What do I do if I want to be a radio disk jockey?

Question

I'm going into my junior year in high school, and need to know what electives to take. I signed up for Broadcast/Video Production, which is basically the morning announcements.

It's the closest thing I could find.

It's just something iIve always wanted to do.

When I get into college, I want to do an internship with some type of radio station, but still...

any suggestions?

Answer 1

Attend Columbia College in Chicago...it's a fancy arts school and they have radio as a major. If you want to work on air you need to develop an aircheck (which is your voice on a cd) so people will know how you sound over the air. There really arent classes that you can take in highschool. You can try to get an internship but to be honest companies only want interns who are in college. Your main focus is an aircheck bc you can even get hired at a radio station if you're good without a college degree. .......Goodluck!!! Oh also were called onair personalities and not disc jockeys now...lol

Answer 2

English (and other languages) speech, drama, dance any of the other arts electives offered by your school. Is there a magnet school in your town that specializes in the arts? Extra-curricular: get involved in audio/visual, stage and set design, camera work, debate - the radio club (duh). Not all of these are directly involved nor necessary for radio, but you never know when a certain knowledge will come in handy when trying to get a job.

Here's one for you - it's a bit old, but could still work since our leaders insist on involving us in wars. When I was in HS, I was one of the AV guys - very geeky at the time - led to a career in radio. I also took drama and speech in college. When I had to go in the army during the Vietnam war, I ended up a correspondent, then eventually a DJ. Why? Because of that experience, limited as it was. Word, and a lot better than being out in the bush for a week at a time (and no offense to my brothers who were).

There are a number of good schools that specialize in radio. Contact the John Bayliss Broadcast Foundation for more info.

www.baylissfoundation.org

There's an essay I've written on how to get in radio (below) if you want some practical ideas on how to breakn into the biz. 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 salespeople, acountants and business managers

-a guy named duh

Free Radio Newsletters:

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www.insideradio.com

www.radio-info.com

Answer 3

I have been a radio presenter for 13 years and I've always found that nothing beats experience on the job. Someone once advised me to do a degree in anything except media and personally that's what I'd advise. Far better to study English/History etc. AND get experience at your local or college station, than to just study media, it means you will have more skills to bring to the job.

Don't try and get an internship with big radio stations, they have hundreds if not thousands of applicants, try for the smallest station you can find and do everything they ask you to do with enthusiasm and a smile on your face and they'll ask you back...