Norm’s wife Vera on the TV show, Cheers, most wondered if she really existed.
Forty minutes later, Jonny was at the station.
This time, Jonny chose not to enter through the employee entrance. He was supposed to, company policy, but he needed the thrill of adoration. The main lobby afforded him that. Jonny breezed through the big glass doors. On the walls hung gold and platinum records. Huge black leather couches housed loyal listeners waiting to pick up their prizes.
“Jonny...Jonny!” they said as if on cue, jumping up to get close to him.
Jonny Rock was in his glory.
“Hey, guys,” he shook hands as he kept walking, “gotta go to work, thanks for listening. I love you!”
“And I love you,” they chorused.
Jonny walked into the station. The day was in full swing. Two seconds into the building and Rick a.k.a. Funny Boy was at his side.
“I’m so glad you’re here man, we have an issue.”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s Jay Jay, he’s in conflict with a salesperson.”
Jonny started walking to the studio, Rick fell in line. “Fill me in, Funny Boy.”
“Barry Corbin, tall sales guy, kinda bald...you know the one who brushes the strands over his shiny head…”
“Yeah, yeah I know who Barry is. What’s up?”
“Well he wants Jay Jay to do an endorsement for a new client, Light’s On, they sell flashlights. Jay Jay is refusing...says it doesn’t fit his image. Barry’s gonna take it to his sales manager.”
Jonny sighed. Now Jay Jay had standards. Not that he didn’t understand the principle, but you had to choose your battles and this one wasn’t worth fighting.
“Jay Jay’s gonna go ballistic. He wants to see you pronto.”
Jonny hated being bossed around by Jay Jay. Jay Jay was the highest paid member on staff and had the biggest ego.
“I’ll talk to him.”
Jonny went into the studio. “What now Jay Jay?”
“Just so you know I have five minutes before we’re back on,” Jay Jay said sharply, pointing at the clock.
Jonny wasn’t intimidated. “Funny Boy filled me in.”
“Jonny, I don’t care who Barry takes this to, I’m not endorsing freakin’ flashlights.”
“Jay Jay are they paying you to do it?”
“That’s not the point.”
“Yes or no. Are they or aren’t they.”
“Look Jonny come lately, money doesn’t mean I’ll do it.”
Jonny tried to remain calm. “Jay Jay you know the reality of the situation. If the client is spending a lot of money the station isn’t going to turn him away.”
“So let ‘em fire me. They can’t replace me so easy.”
Jonny laughed to himself. The truth was they already had a back-up in case Jay Jay left. Part of Jonny’s job was to comb the radio trades and find out which shows had contracts up. That way they always had a net, a back-up in case their morning show left or got kicked off the air by the FCC. After this morning’s topic, Jonny wasn’t sure which would happen first.
“Look Jay Jay, I’ll talk to Barry and his manager for you, but you and I both know what’s going to happen.”
“Dude, I’m not doing it.” Jay Jay put on his headphones, ensuring he had the last word. “Hey listeners...”
Jonny left the studio and walked into the WORR sales manager’s office and closed the door.
“Carlos,” he said, sitting in a chair, “we have an issue to discuss.”
Carlos Alcazaro was slick. A successful sales rep, Carlos ascended the radio ladder of success with a charismatic personality, keen business sense and expensive custom suits. He was the top biller for years. It was a natural choice for him to become sales manager of Miami’s hottest radio station. People said he could sell ice to Eskimos. It made bargaining with him hard.
“Jonny, my boy, I know all about it. I’ve already talked with Barry.” His voice had a hint of a smooth Spanish accent. He leaned forward, looking intently at Jonny. “Tell me, what are we to do?”
“Carlos, you know I respect you and what you do, but Jay Jay won’t endorse the flashlights.” Jonny may not have agreed with Jay Jay, but he would back him up no matter what. It was and always would be an us versus them, on-air versus sales, and Carlos, as nice as he was, was definitely them.
“Jonny this is a very big deal. We’re talking a fifty thousand dollar contract. That’s a lot of money, no?”
“I didn’t realize flashlights were so big.”
“Think about it Jonny. A hurricane hits, the lights black out. A flashlights store could be very big down here,” he paused for effect, “and between you and me,