How to Become a Disc Jockey

Radio is a passion. Ask any disc jockey, including me, about radio and what they do and their faces will light up. We'll keep you sitting and chatting for hours about radio. The problem is, radio is a field that's dying down. With satellite shows taking over the airwaves we are forced to fight for the few remaining live shifts available at stations. Follow these tips if you want to break into the radio field, whether it be music radio or news radio.

Things You'll Need

• Aircheck tape
• Headphones

Instructions

1. I remember my first interview at a radio station. I was a nervous college sophomore and the number one radio station in the market had openings for part-time DJ's. What a better way to break into radio, right? I didn't have an aircheck tape (a recording of your voice) so he put me in front of a microphone and told me to record a few things. I know I sounded awful, but I must have done something right. A few months later, I started working as an overnight weekend part-time DJ. Overnights were not fun, it was midnight to 6 a.m. live. I was the only person in the building at the time, but I got my foot in the door. Getting your foot in the door, no matter how little that seems, is a huge deal. Many radio stations are often looking for part-time people whether it be on the air or even interning throughout the different radio stations in the building. Take that chance and jump at that opportunity to get in and known to those around you.

2. So once you've gotten your foot in the door, you need to know that things aren't going to take off automatically. You need to do the little stuff and be patient. People are going to think you're "just one of those interns, or part-time people." You need to prove to them that you're more then that. So how do you do that? If you're like me, and a little overnight DJ, then you need to practice your performance and learn new things. I took the initiative when I was on those overnights to learn how to record phone calls and learn the systems that were being used. I took the opportunity I got and made the most of it. I did overnights for about two years, so you have to be patient and know that you are growing. Each time you open that microphone to talk and you're on the air, you're growing and perfecting your style and becoming a personality.

3. When you begin to become that personality, hopefully the program director will take notice. Both of my program directors did. After I worked weekends for about two years, eventually I was moved up to filling in during the weekdays when people took vacations. It was these steps that boosted my confidence that I was doing what I wanted and making the most of this opportunity that came along. Perseverance pays off, as does working a lot and proving that you can do it. Keep showing your face around the station so people know you.

4. Make sure you keep learning. Never shut out an opportunity to learn more about the station and radio in general. I took the opportunities I had to learn to voicetrack and learn the production equipment and even as a part-time person, did some production work myself.

5. The final step is to have fun. Radio is nothing if you don't have fun and everyone becomes their own personality with radio. It's great to hear from listeners how much they enjoy the programs. I'm still growing. I voicetrack on a daily basis for the overnight now, so I keep my face known around the station. I have also recently been told how much I have matured and grown, and that's the kind of compliment I love to hear, because I love radio.