Your first time

[ChrisCody]

Do you remember your very first time on air..LIVE? Of course you do, how do you forget something like that? It's like the first time you kissed a girl, or the first time you drove a car, or even the first time you tried on your mothers bra and panties and it felt soooo good and natural and......oh, scratch that last one.....I remember mine like it was yesterday. Now, not many can say their first shift took place on air in Los Angeles, but I can...Sure it was totally accidental and certainly not planned but that's where it happened. It was 1985 and I was running American Top 40 w/Casey(4 records) on Sunday nights from 8-mid at KMGG Magic 106...Just a quick note how I got to that point..I was interning for the afternoon guy, Hagen Higgins for a couple of months. Great guy!! He even let me call myself his "producer"..Hell, I was a 22 year old naive, radio wannabee -dumb ass..Producer? YEAH RIGHT..I was his intern..I pulled his music carts & commercials, and I loved it. He schooled me on the equipment, format, hot clock everything to do with the station...No ego, just very, very helpful....He eventually convinced the PD, Ron Rodriques (sp) to let me run the AT40.. And even though I would have done it for free, I got paid...How great was that?!!!!!
So, one Sunday night it happened....It was 11:45, and no overnight guy....11:50-No overnight guy...11:55 and? No overnight guy....To do, to do? Call the jock at home? Call the pd? I don't think so....Get ready to go on air, that's what you do!!!! MIDNIGHT- NO OVERNIGHT GUY....I told myself, because no-one else was there, that I would give him 5 more minutes and then I'm going on....12:05am, no overnight guy. I'm going on!!! I took Brian Roberts headphones, grabbed a cassette and popped it into the skim machine, and BINGO!! Chris Casino was on air in Los Angeles- The City Of Angels....Yes, Chris "Casino" was the best I could come up with....It sounded really good to me at the time. Now? Not so much..
Suffice to say my emotions were running at an all-time high..Full Tilt!!.I was happy,excited, nervous, HELL- I WAS SCARED SH*TLESS..."I AM CRAPPING MY PANTS!!!!" ..Here comes my first speed break. I crack the mic, and I was so happy that words actually came out of my mouth...Even happier that I gave the right call letters...Now, being nervous & scared and all that, I really didn't have control of my voice..I sounded like Peter Brady going through puberty, while my "boys" were being crushed in a vice grip...I made the Chipmunks sound like Isaac Hayes..Yeah, my voice was really up there, but I didn't care. I was ecstatic and on the air in L.A...It's amazing how fast those songs seemed to play..These days, a 3 minute song lasts forever, but back then I felt like George Jetson..I just couldn't keep up. At first everything was happening at break neck speed. Then, things slowed down in the 2am hour...I was under control & feeling comfortable....I was freaking happier than I had ever been..That smile didn't leave my face for weeks!!!!! I remember "trying" to make jokes into Madonna and Stevie Wonder songs..DIDNT' WORK!! NOT FUNNY!. I actually nailed two posts that evening. I was so proud..Oh it's beautiful when you hit the post perfectly. The beauty was, any post I hit was purely accidental...I just ran out of things to say and VIOLA here comes the song..What a great night that was...But, everything comes to an end..
Somewhere around 3:30am, the pd calls and asks me who was on air..I told him proudly "I am!!"...I was hoping he would say something like "You sound great!! Do you want overnights permanently?" But instead all I got was "Just play AT40 again until the morning show comes in"..And for the record, the morning show at that time was the legendary "Robert W. Morgan" Good Morgan...
It was one of the best nights of my life...I played that tape over and over and over and over.....I held on to that thing for many years, through many moves...Unfortunately, somewhere along the line I lost that tape..It's a crying shame...

So that was my first time..[EDIT]...God I miss those days...Shortly after my L.A. debut the station flipped to Power 106 and I was out..Gone but not forgotten...HELL!!, I've been on air in Los Angeles. Not bad huh? One time is better than no time..

This story cannot be re-broadcast or re-told without written permission of "Chris Casino" inc.
"Chris Casino, a dj's story" starring Brad Pitt will be in theatres this fall..

[EDIT-vulgar]

 

[jazzjock]

This story cannot be re-broadcast or re-told without written permission of "Chris Casino" inc.
"Chris Casino, a dj's story" starring Brad Pitt will be in theatres this fall..

So Brad is playing the part of the Programme Director?

