How Does a Radio Disc Jockey Spend the Workday?

Being a disc jockey (DJ) can be a really fun job, but it includes paying close attention to details. You may also work unusual hours, because your time on the radio isn’t all of the time you spend at the control board or studio. Your shift could be during a certain event being broadcast live on air or in the wee hours of the morning.

You’ll spend time rehearsing for your radio show, because you don’t want to stumble over someone’s name reading the news or accidentally skip details about the current hurricane. You may start to feel like an opera star guarding your voice, because you can’t catch a bad cold or cough, which could alter the way you sound on the air.

Your radio station manager may send you out to do special events, like providing listeners with coverage of a parade or a game play-by-play. You’ll have to know all the players’ names and jersey numbers, and be up-to-date on their stats as well if you’re doing sports broadcasting. When you interview a music star, it’s a big help to the performer if you know her background and can ask some different questions that listeners want answered. You’ll also select the CDs or cassettes you want to play during your portion of the radio day. You need to log each piece of music you play, because the performers don’t get paid royalties unless you keep careful track of this. If commercials are ready for you on CDs as well, you must select and take them to the control board with you.

Computerized radio stations of course do all this by clicking and typing instructions, but most people begin their DJ careers at one of the many smaller radio stations which may lack the very latest in electronic media production equipment. A DJ’s shift is usually 3 to 4 hours on the air, and then you’ll catch up your logs, perhaps select the music a listener requested for the next day or talk to the station manager about a contest that’s going to be starting soon.

A DJ’s work is more like play; perfect for someone who enjoys music and people. Just remember to keep track of those details.