Breaking into the RC industry - 201209

I remember the moment I went from
being an RC hobbyist to working
in the RC industry. Some RC pilots
want to keep their hobby a hobby, but
for some of us, our dream is to do what
we love for a living. The tricky part is
fi guring out how to make that happen.
I have been on the Internet since the
early days and when I started fl ying RC,
posting on forums seemed like a natural
thing to do. This eventually led to my
fi rst job in RC. My entry into the RC
industry was the Web, but there are so
many other ways to do it.
I was at the Southeastern Electric
Flight Festival (SEFF) this year, taking
photos with my friend Bildo, a user from
RCGroups. He said, “Man, you’re living
the dream!” That got me thinking about
the different paths one could take to
actually work in the hobby.
That leads to this month’s article. I was
on the main fl ightline at Joe Nall this
year thinking about how to approach this
topic, when the editor-in-chief of Model
Aviation, Jay Smith, walked up and
started talking to me. He was the perfect
person to interview about how to break
into the industry.
Jay started
out as an RC
enthusiast and
worked his
way up to being
the editor-in-chief of Model
Aviation. If you are wondering
how you could break into the
industry, here is one example you
could follow.
JG: How were you introduced to RC?
JS: My father got me started in the
hobby at a young age. Some of my
earliest memories are of the noisy
engine break-in stand in the backyard.
My mother was not a fan of the engine
break-in process!
I was racing cars and boats and fl ying
airplanes when I was six. One of the
guys we raced cars with was Frankie
Pupello. He was the equipment manager
for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I had the
opportunity to meet several players like
Lee Roy Selmon and Ron Woodard and
got to go to practice games. Occasionally
the players would stop out and run the
cars with us in the parking lot of a mall
in Tampa, Florida.
The fl ying fi eld we used early on
became the high school that I later
attended. When we lost that fi eld, we
joined a club that fl ew at a fi eld which
was about 45 minutes away, so we didn’t
make it out quite as often.
My father worked in a hobby shop
called Micro World and later opened one
of his own with a business partner. It’s
called Phil’s Hobby Shop in Pinellas Park,
Florida, and is still open.
I grew up in a hobby shop, so to speak,
and later worked there. It gave me an
appreciation of the hobby business. One
of the most exciting things was getting to
see all the cool new products when they
arrived.
My time involved in the hobby
business allowed me the opportunity to
meet a lot great people, some of who still
participate in modeling to this day.
Today’s hobby shop owner faces a lot
of challenges. I appreciate the hobby
shops and the convenience of being
able to get products and supplies on the
spot. When I travel, I try to make a point
to stop in local hobby shops and buy
something.
JG: What was the aspect of  ight that  rst
interested you and got you hooked on RC?
JS: I have always been fascinated by
fl ight. In the early days I did it because
that’s what I grew up with. Electric fl ight
is what really brought me back into the
hobby 10 years ago.
16 and had the urge to get back into it.
I saw an episode of the Radio Control
Show with Chris Chianelli. The whole
episode was about electric fl ight. The
next day I went to the hobby shop and
bought a copy of Backyard Flyer and I
read it cover to cover that evening.
Chris had reviewed the GWS Tiger
Moth in that issue and I knew I had
to have one. The next day I ordered
one from the hobby shop along with a
fl ight pack for my radio. More than 50
airplanes and helicopters later, here I am!
I was fortunate to get to meet Chris
at the iHobby show and share with him
how he helped get me back into the
hobby. Sadly he passed away just a few
months later.
JG: Was there anyone in the hobby who
inspired you?
JS: My father mainly. We fl ew RC and
CL airplanes, raced RC cars and boats,
fl ew rockets, and raced
slot cars. At the time
I considered myself
lucky to be able to
participate in all of
these different areas.
I appreciate it even
more now. I have
talked to a lot of
people in the hobby
who couldn’t afford
it when they were
young and had to wait.
Thanks, Dad!
JG: How has your
RC experience evolved
throughout the years?
JS: When you are
involved in the hobby
for a living, the experience is defi nitely
different. Seeing an event through the
camera lens is not quite the same as just
attending for fun.
If I am covering an event, it is my
responsibility to convey to the readers
to the best of my ability an overview in
about 1,500 words and a dozen or so
pictures. Every picture requires a caption,
such as the name of the person(s)
pictured and details about the aircraft.
I rarely fl y at events I cover, because
I am immersed in getting everything
I need to complete an article that will
satisfy the readers.
I also fi nd that overall I fl y less now
than before I was involved in the
industry.