Geoff

 

[kershner]

One time in LA...
were you EVER on air again...
Fix one pipe doesn't make you a plumber...Do 1 accidental shift in LA doesn't make you a major market DJ.
Hope you went on to more stuff

 

[ChrisCody]

Wow Kersh!! Isn't it a bit early Sunday morning to be such a [EDIT]Yes I've been on air many time since then, thanks for asking. Here in Ct since '93..I've worked at I-95 (twice), HCN, PLR, 95.9 The Fox and now back at PLR... I never said I was major market material. I was just relating a story about my first live shift on air. And yeah, I am proud of that...You know, I started this thread hoping to get other first time stories but all I get is your garbage/negative crap... You got any stories about your first time on air? If not, please drive through...

[EDITi-nflammatory]

 

[jefflaurence]

Hey Chris that is a really neat story bruther..I appreciate your excitement..I wish we could all have that kind of passion for this business..some just see it as an easy way to make a little money...very little in some cases, but I would have done it for free as well. Mine was just running religous tapes for a daytimer in Niagara Fals, NY One of the tapes had failed to make the stack and we needed to fill with "Organ Melodies" So I played Walter Wanderly and Lenny Dee tracks like I was spinning the hits..and got to TALK between every other song..WOW..I loved it. MOST of us can never say they worked even 5 min in LA, but YOU did. All I got to say at the top and bottom of the hour in 1969 was:

"Your dial is set to 12-7-0, WHLD Niagara Falls, New York..with studios in the luxurious Parkway Motor Hotel, on the rapids in Niagara Falls..It's 11am, and time for Luthern Vespers..This program is presented in Lithuanian."

In the summer when the station had to stay on the air until 8:45pm, I got to actually play Top 40 records from 6pm until sign-off..The station "accross the street" hired me to do permanant evenings at 2 bucks an hour..Man I was a freakin milllionaire! Bought a Volkswagen for 900 dollars! Never had a car I loved as much after that!

 

[hammondo]

Mine was at classical music WXFM (now wckg) Elmwood Park, IL. in 1962. The night announcer would send me out for pizza an a pitcher of Tom Collins for himself. I was 13 years old, but the announcer had an "arrangement" with the bartender.

The studio was in a 3 room not air-conditioned and poorly heated shack behind an awning store. The Winter heat was better from the water-cooled Colilns transmitter than from the heating ducts.

Todd Branson, the announcer (also a Milwaukee basketball sportscaster) came in hoarse one Winter Saturday, and since all the commercials were LIVE reads, and there was the break with what (whole album side) was played, and it was approaching 9pm, he let me read the whole deal.

First I rehearsed all the classical titles, and the (Polk Brothers) ad, then cracked the mic on the GE board, and I was off and running.

Polk Brothers is presenting this hour of classical showcase. Polk Brothers is your home for Speed Queen Washers and dryers. Our Central Avenue location just South of Belmont has an overstock.
This is WXFM, Elmwood Park. The Market One network for Chicago, serving metropolitan Chicago 24 hours daily.

You just heard Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra with Rachmaninoff's Second Violin Concerto in e flat....."
___________
That was over 40 years ago and I still remember LOTS of details, like how I was sweating in the middle of Winter.

Best wishes, Chris.

 

[DaveBal]

My first time was with Mr. Ed Sabatino on the great amateur hour on the mighty PLR back in 91. God, I was so overconfident. Interning for Mr. Lapatino was the same for me too Chris, it was a dream. I loved being in that building, it was part of something special, and watching him practice his craft so effortlessly made me think I could do it too! Man, I remember walking in on that Sunday night and thinking the same thing, "I'm going to CRUSH this!"
Well, needless to say, I felt like a virgin at his first bra snap as I got behind the board, cued up the old Sony cd player manually--just to the first hint of sound of Suffragettecity. Then, after the id sounded--the mic went on. Now, I can't really get my voice up to AlvinLand, but I sure the hell wasn't in Rick Allison territory yet either! It felt like I just pounded down a few hits of Ratteree's finest--my mouth was like the Mojave at 3:00pm in July. I remember looking over to my left, and Ed wasn't in the production room where he was two minutes ago, then I realized that I had no idea what the HELL I was doing! The id had sounded, the Bowie was cued up, and Eddie was in back. PANIC. "EDDIE!!!"--- "I'm right here Large, go ahead man"--(he was right behind me, oh man) OK. COLD SWEAT. HANDS SHAKE. Hit the cd. "99 Rock WPLR--it's the amateur hour--I'm Large Dave--uh... and here's David Bowie on PLR." Oh God, there was dead air for 10-15 seconds before I did it, what did I do! I'm never going to work in radio! I'm the worst!
Well, I settled down a bit, but there was at least 4 more miscues that hour, and I remember asking Ed, "What do you think?" "Well, you need some practice.. it wasn't too bad, but I wouldn't give that tape to Griffin." I felt like he had just shot my mom AND dog. God, that drive home that night up 63 was one of the longest ones that I can remember. I just kept going over things like why didn't the cd cue up, why didn't I talk when I had the chance, why did Arresco throw the stool into the wall that day, etc...
Beck got the weekend shift that was open after that. And the Big Chair he sat in was his for the time being. I went down the coast to Norwalk and did a few overnight shifts, and soon, the big chair broke, Beck fell off, and I finally had my dream of getting my own Spooners Pizza.
Great topic Chris, and I remember you tuning me up for my first shift at HCN. Making my 300 pound butt quake a little less on Asylum with your incredible timing and humor buddy. I'll never forget what you guys have done for me. But I'm still mad at Prodoti for leaving knucklehair all over the board. That I can't forgive....

