Current Events > Does anyone here work in radio?

(+) Yeah! (+)

My dream job is to be a radio presenter. I would be willing to move anywhere in the country if it meant being a radio presenter. ANYWHERE

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mattymad posted...

Start up your own pirate radio station, Murph.

Not the greatest advice, the FCC is notoriously hardcore.
Also TC, Radio jobs can be very cut-throat.
But either way, try to get an hour on some college station.
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I used to work in radio.

Lots of gatekeepers, and there's very few positions these days. You're better off starting a podcast if you want your own show. It's extremely cutthroat and competitive to make it in radio. There's a lot of bureaucracy to deal with, but if you're willing to put in the time, it's doable. If you can learn how to chop up audio you can probably snag an internship somewhere to get you started.

DDirtyDastard posted...

I used to work in radio.

Lots of gatekeepers, and there's very few positions these days. You're better off starting a podcast if you want your own show. It's extremely cutthroat and competitive to make it in radio. There's a lot of bureaucracy to deal with, but if you're willing to put in the time, it's doable. If you can learn how to chop up audio you can probably snag an internship somewhere to get you started.

I have 3 podcasts and do know how to chop up audio.

Can you tell me more about the types of gate keepers I'll face?

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Joker98 posted...

I have 3 podcasts and do know how to chop up audio.

Can you tell me more about the types of gate keepers I'll face?

In my own experience, I started off doing an internship for a morning show (a friend hooked me up with it) and the dudes on the show really liked me so when the internship was up, they got me a position with the street team so that I could continue doing segments for them and get paid. Problem was the guy who ran the street team refused to give me any hours. I think he was pissed that I was the new guy climbing up the ladder super fast and the big shots on the morning show made them hire me. It was a really shitty position to be in because the second I was on payroll, there were all sorts of roadblocks being thrown up. I couldn't leave my old job because that asshole refused to give me hours. I couldn't really make the transition into making it a career. I probably could've made it work but my life got flipped upside down during the time and I had to give it up.

I recall an incident where some field audio I captured got deleted. It had to have been deliberate. There were multiple people trying to sabotage me and fuck up my momentum and reputation. That wasn't even the only time that ever happened. One guy took my audio device and started recording over a high profile interview I had recorded when I stepped out of the room. He acted like it was an accident, but I think he did it on purpose.

My goal was to try and get my own show on the station, but realizing that I'd have to get on the good graces of the Program Director, I found that the guy was never available. Those guys get lots of freebies and money under the table to play specific stuff, so trying to break through would've taken me several years working for peanuts and kissing asses. The sister station was run by a guy who was really intimidated by the show my colleagues and I had been developing on our college station, so I think he may have been involved in some of the sabotage that was going on since that station was the one our show would've been a better fit for.

In the end I think I was setup by someone to get a DUI but I can't really prove anything. This was over a decade ago now. Pretty much lost everything. Changed the trajectory of my life for sure.

Anyway, that's the story in a nutshell. That doesn't even include all the college BS that went on before all that. I still have some friends that do radio, but they're broke as shit and work day jobs as well. You end up doing it for the love of it, not the pay.

DDirtyDastard posted...

In my own experience, I started off doing an internship for a morning show (a friend hooked me up with it) and the dudes on the show really liked me so when the internship was up, they got me a position with the street team so that I could continue doing segments for them and get paid. Problem was the guy who ran the street team refused to give me any hours. I think he was pissed that I was the new guy climbing up the ladder super fast and the big shots on the morning show made them hire me. It was a really shitty position to be in because the second I was on payroll, there were all sorts of roadblocks being thrown up. I couldn't leave my old job because that asshole refused to give me hours. I couldn't really make the transition into making it a career. I probably could've made it work but my life got flipped upside down during the time and I had to give it up.

I recall an incident where some field audio I captured got deleted. It had to have been deliberate. There were multiple people trying to sabotage me and fuck up my momentum and reputation. That wasn't even the only time that ever happened. One guy took my audio device and started recording over a high profile interview I had recorded when I stepped out of the room. He acted like it was an accident, but I think he did it on purpose.

My goal was to try and get my own show on the station, but realizing that I'd have to get on the good graces of the Program Director, I found that the guy was never available. Those guys get lots of freebies and money under the table to play specific stuff, so trying to break through would've taken me several years working for peanuts and kissing asses. The sister station was run by a guy who was really intimidated by the show my colleagues and I had been developing on our college station, so I think he may have been involved in some of the sabotage that was going on since that station was the one our show would've been a better fit for.

In the end I think I was setup by someone to get a DUI but I can't really prove anything. This was over a decade ago now. Pretty much lost everything. Changed the trajectory of my life for sure.

Anyway, that's the story in a nutshell. That doesn't even include all the college BS that went on before all that. I still have some friends that do radio, but they're broke as shit and work day jobs as well. You end up doing it for the love of it, not the pay.

Thank you so much for sharing that! What would you say are the requirements / prerequisites to getting a job as a radio presenter, or another radio position?

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My ex worked in radio for years. Find a radio station that is looking for volunteers. It's a good way to get your foot in the door.

Some of the smaller radio stations are always looking for interns and volunteers. If you are serious about getting in the door. Who you know is more important than what you know, starting out.

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Joker98 posted...

Thank you so much for sharing that! What would you say are the requirements / prerequisites to getting a job as a radio presenter, or another radio position?

Put together a good demo reel that shows off your vocal and production skills. They'll probably want to check out your podcasts so make sure they're in top form in the coming recordings.

Wii_Shaker posted...

Some of the smaller radio stations are always looking for interns and volunteers. If you are serious about getting in the door. Who you know is more important than what you know, starting out.

^ This is good advice. Try going to one of those meet and greets and see if you can make some connections.

DDirtyDastard posted...

Put together a good demo reel that shows off your vocal and production skills. They'll probably want to check out your podcasts so make sure they're in top form in the coming recordings.

Some of the smaller radio stations are always looking for interns and volunteers. If you are serious about getting in the door. Who you know is more important than what you know, starting out.

^ This is good advice. Try going to one of those meet and greets and see if you can make some connections.

I do have a foot in the door already because one of my close friends is a radio presenter. What will they be checking my podcasts for?

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DDirtyDastard posted...

Put together a good demo reel that shows off your vocal and production skills. They'll probably want to check out your podcasts so make sure they're in top form in the coming recordings.

Some of the smaller radio stations are always looking for interns and volunteers. If you are serious about getting in the door. Who you know is more important than what you know, starting out.

^ This is good advice. Try going to one of those meet and greets and see if you can make some connections.

Can i send you what I have so far for a demo reel?

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Joker98 posted...

I do have a foot in the door already because one of my close friends is a radio presenter. What will they be checking my podcasts for?

Professionalism. They want to see you have a high standard for consistent audio levels, good production skills, etc. I know if I were looking to bring someone on, I don't want to have to worry about them putting out some sub par novice level stuff. That's a deal breaker.