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How to get started in radio?

T

thegame310

Hello all.

I've stumbled across this message board today and I must say i've been on it the majority of the day going through old posts and topics and things like that, and right now it's set to my home page I love it.

To tell a little about me, I'm 21 years old and I currently live in Hershey PA (Just moved here from Pine Grove, PA in Schuylkill County about 4 months ago) By day I currently work at in a virtual call center assisting agents with their computer issues...so essentially you could call me a remote IT admin. However my passion is radio. I've been listening to the radio since i've been very little, I currently listen to the radio all day while I work, and I really want to get involved someway in radio. I just dont know how... I have a few contacts with a radio show that's based out of Tampa Florida and their engineer has always told me the best experience is hands on experience and I agree with him, so i've tried emailing radio stations seeing if they just want any free help and no one has ever responded to me. So i'm kind of at a loss. So would anyone have any suggestions on how I would get started in the technical part of this field?

Thanks a bunch

Eric
[email protected]
 
Truthfully, stick with the IT gig...it'll pay more in the long run. But, if you really want to subject yourself to the rat-race that radio has become, contact a local college station, or christian broadcaster to see if they have volunteer positions available. That would be a start...volunteer to take out the trash, if you have to.
 
If you can do anything with a computer, you could be a board op. you would learn the basics of how to be a dj mechanically. Once you are in a radio station someone will be willing to help you out and teach you the basics. Then let it be known that you will work at any time at a moments notice and there will be a time you are needed. If you Know any web stuff, tell a station you will keep their website updated. Just get a foot in the door and sink or swim.

Good Luck!
 
I have seen a lot of people launch radio careers by coming on board with a promotions department. You would set up and tear down the station remotes and appearances. It would only be a part time kind of thing, but depending on your drive, skill and likability you could go where ever the wind blows. I do agree that someone with a working knowledge of IT should think about driving that career. But passion for radio being what it is, you probably already know which of the two is more cash laden.

Get in touch with a promotions director, and ask about any openings on a road crew, or ask for a program director and examine the possibilities of being a board operator. If you are still in school, maybe look into an internship.

Best of luck.
 
Sucking Up - helps big time, lol!!!!!! Always ebing willing to help and learn around the radio station, be famaliar with all aspects of the business - if you are willing to work (sometimes for free and usually its the way to start out), can add creative thoughts to the process, then you should be able to get in the business.

Have a great day.

Steve

[EDIT]


[EDIT-unauthorized promotion]
 
On Monday, I have a telephone interview with a promotions director for a station close, hopefully all goes well.

And your right DJDaryl, that's something I want to do is be a board op. You name it, I can do it on a PC and i've been doing it for ages (I know that sounds silly since i'm only 21 but I am a remote IT admin currently and have been doing side PC repair for 2 or 3 years) So during my interview I'm going to ask about any possibilities in that department.

Also, I just would like to thank those who emailed me, and those who have responded. I truely do appreciate it.

Thanks so much

Eric

DJDaryl said:
If you can do anything with a computer, you could be a board op. you would learn the basics of how to be a dj mechanically. Once you are in a radio station someone will be willing to help you out and teach you the basics. Then let it be known that you will work at any time at a moments notice and there will be a time you are needed. If you Know any web stuff, tell a station you will keep their website updated. Just get a foot in the door and sink or swim.

Good Luck!
Click to expand...
 
I've always said... "It's easy to get INTO radio... the trick is... getting OUT!!"
 
Did you really contact everybody??? Dude we are always looking for interns at Hot 92. We have both off and on air internships. Off air is all day and on air is just in the morning. You could sit around and wait for a PD to call you back about some op position that you will do maybe a couple times a month.... Or..... you could e-mail me [email protected] and we can talk. I had a passion for radio and I met the right people who helped me grow. So many people in this business won't take the time to show/teach you anything. I was told by the guy who taught me to pass all the info to others. Its people who have a passion for this business and are willing to grow with the times that will help radio survive. Don't listen to the comments about not getting into the industry... I was once told by the smartest radio guy I have ever known that "there will always be a spot for talented people". I will guarantee that within 2 to 3 weeks of working and learning with me you will know whether or not this "rat race" (as someone called it in the above posts) is for you.


PUFF
Hot 92 Morning Madhouse
Host
 
puffyischubby said:
Did you really contact everybody??? Dude we are always looking for interns at Hot 92. We have both off and on air internships. Off air is all day and on air is just in the morning. You could sit around and wait for a PD to call you back about some op position that you will do maybe a couple times a month.... Or..... you could e-mail me [email protected] and we can talk. I had a passion for radio and I met the right people who helped me grow. So many people in this business won't take the time to show/teach you anything. I was told by the guy who taught me to pass all the info to others. Its people who have a passion for this business and are willing to grow with the times that will help radio survive. Don't listen to the comments about not getting into the industry... I was once told by the smartest radio guy I have ever known that "there will always be a spot for talented people". I will guarantee that within 2 to 3 weeks of working and learning with me you will know whether or not this "rat race" (as someone called it in the above posts) is for you.


PUFF
Hot 92 Morning Madhouse
Host
Click to expand...

Email sent
 
Once you get your foot in the door, consider limiting your time on these boards. Once in, you'll soon learn that, for better or worse, these boards can be brutal with people spewing vitriol against your station. While its good to be loyal, also know that "loose lips sink ships" and what you might see as complimenting your employer might be seen by your boss as either insulting or giving away secrets. You should know that, while a lot of pros post here, there are way more that simply "lurk". In other words, you'll never know who is reading these boards. The key is, once you get in, make as many friends as you can, avoid those who are negative and/or are just out for their own good. The worst thing a young radio type can do is burn his/her bridges.

Also, get someone like Puff, stay in touch, keep in touch (even if you wind up elsewhere) and consider making him a mentor (ie: someone who's been there and you can trust to help you along the way). Trust me, radio people (those that are worth their weight in gold) love taking the up and comers under their wings. You'll soon realise there are few Puffs in the biz (and I don't even know him from Job, other than its very rare to have someone reach out to you like this).

Best of luck
 
Rockin Rob said:
Once you get your foot in the door, consider limiting your time on these boards. Once in, you'll soon learn that, for better or worse, these boards can be brutal with people spewing vitriol against your station. While its good to be loyal, also know that "loose lips sink ships" and what you might see as complimenting your employer might be seen by your boss as either insulting or giving away secrets. You should know that, while a lot of pros post here, there are way more that simply "lurk". In other words, you'll never know who is reading these boards. The key is, once you get in, make as many friends as you can, avoid those who are negative and/or are just out for their own good. The worst thing a young radio type can do is burn his/her bridges.

Also, get someone like Puff, stay in touch, keep in touch (even if you wind up elsewhere) and consider making him a mentor (ie: someone who's been there and you can trust to help you along the way). Trust me, radio people (those that are worth their weight in gold) love taking the up and comers under their wings. You'll soon realise there are few Puffs in the biz (and I don't even know him from Job, other than its very rare to have someone reach out to you like this).

Best of luck
Click to expand...

Your right, I find my self extremely fortunate to have people like Puff reach out to me. Puff and I talked today via E mail and hopefully all goes well, and I extremely appreciate his gratitude.

And I know what you mean with the loose lips sink ships, I work in the work at home industry and people have lots of forums about working from home, and there is so much they post, that is just down right insulting and really things you shouldn't post on the net...and they get burned for it all the time.

Again though, I just want to thank everyone for all the words, I appreciate it so much.
 
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