 

[bub]

One time in LA...
were you EVER on air again...
Fix one pipe doesn't make you a plumber...Do 1 accidental shift in LA doesn't make you a major market DJ.
Hope you went on to more stuff

Hey, don't knock it. First air shift in LA? Nice work if you can get it. My first shift was in a rimshot and it might as well have been LA...I was that nervous. And it took about 2-3 months before I had a clue on how to be a jock at that station. I still have the aircheck to bring me back down to earth anytime I got full of myself.

 

[radio monkey]

Kershner:

What's with all your constant negative posts? Do you work in radio? Just seems like you get your kicks knocking people/radio stations here. Is there anything you LIKE? Cody's post here was fun to read and he certainly wasn't saying one shift at an LA radio station made him a major market jock, he was merely relating a very entertaining - and unusual - FIRST TIME EVER story.

Now where have YOU worked?

 

[mdiglia]

I dont think anyone has a story that goes much different than Cody's. We all wait for the chance because thats gonna be our big break, and when it finally comes, its dry mouth, sweaty palms, voice hign enough to annoy the local kennel inhabitants and a sudden case of dyslexia when your reading the cards, or any words for that matter. Its good to see some names I recognize checking in. I know Cody from nights at WHCN, (when they rocked) and now PLR, and I also hear Dave doing traffic and also fill in on WRCH and I-95. So its nice to see that everyone starts with the same handicap before they hit thier stride. And despite what one jackass may think, any time on L.A radio is worth mentioning. Hell you knew Robert W. Morgan, while I get to say I worked with John Saville. See, one name inspires oohhhh, while the other makes you shudder.

 

[kershner]

Wait....Let's break this down...

"One time in LA... (means ONLY 1 time?)
were you EVER on air again...(means...Were you ever on again?)
Fix one pipe doesn't make you a plumber...Do 1 accidental shift in LA doesn't make you a major market DJ.(means if that was it....guess that was it )
Hope you went on to more stuff(means...HOPE YOU WENT ON TO MORE STUFF)

I honestly don't get what is soooo Pri#kish about that I asked questions...
Were you ever on again? (looking for more of the story)
Hope you went on to more stuff (well wishes to the poster)

Yes the other line seems harsh but in the middle of the rest of the post...I hardly think so

As for where have I worked
4 out of the top ten in my time...and TONS of small markets too
I just never felt the need to brag about it...
However.... Never did crack the mic in LA.
So kudo's to Cody...

Honestly if you people are that easily upset by ONE little sentence in a post then you certinally DON'T have what it takes to make it in radio.

 

[ChrisCody]

