I'm in Melbourne (Aus). I'd like to pursue a career in radio as a presenter.?

Question

Long time reader, first time questioner.

Is undertaking a course my only option? They're not especially affordable for those of us with little disposable income (even keeping in mind the option to pay the course off in payments), and I do fear that they may not be all that useful in the end. Would I be better off contacting a local community station and seeing what they've got going?

I guess my only other fear is that I might end up having to go work in some country town, which I wouldn't have a problem with except for the fact I'm in a committed relationship and don't want to have to cross that particular bridge, haha.

Advice much appreciated!

Answer 1

I have 12+ years in radio broadcasting and while the path I took might not work out for you, the advice might help you figure out what to do. This will be a tad wordy but I think without a story to relate to, you might feel a bit lost reading only generic bullet points.

I'm not overly familiar with the difference between Australian radio and that in the US so this is based on the assumption that they're pretty much identical.

For starters: It's a myth that you need a college background to break into broadcasting. Anyone with the passion to learn and the raw talent to succeed can break into the industry but that doesn't mean it will easy.

When I was 16, I approached the owner of a local small market radio station and expressed my interest in that career path. Within a month or two, I had a few interviews and a couple voice auditions to see if I could deliver the news well and produce quality commercials. They hired me on a part-time basis to help with production (commercials) and as my style, talent and knowledge increased, they offered me time on-air -- filling in for sick or vacationing talent.

I did go on to a broadcasting school shortly after I graduated from high school, mostly because I felt I had to do in order to continue that career. It worked out to my benefit; I learned a few new tricks and techniques but because I already had the foundation of broadcasting knowledge, I excelled in school at a much faster rate and ended up with job offers well before graduating.

Throughout my career, every single station I've worked at, many of which were morning drive positions (or breakfast shows as I believe you call them there), have had part-time staff with limited schooling in broadcasting. For the most part, these were people who did exactly what I did when I was 16, except they did it later in life.

Almost all of them started off interning or as a board-op (which means you run the board/controls during a syndicated program and usually never speak - maybe a weather forecast once an hour) and slowly worked their way up the ladder until they had a shot to be on-air and host/present.

So, my advice to you would be to contact local stations and express your interest in learning and working your way up the ladder ("paying your dues" as many like to say)

I'm unsure if they hold the same title in Australia but the Program Director is the person you'll want to talk to (at least here in the states). In many cases, you might have to call them once every other week just to remind them that you still exist and to show your passion and dedication.

A couple of things to keep in mind:

- Because of the market size in Melbourne, many commercial stations might not be very eager to talk to you and even less eager to offer you any type of assistance or position. Try them anyway, but keep the bar low. Without any kind of experience your best bet is a lower-profile, less popular radio station and it will likely take you weeks or months of continuous contact with them before you get your foot in the door. There may also be some public broadcasting stations there that you can contact. Remember, you want someone to give you a break. Be confident, persistent and willing to do what you have to do. Don't  develop an ego and feel like you deserve a break and a express-lane to stardom.

- Don’t expect to make a good living! In fact, expect to not make any money at first. Radio, at least here in the states, pays very, very poorly for people with limited experience and honestly, even for many with years of experience. It takes a fair amount of talent, ambition, contacts and luck to make decent money. The first few years in radio I was making four times LESS than I was when I got out of the business. In retrospect, I’m not sure how I paid the rent back then! LOL

I hope this helps you out. Good luck!

Answer 2

I was a radio broadcaster throughout college. that was a better and more useful experience than any course I took on the topic. And when you're looking for a real job  radiostations want on air experience.

I'd look into volunteering at community stations, see if you like the work, it's common that community stations have open hours, especially late late night and early morning. You can establish yourself and use that as a better jumping off point for a paying job.