The downside to living in a community of 300 is the labor pool is very small. The upside, as I choose to look at it.. is taking someone whos likely never done radio and helping them grow into a capable announcer.
Since our village Mayor died several months ago, our fill in DJ, a high school student has been working pretty permanently until we can find a replacement. You see, the mayor did our hour long morning show.
I took a high school student whod NEVER done radio before and in a year, hes far exceeded my expectations. He speaks loudly and clearly, has added his own personality to the show and does an excellent job following directions, learning new things, asking questions and executing a pretty flawless, smooth sounding show every day.
One of my only applicants for the part time morning/lunch time show host is the brother in law of one of the community health aides at the clinic. He had just moved up here a few months ago and applied for the job about a month or two ago. I dont recall offhand what his job expierience in the past is.
His first go around was pretty rough, I won't lie.. but in conversations beforehand during the interview and during his first few shows.. I could see he grasped why we do what to do, how to do it and sometimes, he even understood the little nuances of the more finite/innerworkings portion of what we do.,...like why, I'll never complain if weather is run 2 minutes late, but I don't want it a minute early, if it can be helped.
I've had him on the air Saturday afternoons for a few hours the last few weeks and have watched/heard him get better and smoother. He told me.. and I could understand how nervous he was the first time.
The last few shows, I've gradually stepped back from showing him what to do.. to telling him a little bit but not giving him the whole answer and next weekend, he's going to do the entire Saturday show without any input from me.
Then he's going to sit in on a morning show or two with our current host and watch what he does.... then do a morning show by himself, with me and the morning host watching from afar.
I've gotten several compliments from people on this, because it shows that I am/can be a good leader and teacher. And I guess so, I don't take compliments well sometimes.... I'm just doing what I think should be done and treating people the way they should be treated.
I'm not the worlds best teacher sometimes because i've done this for 20 years and sometimes it's hard to take whats natural and native to me and explain it in a non convoltued way a non radio person can understand..... but I guess I have.
Community public radio should be laid back, welcoming, inviting and encouraging and that what I've tried to do here with KSKO on air, in the community and with anyone who shows an interest in being a part of what we do.
Last summer, I gently bugged the manage of our grocery store into hosting a show, saying "Tanya.. you have a very lively personality and a great sense of humor.. youd be perfect on the air". Took about a month to get her to say Yes, but I wasn't going to let up
She had a co host and turned out to be one of our more popular shows and she became very adept at operating the automation and console.
A little patience, kindness and time goes a long way to developing talent who may have the interest but not the expeirience. I LOVE seeing peoples faces light up when things begin to click for them.
Since our village Mayor died several months ago, our fill in DJ, a high school student has been working pretty permanently until we can find a replacement. You see, the mayor did our hour long morning show.
I took a high school student whod NEVER done radio before and in a year, hes far exceeded my expectations. He speaks loudly and clearly, has added his own personality to the show and does an excellent job following directions, learning new things, asking questions and executing a pretty flawless, smooth sounding show every day.
One of my only applicants for the part time morning/lunch time show host is the brother in law of one of the community health aides at the clinic. He had just moved up here a few months ago and applied for the job about a month or two ago. I dont recall offhand what his job expierience in the past is.
His first go around was pretty rough, I won't lie.. but in conversations beforehand during the interview and during his first few shows.. I could see he grasped why we do what to do, how to do it and sometimes, he even understood the little nuances of the more finite/innerworkings portion of what we do.,...like why, I'll never complain if weather is run 2 minutes late, but I don't want it a minute early, if it can be helped.
I've had him on the air Saturday afternoons for a few hours the last few weeks and have watched/heard him get better and smoother. He told me.. and I could understand how nervous he was the first time.
The last few shows, I've gradually stepped back from showing him what to do.. to telling him a little bit but not giving him the whole answer and next weekend, he's going to do the entire Saturday show without any input from me.
Then he's going to sit in on a morning show or two with our current host and watch what he does.... then do a morning show by himself, with me and the morning host watching from afar.
I've gotten several compliments from people on this, because it shows that I am/can be a good leader and teacher. And I guess so, I don't take compliments well sometimes.... I'm just doing what I think should be done and treating people the way they should be treated.
I'm not the worlds best teacher sometimes because i've done this for 20 years and sometimes it's hard to take whats natural and native to me and explain it in a non convoltued way a non radio person can understand..... but I guess I have.
Community public radio should be laid back, welcoming, inviting and encouraging and that what I've tried to do here with KSKO on air, in the community and with anyone who shows an interest in being a part of what we do.
Last summer, I gently bugged the manage of our grocery store into hosting a show, saying "Tanya.. you have a very lively personality and a great sense of humor.. youd be perfect on the air". Took about a month to get her to say Yes, but I wasn't going to let up
She had a co host and turned out to be one of our more popular shows and she became very adept at operating the automation and console.
A little patience, kindness and time goes a long way to developing talent who may have the interest but not the expeirience. I LOVE seeing peoples faces light up when things begin to click for them.
