One way of getting work on a radio station

0:00 Get into radio

Alright folks, in this video I'm going to explain how to get into radio. Of course you have BBC Radio, you have Worldwide Radio, you know, you have in your country, you've got the radio that's broadcast nationwide. But then also you have radio stations that are known as community radio stations that may just broadcast in your local area. Initially they're ideally the people to contact first. The person you need to contact is head of programming. That's the guy who basically determines what programs will be where, who will be playing in those programs and when they will be playing. Again, like with trying to get into a nightclub, you need to be presentable. You need to make arrangements to see that particular person. You never know, he may say sorry, we're full. But make a point of saying I'm here, I'm readily available.

CV. Explain where you've been, what you do, what music you like, what hobbies you like, anything about you that's very interesting. Don't blabble on. If you're going to do a CV, one of the worst things you can do is make it a story. Well, I was born in so-and-so and I live there. Pointers. People like points. My name is... Finish. I am so many years old. I have been... I like to do... etc. OK? People, managers, directors, like... Just pointers, straightforward one, da-da-da, two, da-da-da. Okay, so that's on your CV. Straight to the point, relevant information. That's very important. Again, CD. You need to put together some sort of CD. Now then, the CD that you'll put together for a nightclub is completely and utterly, totally different from a CD you will put together for a radio station. If you put, if you gave the CD

2:24 Next song, vocals, though

To the radio station that you meant to give to the nightclub, they'd throw it away and vice versa. The reason being is because a nightclub, nine times out of ten, they don't really want to hear you talk, they don't really want to hear your patter, they want to hear music, nothing else. A radio station, they want to hear you, because you are the person that could put that radio station on the map. Very true, okay? They want to hear how bubble you are, they want to hear how you sound. On a microphone, they want to hear how you can talk in between one record and the other. Now you hear DJs on the radio, what they'll do is it's almost, if you think about it now, if you listen to any commercial radio station, quite often during the day they'll just play the 7-inch version of a song, which is small introduction, vocals, small finish, and then that's it.

As soon as the vocals finish in the record, the DJ quite often will start to talk. And he'll carry on talking, the introduction of the next song will come along. As soon as the introduction finishes and the vocals come in at that split second, the DJ will stop talking, bang the music straight in. If you can do that, that is what these people like on radio stations. They like continuity. The DJ to almost blend his voice in with the next song. So there's a blending, there's no gaps, there's no ups and downs, it's a nice smooth finish. They like to hear people who, even though they're in a room by themselves, can talk as though they're communicating with a thousand people. In a sense like I am now. I'm by myself, I've got a few pussycats in here, it's cold outside, but I'm talking to you, okay? As though...

4:12 Make notes of the DJ's names

You're sitting right next to me. This is what they want. So again, get a CV together with where you've been, what you're doing, your hobbies, your interests. Emphasise music. Emphasise radio. Before you send that CD to the radio station, do some homework. Listen to the station. Make notes of the DJ's names. Incorporate them in your CV. I like so-and-so DJ because he plays this, that and the other. Because the manager of that radio station is going to think, yeah, this guy is interested because he's actually interested in the station. Show an interest. Maybe if the CD doesn't work, just offer to help. Normally with community radio stations you won't get paid. But again, it's getting your foot in the door. It may take six months before you even start making tea for the DJ. But once you start doing that, then watch him. Watch how the DJs work in there, okay? Very important. If you need any more pointers, give us a chat. But don't forget, very important, CV, a CD with you talking, with music on it. In other words, a good idea, very quickly...

Listen to your favourite show on that particular radio station you want to work on. And at home, sorry I should have said this to begin with, at home I want you when you make that CD, almost that CD, make it as a radio show. Just imagine you're on the radio and you're making your own radio show on that CD. Good idea. Even better idea... Do not, for crying out loud, play a 12-inch record because whoever's listening to it will turn it off. If anything, 7-inch single, start it, let that single play for 10-20 seconds and talk in between and then have another song on, let that play for 10 or 20 seconds because the person listening to that CD, they do not want to listen at this point. Thank you for watching.

This transcript was produced automatically from the audio of the video and may contain mistakes.