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I would like an opinion on an aircheck

B

blvd_pbj

Hello:

I would like opinions on the air-check that I have posted on my MySpace page. It's from some things I've done on the air at Star 92.1 in Lima. Check it out and let me know what you think. All opinions are welcome...


LINK - www.myspace.com/playboyj2005


Thank you in advance... :)
 
I am not on the radio or in radio or anything but I really liked it. I would listen to you on a weekend. You crack me up!
 
I liked it. I worked at a couple stations in Dayton, lets just say a couple years ago. But sounds good. You hgave a good voice and you don't try to force it. Never sound radioish. You sounded natural.
 
Hello:

Thank you for all of the compliments everyone, I appreciate it! :=)

...and to "wilson", I was in radio. I worked in Lima at "Star 92.1" (now 92.1 The Frog). I also worked for multiple other stations within the market (too many to mention at this time). I chose back in May of 2009 to take some time off because (A) - I was burned out for doing it straight for the previous 12-and-a-half years since I was 13 years old (no joke)...and, (B) - I had a few other opportunities that became available to me that I chose to pursue in lieu of continuing in the direction I was going in in the Lima radio market. At that particular time that I was re-evaluating my career options, there were also some things going on within the walls of the radio group that I worked for then (locally) that I really did not believe were adventagous to the progression of a good, responsible, and conservative business atmosphere...so, I weighed my options and decided it was time to take a "break".

I figure that one day when the time is right...when the moon is high (LOL)...I might decide to get back in, but until then, I'm still enjoying my "break". I would be lying to you if I said that I didn't miss the business (because truth be told, I do miss it...A LOT), but I DO NOT miss the various politics and so-forth I had to deal with on a regular basis in the market. When that time comes, I will most likely attempt to go into another market. Nothing against the broadcast market of Lima (because let's face it, I did get my start there and that's where my talent grew), but it's sort of like that song by Bruce Springsteen, "My Hometown".
Listen to the lyrics from start to finish, and you'll understand what I'm trying to say.

Thank you all for the positive comments and for the honest critiques. I do very much appreciate it, and I'm truly humbled by it all! :=)


- JAY THOMAS
(05-04-10)
 
Jay:

You need to start over here. This sounds like it was a skim of one night's show. Big mistake. I want to hear your best stuff and I'm sure that it doesn't happen every night. It doesn't for me and I've been doing this for 30 years.

Eliminate references to the other DJ's. It's too inside and sounds small town. You're pulling back the curtain for the audience too much and you're assuming that the audience cares about you, the other jocks and what you're up to....they don't. They have too much going on in their lives.

The phone calls run waaay too long. 20 seconds max. Don't come on after the call and then try to upstage the caller. The calls should highlight you letting the audience be the star. Listen back at :50. your caller and you both laughed. that's your exit. Don't come back on and try to upstage her....and who is Kennedy anyway? Too much inside stuff here.

Remember who you're sending this to...someone who has very little time to listen and doesn't know who all these people are you're talking about. You want to show them that you can make the station move forward, that you're enjoying yourself (people like to hear people that are upbeat) and that you know your exit. Don't be searching for how to get to the next element. Write out your breaks..stick to the script and keep it moving.

Here's what you need for an aircheck....4 minutes of you introing or outro songs. Lots of quick breaks and one (maybe 2) GREAT phone calls. Show the PD that you know how to come out of a song, promote something the station is doing or hit some good artist content and then exit to the next event.

You're not the star Jay....the music is.

Good Luck!
 
I want to agree with NightPattern here.

I have been a Program Director and work in programming at present. I also consult a couple of small stations.

You have a good voice and I agree for the most part you sound natural. However, pregnant pauses between words and odd, forced voice inflections like you have at the beginning of the recording sound a bit goofy, or let me better say, a bit wet behind the ears yet.

Yes...some of the phone calls are WAY too long. Get in...play the best part of the call and get out. In CHR stations I worked, I was told to keep the caller on for less than 15 seconds. Less than 10 even better.

Unless you are looking for a morning show gig, it might be OK to have a good quick call on an aircheck, but better to show the potential PD you know how to do the basics and can execute a format flawlessly. It's OK to show them a little, but don't try to overwhelm them with personality.

