What to do to become a radio DJ?

Question

I absolutely love music and listen to the radio non-stop. I'd love to be a radio DJ... but I have no idea how to get started...

Any ideas?

I know I cant just walk up to a local radio station and apply for a job... so what do I do before to get prepared?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Sure you can, it's called an internship.  Actually there are radio broadcasting schools.  Look on the net for a school in your area.  Use key words like "Radio broadcasting school" or instruction and the names of cities in your area.

good luck!

Answer 2

yer you can, just walk up and ask,

start off with net radio, it will help you in any ap for a job, apply for a job and see if you get on the show with the dj and then you take it from there.

never give up on your dream

regards and good luck x kitti x

Answer 3

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 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 turn other skills with accounting 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 acountants, sales people, traffic managers and business managers.

-a guy named duh

Answer 4

The CSB School of Broadcasting has been producing Broadcast Professionals for over 43 years and just recently opened a school in the Pittsburgh Area. They have 18 locations nationwide with 12 more slated for 2008. Low cost-hands on- awesome school. I just enrolled a few weeks ago. Check out their site www.gocsb.com.

Answer 5

It's good to have a broad knowledge of music, but having an in depth knowledge of one genre is good as well.  

If you're in college, or about to go then you're in the perfect position.  Go to the college radio station and see if they are looking for radio djs.  Check out what type of music is played when(most likely there will be a time slot for everything).

And if there isn't a timeslot for the music you like suggest that they add it.

You don't even have to be a broadcast/communications major to be a radio dj. I knew a few of the djs when I was in college and I think 1 if any was a communications major.  The rest were art, english, or other majors.