A lot of people I know, good fucking people, are finding themselves on the outside of the radio industry this week. I understand why, but it breaks my heart man.

So to them, a thread...

This sucks, there's no way around that, and you are allowed to be mad, sad, anxious, devastated, or just numb. There's no right or wrong way to deal with having your world flipped. Just take care of yourself.

The bad news is, the industry is in turmoil right now. So many of you are wildly talented, and deserve to be back on the air ASAP, but it may not go that way. But you can still sharpen your skills, and grow your brand.

YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, podcasting, there's been no time in history where it's easier to get your name out and try to entertain an audience. And it doesn't have to break the bank either.

YouTube and Facebook both have music libraries you can use for videos for free. Also, look up @HarrisHeller and Stream Beats for beds and background music you can use for $0.

Video is a great way to show off your skills, and is a huge asset if you're looking at radio. DaVinci Resolve is a free video editing program you can use, combined with the free music, and the camera in your cell phone, to make low budget high quality content.

Having a Shure SM7B is swell, but you can good audio for much less. At minimum, the mic on your headphones can work as a lav mic for videos if you pin it in your shirt, connected to your phone, then match the audio in post. Wireless buds work too.

A USB mic can get you very high quality audio, and won't require buying an amp or mixer if you're looking to just record audio, or do live streaming. Audacity is a free audio editor, OBS is free live streaming software. Again, we're trying to do this on a budget.

If you want to do graphics for branding, http://Pixlr.com  is free online Photoshop, and http://Pixabay.com  is a royalty free photo site. Obviously if you have Photoshop that's better, but there's always an option.

I've been using @anchor as a podcast host for @OffMicPodcast for a few months, and it's amazing. Free hosting, and free distribution to get you on platforms like Spotify and Apple. Super easy to use as well.

Take time, this stings, and you're allowed to feel that, but if you're hungry, and passionate, and want to get back on the horse, hopefully something in this thread will help you do that.

And if anyone in radio who's been displaced because of the world as it is right now wants to talk, hit me up. I'll listen to demos, watch videos, and help wherever I can. Radio has given a lot to me, this is how I can give back.