Don't do political humor on the air. If you do a joke about Democrats, guess what? You may have offended half of your audience. Same for Republican jokes, Sarah Palin, Barack Obama...whoever! If you want to do political stuff, try and get a talk show. (Many a DJ has lost jobs (and I could name a few who have) showing their own political views on the air...and that's not your job. Your job is to entertain.)

Forward momentum...always! (always talk over beds or the fronts of songs...only talk over the end if you're going to a stop set or going into a cold intro song.)

And whittle that aircheck down to about 3 minutes tops. And make sure it's the best 3 minutes of your career so far. If you don't hook the PD in the first 30-45 seconds...your aircheck will come in contact with the PD's "delete" key.

I think you have potential. Just keep working on it some more. Good luck to you.
 
Kevin: Is political talk not entertaining? Rush, Sean, etc are all considered entertainers..might want to clarify?
I think politcal talk can go on during election times on a CHR. Why? It's not only topical, but also relatable. Sorry, it just is...so, if you have an interview with a political person on your chr night show...ie. Presidential candidate you're gonna be talking politics. Or maybe they are coming through town...then ya, you're gonna talk some politics during your show. If not, then you as the "DJ" aren't doing your job. The DJ I will say shall be somewhat neutral in their ideologies and keep the convo light and not about issues. Other than that..I agree with your opinion.

Nightpattern: If there's a promo that includes a certain "dj" in another daypart..guess what? You're gonna be talking about the other dj. Other than that...ya, you're right.
A little digression here, but the only thing that is going to keep radio relevent in the future is the connection that the radio station makes with the peeps that tune in. The PD's who get this, will succeed. And the key to this .. is ..PERSONALITY. If people just wanted music, guys...they have their iPods or Pandora. Get it through your thick skulls!! IF you don't care about radio and are in this for paycheck only....PLease get out. Now. You're ideas and influence are killing radio! Or at the very least pushing things closer to it's demise.
Ok. That's all.
 
wilson1000 said:
Kevin: Is political talk not entertaining? Rush, Sean, etc are all considered entertainers..might want to clarify?
I think politcal talk can go on during election times on a CHR. Why? It's not only topical, but also relatable. Sorry, it just is...so, if you have an interview with a political person on your chr night show...ie. Presidential candidate you're gonna be talking politics. Or maybe they are coming through town...then ya, you're gonna talk some politics during your show. If not, then you as the "DJ" aren't doing your job. The DJ I will say shall be somewhat neutral in their ideologies and keep the convo light and not about issues. Other than that..I agree with your opinion.

Nightpattern: If there's a promo that includes a certain "dj" in another daypart..guess what? You're gonna be talking about the other dj. Other than that...ya, you're right.
A little digression here, but the only thing that is going to keep radio relevent in the future is the connection that the radio station makes with the peeps that tune in. The PD's who get this, will succeed. And the key to this .. is ..PERSONALITY. If people just wanted music, guys...they have their iPods or Pandora. Get it through your thick skulls!! IF you don't care about radio and are in this for paycheck only....PLease get out. Now. You're ideas and influence are killing radio! Or at the very least pushing things closer to it's demise.
Ok. That's all.
Click to expand...


If a DJ had a political candidate on their night show (which would probably not be allowed by any PD I know of), then I would give a jock a little wiggle room. But just to inject political jokes of either side on a DJ's show is asking for trouble, in my opinion. Sean, Rush, et. al. are being paid to give their opinions. A disc jockey is not. Politics and opinions is not why the station hired the jock...There's a lot more to be topical about than politics which can and does polarize an audience.

Some thoughts on personality: some of the best personalities I've ever heard in almost 40 years of working in radio are people who could inject their personality over the ramp of a record...or who can do a phone bit...get in and get out on a morning show in 30-45 seconds or less. Personality can be done in a very short time. One or two sentences in fact. With the PPM and the extremely short attention spans of listeners these days, this is what the future personalities will have to emulate, as opposed to the "morning zoos" of the 80's.

Drake...(as in Bill)...was right on this point in the 60's and 70's...and will be, I think...in the future. Clear Channel didn't invent the concept of "less is more". Bill Drake did.
 
I agree with you, but there have been cases where certain dj's talk to politcal candidates...usually they talk about anything BUT politics:0 Fav music..etc. I was basically pointing out the exceptions.
 
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