JG: What is currently your favorite part of
the hobby?
JS: My favorite part of the hobby is
being part of the hobby industry’s
extended family. I get to see my
“family” at trade shows and fl ying events
throughout the year. Our industry really
isn’t that big and I have forged some
great relationships with the people.
I also enjoy interacting and talking
modeling with anyone. Because my
photo is in the magazine every month,
people recognize me at just about any
event and talk to me about the magazine
or the AMA.
JG: How did you transition into writing
about RC? Did you write in other aspects
of your life?
JS: I wrote a lot in high school. I wrote
songs, poems,
and short
stories. After
high school
and college,
I joined the
Army and
was an MP
(Military
Police). I had
to write a lot
of reports in
the Army!
I have
always had
a passion for
the hobby.
I think that
when you
write about
something you are passionate about,
it’s not really a job, it’s fun.
JG: You were a reviewer with us at
RCGroups prior to being the editor of
Model Aviation. When you write a review
of an airplane, how long does it take? What
steps are added to the process?
JS: When you review an aircraft, it takes
about twice as long compared to just
building one for leisure. I make notes of
the build, which will help me later when
writing the article.
I take several photos along the way
and take pictures of the fi rst fl ight, just in
case something happens. In my time at
Model Aviation, we have only lost one on
the fi rst fl ight.
Before I began doing reviews for
RCGroups, I was involved with some
beta testing of RC products and PC
games. Putting those experiences into
words defi nitely helped me when writing
product reviews.
JG: How did you make the jump from
RCGroups to Model Aviation?
JS: I really enjoy attending events and
trade shows and was using most of my
time off from my job to attend them.
I decided that I wanted to work in the
hobby full time. I talked to several people
about it and was cautioned about making
my hobby my job.
Undeterred, I applied for the assistant
editor position. My experience working
in hobby shops, as well as writing for
RCGroups and beta testing, helped.
I was also knowledgeable about
electric aircraft and that was something
they were looking for. Of course, I
also agreed to move from Florida to
Indiana, which still seems to surprise
some people.
JG: What is it like to be surrounded by the
hobby all day long?
JS: I am fortunate to be able to immerse
myself in all aspects of aeromodeling.
During the summer months, I can
venture out behind the offi ce and take in
all manner of events, covering all facets
of our hobby. We also get a lot of visitors.
You never know who might stop by.
Sometimes it can be a challenge
because the deadlines are still there no
matter what is happening on-site or
across the country.
I consider myself lucky to be able to
Glenn, Wayne, Jay, Louis, and Chuck pose with
the World Tour Tiger Moth. The airplane now
resides in the National Model Aviation Museum
in Muncie, Indiana. It arrived there one week
before Jay began working at AMA.
Jay and
“Doc”
Austin
show o­
their new
shirts at
the Largo
Flying
Club.
have a job I love and to work in the
hobby.
JG: Have you been able to meet all of your
RC heroes?
JS: I have had the opportunity to not
only meet them, but also interview a lot
of them and write about them!
JG: Is working at the AMA Headquarters
as cool as it looks?
JS: I think it is great to be able to work
for an organization that promotes and
supports our hobby. I was a member of
AMA long before I worked here and
I remember talking to Jay Mealy, the
former programs director, every year
at Sun ’n’ Fun about what it was like
working for AMA. Jay retired about the
time I started and now owns a restaurant
in Muncie.
JG: What do you think will be your next
big interest in RC?
JS: I appreciate anything that fl ies and I
dabble in a little of everything. Currently
I am interested in quadcopters and fi rstperson
view (FPV). I had my fi rst fl ights
with both last year and both are growing
segments of our hobby.
JG: If you were speaking to someone who
wanted to write RC-related articles, what
tips would you give them?
JS: A good article requires two
fundamentals: good writing and great
photography. Typically, a reader will
be drawn in by either the photos or an
interest in the subject matter.
Our hobby is all about fun, so it is
important that this comes across in the
article. Details are a must, especially
when writing captions.
A great idea for someone who would
like to tackle an article is to take a look
at some that have already been printed.
Look at the composition of the photos
and the style and manner of how the
article is written to get a good idea of
what is required.
JG: As a modeler in general, are there any
words you would like to say or advice you
would want to give?
JS: Aeromodeling takes on many facets
and offers fun and excitement for
everyone, regardless of what segment
they choose to participate in, or what
method of propulsion powers their
aircraft.
Whether you’re a Sunday fl ier
enjoying ARF and RTF aircraft, or a
craftsman and competition pilot, if
you are having fun then that’s all that
matters!