Hypothetically Speaking......?

Question

If I had no Radio experience, but was very charming, witty, quick witted, and articulate have a pretty good voice; is there a chance i can be picked to join a radio show program? Not permanant but for maybe a day or two.

Answer 1

Though the following is aimed at those in the US, much of it may also apply to those in the UK and other countries:

OK, here's my brief version on how to get in radio. 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 LA, that's going to be more difficult because it's such a big market, but not impossible. In a smaller market it's much more likely.

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!

Free Radio Newsletters:

www.AllAboutCountry.com

www.AllAccess.com

www.insideradio.com

www.radio-info.com

Other sites:

http://www.radioandrecords.com/rrwebsite...

www.rbr.com

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.

If you are interested in a career in radio, check out this great scholarship/intern program from the John Bayliss Broadcast Foundation. It could mean $5,000 towards your tuition and/or an internship at a real station!

www.baylissfoundation.org

As for "a day or two," that's unlikely. Although there are "swing-shift" air talent to cover for vacations and during sick days. They are usually very experienced and in-between jobs or retired; or young and trying to break in but with some level of experience.

-a guy named duh

Answer 2

Find a show you like.  A show using lots of listener calls.  Be a regular.  Don't tell them how good you are or think you are, be it.  This will take a few months.  Get to know the screener or person answering the calls.  The more they know you the more credibility you'll build.

Do it like Duh said or like I said, it's still going to take some time.

Radio takes charm, wit, quick wit and articulation but it also takes talent, expericence, contacts and luck or blessings from above.

Quite often you get pigeonholed or typecast as a certain role player.  As Duh said most promotions come from relocations.  Judging by what you said you don't have the time nor desire to hang banners and fetch things.  Chances are you won't be much more than those things until you build experience and move on to greener pastures.

If you want to be a character on the radio do it through the phones.  Rolling the dice that way, in my opinion, holds better potential for a person wanting to do just one or two shows(per week I'm presuming, also presuming you want to do it more than once or twice period.  Your phrasing is somewhat vague).   And you could generally hit 3-4 shows a week and use no gas vs. spending all your money commuting to various station's events.  BTW - Use a different name for all these shows or risk getting busted and blackballed.

And forget the money.  Most of us in radio did years ago.  And forget telling potential employers you have charm, wit, quick wit and articulation.  To a potential boss thats all just urine and vinegar and what they want are grunts and underlings to support their posisiton as the power players at the station.  Don't put yourself in a threatening light or they'll walk away and find someone with no charm, no wit, slow wits, no articulation and a strong back.

If you feel like someone getting your foot in a credible door try Radio Connection.  I used it 13 years ago and I've never looked back.

http://www.radioconnection.com/

Answer 3

Id take duh's advice,  i started as an intern years ago and now they wont let me out :)  You can either go up thru the ranks by busting as5 or just kiss alot of the right ones when you get there.

if you just wanted to be a guest as you said just for a day or 2, you'd have to have a topic of interest for the host and the listeners they target.  I

Answer 4

Hmmmm.... well everyone has to start somewhere! Try Hospital Radio, or maybe local independent radio. I presented a show on a local RSL station, which was on air for 2 months, some years ago, and had no previous experience.

Answer 5

I never speak hypothetical . I have enough problems with English .