things like music licenses and news service.
I consider it a "hobby business". It's self supporting, allows for expansion and maintenance with no out of pocket expense to me. If I were to opt not to put money into the community from my proceeds it would make a nice second income. But I'm doing it as a service to the small town I live in, not to make money for myself.
As for political advertising, in keeping with my policy, should a candidate of some sort, running for an office in my coverage area, want spots, the spots would be free.
I'm sure many of you with commercial radio experience are familiar with the complexities of political advertising. The rules are a HUGE PITA. Here's a nice RAB download that will give you some idea.
http://www.rab.com/public/political/2016PoliticalHandbook.pdf
TIB
What kind of music do you air on your station? I am assuming you also run your polka show as well?
Thank you Neil for better informing my Encyclopia of the Head about the difference between branding irons and iron strikes.
If I decide to run for political office, this website might be a place to beg for votes, especially if I make a campaign promise of "Opening up Part 15 broadcasting".
I went to ur website...
Political ads are super tricky for broadcasters. I assume for part 15 those restrictions fly right on out the window though. The biggest rule is you cannot charge more than your lowest price to a candidate. IE, if you sell packages for $10 a spot for 100 spots or $15 a spot for 75 spots, you MUST give the candidate that $10 charge even if they buy only one spot.
The time for stations to profit is at the beginning of political careers when they need to generate votes with expensive ad campaigns.
Later on the politicians will be wearing leg-irons as they get driven away, they'll still get radio time, but it will be in the news which is freebie.