How do you get an aircheck together and what does it consist of?

Question

I know in order to get a gig at a radio station you need to submit an aircheck (unless you 've got a connect). What is the format of an aircheck, and how long shoud it be? Once this is done is it ready to send out to various stations? Thanks.

Answer 1

Answered this a couple of days ago for a "Curt B"

If it's a music station the check should be telescoped (unless they specifically ask for a full-length or non-edited check). Telescoping means you take out all but the first few seconds of anything other than your presentation: music, commercials etc. The PDs have all heard the songs and they don't need the spots. They're trying to hear how you sound and what you do with and within the elements.

For a news/talk check: you should send short samples of your best newscasts and/or talk segments.

Neither of these should be more than 5-10 minutes in length (if they want more, they'll call back and ask - and that's a good sign). This should be your best work. There should be no obvious edits, blips, feedback, extraneous studio noises etc. It has to be perfect. BUT make sure you can deliver if you get the job. Don't send an aircheck that doesn't accurately reflect what you can deliver on a day-to-day basis.

If you don't have any material and the station is small enough, they may allow you to submit a "produced" check. Meaning not from an actual broadcast, but produced in a studio specifically for auditioning. Now the problem is where to find a studio. Try the station that has an opening - but again, only stations in the smallest towns might do this.

Otherwise, you're going to have to start at the bottom with a promotions or gopher job like the rest of us ;<) For more, see the below essay I've posted previously (from a US perspective).

-a guy named duh

I'll make a couple of suggestions as I've done in the past by posting the following essay about getting into radio. As to schools, many high school magnet programs are excellent (I don't know where in life you are, so I'll start there). Many colleges and universities with broadcast programs exist. Emerson College in Boston is one of the best and is run by a dear friend and excellent teacher. The Bayliss Foundation (below) is also something to keep in mind. Good Luck!

OK, here's my brief version on how to get in radio-in the US. Take it from one who started this way. If you want to try radio as a possible career choice, It's easy, really easier than most think. Go to all the local radio stations and tell them you're willing to do anything for little or no money (at first). Including interning (though those are usually for current college students in a broadcasting major). In a big city, that's going to be more difficult than a smaller town, but not impossible.

Maybe they need a Gofer, or a production or promotion assistant. In the old days you used to be able to 'hang out" at a station. That's still a possibility (usually at night) in a small town, but in a bigger city, it's hard because the stations are in office buildings. Anyway, so maybe you get a Gofer or promotion assistant job. Or maybe you're just the kid who hangs out and will go get burgers. Then as people leave for bigger better gigs, you move up. Radio's a very fluid business. People move a lot. Because the only way to really get promoted is to go to a bigger market.

Give it a try. You've got nothing to lose. Study all the stations where you live. Visit some of the websites I'll put below. Go around to all the stations (obviously start with the ones where you like the music - but don't leave out religious stations, foreign language stations etc. anything to get experience and something legit on your resume). Because you've studied the station and listened to their format, you'll impress them with your knowledge; go to the remote broadcasts and get to know the promotion people - the ones hanging banners, in the tent and handing out bumper stickers.

Sooner or later someone will leave and you can say, "Hey, I can do that, I want his job now that he's leaving." It's important you have a driver’s license & clean record, 'cause you'll be driving the station van. Go 4 it!

Also, many colleges and some high schools (especially magnet schools) have radio courses of study and there are private vocational schools like Columbia School of Broadcasting. Emerson College in Boston is the premiere Media College in the US.

If you are interested in a career in radio, check out this great scholarship program from the John Bayliss Broadcast Foundation. It could mean $5,000 towards your tuition!

www.baylissfoundation.org

Maybe you can turn another skill, with accounting, traffic, or engineering into an off-air career. Sales, though not as popular with young people, is a great way to get into radio even if you don't have a great voice. You'll also make more money and work steadier hours - but it's not as glamorous. Radio stations also need engineers, accountants and business managers.

US Universities and colleges with radio and/or broadcast programs:

Ithaca College, NY

Monmouth Univ.

Michigan State

SF State Univ.

Southern Il Univ

Newhouse School/Syracuse Univ, NY

Grady College, Univ of GA

Univ. of Miami, FL

Univ. of Nebraska

Arizona State

Cal Poly

Central Mich. Univ.

Emerson College, Boston

Free Radio Newsletters:

www.AllAboutCountry.com

www.AllAccess.com

www.insideradio.com

www.radio-info.com

Answer 2

An aircheck is basically just what it sounds like, it's a demo tape/cd of you on the air. If you have never been on air you are probably going to have to start off as a board-op somewhere that is small enough to possibly put you on after you've put some time in and proven yourself.

Once you've got some tapes of your on-air, you are basically putting together your best hour; talkovers, live reads, back-announces, everything. It should be about 1:30 to 2:00 long.