Man, those are some great stories and I love to hear them. It's comforting to know ( even some 22 years after the fact) that I'm not the only one to experience those first time jitters...To be honest with you, I experienced those same jitters ( not quite to the extent as the LA. expereince) every first shift at a new station...More, more, let's hear some more stories.
For those who don't know it, Jeff Laurence is a voice over god. I appreciate you spending some time here on the Ct. board Jeff...
Ok, since I'm in the mood, here's another "first" story..
The first time I ran the American Top 40 for Magic 106.....It seemed like it would be a cake walk...Run a segment, go to local spots, cue up next segment, fire it off and that's that. No big deal right?..OH NO!!!! Again, I was so nervous even though I wasn't even on air....That first break, I had four minutes of local spots... Would you believe I couldn't even cue up the next segment in time? ( it was on records remember). I was shaking sooooo violently you would have thought I had parkinsons...I bounced that needle all over that record..I'm watching the final spot count down and I can't cue up that damn record. I had four minutes and I can't cue up..Must...get....help....can't.....cue record..... Finally I drop the needle in the vicinity of the second segment and fire it off, and wouldn't you know it....FREAKING CUE TONES GO OUT OVER THE AIR....DOH!!!!
I felt my heart jump out of my chest, my entire body felt like it was on fire...I don't think it gets that hot in Hell....Than I thought that maybe nobody heard it....Yeah right!!! It's only Los Angeles, nobody's listening...Couple days later I found out that Brian Roberts ( an L.A. radio heavyweight & mid morning guy) not only heard it, but asked the pd "who was the d*ckhead who let the cue tones go out over the air last night?" I felt about this small ( thumb and index finger touching)
Funny thing was, with all my bonehead moves in those day, I felt alive. I was living the dream man..Not just existing....

 

[Caveman]

My 1st time was at WRKI doing a Saturday night shift...my hands were shaking as I moved the faders...I just prayed I wouldn't pull a Peter Brady when I cracked the mic...and for the record, Cody was a big help to me back then.

 

[Ozman]

my 1st time on air (beside a small school station which no one listened too) was on WWLR 91.5 in VT. I actually have the air-check if anyone knows a web-page i can put it on.. My CT 1st time was on 91.7 WXCI in 2006 however i was only nervous a little bit and got over it quickly. Unfortunately because I was only a summer student I had to be removed from WXCI because apparently the college only budgets for kids in the spring and fall. I have been radio less since then except a few summer appearances on 91.5 WWLR where I expect to return in a few weeks with a weekly show.

-OZ

 

[Adam Rivers]

My first time was at WKSS/Kiss 95.7 at the age of 16....a sunday overnight in the summer of 2005. I didn't take NexGen out of ASERV and the board was dead for the first 20 minutes while I figured out what was wrong....but after that I only screwed up, every 2 breaks or so. HAHA.

 

[Glenn With 2 Ns]

Ok, let me start with the comment that I hear on sports talk radio that makes me throw up a little in my mouth every time..."Big fan...FIRST TIME/LONG TIME". Aaaaaaaaaargh!!! In summary, I have been casually reading posts here for a few years and this will be my first post.

Cody...didn't we just just share these stories with each other crossing over a few weeks ago?

My first time was at WPLR. Fresh out of <gulp> CSB I had been interning for Irv Goldfarb on Saturday afternoons. I miss that guy. During this seemingly endless internship, I had been making tape after tape for our PD. Each time getting blown up with critique. Finally, he told me that I sounded good, but he had no slot for me. As fate would have it, a few short days later, Irv's shift was ending at 6:00 on a Saturday evening and he had to leave for his second job. A jock who had recently started at the station was scheduled to fill in that shift and forgot to come in. Well, Irv called the PD and said he couldn't stay and handed me the phone. At which time the PD asked me..."Are you available?" SERIOUSLY????? AM I BREATHING????? So, I went on to do the shift. At midnight, the jock who "forgot" came in to do the overnight instead. During my final break of the night, I made my one and only mistake..."That was Tom Petty and the Heart Breasters". No worries, that was the first of millions! By the way, I still owe my buddy Mike Prodoti some beers for forgetting his shift and opening the door for me. Right place right time! The next week I was hired as a PT announcer and was doing full-time 6 months later. That run lasted for 9 years until I realized that I could actually make money if I did something else. Now...I'm on once a week for no reason other than radio will always be in my blood.

 

[bub]

That run lasted for 9 years until I realized that I could actually make money if I did something else. Now...I'm on once a week for no reason other than radio will always be in my blood.

You're preaching to the choir on that one, Glenn With 2 N's. I, myself, have been blessed to have worked in this racket for 14 consecutive years in October (Imagine that, 14 years without working a real job - LOL!), 18 years total (19 if you count my one year in college radio), and yet, I always try to prepare myself for the day when the On Air light goes off for good. I've been on the beach twice in my career, maybe the 3rd time I'll finally get the hint. Like a professional athlete, you have to prepare for the day when you're not between the lines anymore. Radio is like a lot of other passions: Once it's in your blood, ...