How to be a
RADIO DJ IN FOUR EASY STEPS!
a free four step course from Ashley of the Online Radio School
RADIO DJ IN FOUR EASY STEPS!
a free four step course from Ashley of the Online Radio School
WELCOME TO STEP 2
Show Prepping and Places to Research Your Prep
In this lesson, I'll give you tips and pointers on show preparation. I'll also provide you links to some great sites, which can help you prepare your shows.
Know this: Whatever you put into your show, you’ll get out of your show.
Crap in = crap out
Always prepare your shows before you broadcast. If you turn up to the studio without preparing beforehand, then your show will suffer. I've tried it. The shows I produced without prepping were very poor.
Tip
If you want to be a great radio presenter, then you need a professional attitude. A professional attitude means always doing show prep.
Great Shows Give You Two Things
1) The Demo Tape
Having a lot of strong shows under your belt means you can select great material for your demo tape. A great demo tape allows you to approach other stations with the hope of securing employment. Trying to make a good demo tape from bad material is very tricky. I know this personally.
2) A great show allows you to start building up an audience. Get a good following on your website and you may not even need a radio station to work at. Times are changing. A website with a following is also another "weapon in the arsenal" to approach employers. It's another tool to showcase your presenting skills.
Top Tip
Plan, plan and plan some more. Plan everything. And this includes the relaxed conversations with your guests as well.
DON’T MAKE IT UP AS YOU GO ALONG
You will waffle, and it’ll sound amateurish. Too many beginner presenters think they can wing their shows by talking without any prep. It never sounds good. It contains too much local knowledge. That's information which is only funny to the presenter and their close circle of friends. Too much local knowledge leaves the listener feeling alienated. Why? Because it makes them feel excluded from your show. Your audience will feel like they’ve dropped in on a personal conversation between the DJ and their friends.
Tip
Always include your listeners in your show. Don’t exclude them. I’ve got a great 10 minute video on the full 57 video presenter course which explains exactly this.
Presenter Links
For everything that you do, you’ll want a beginning, a middle and an end. Know how you're getting into your presenter link, and know how you're getting out of your presenter link.
Now, play the two videos below to get some show prepping ideas!
More Places to Help You Research for Your Shows
Download the PDF and bookmark these sites.
All Music: Here you can source bands and information.
https://www.allmusic.com/
Billboard: Another good music site
https://www.billboard.com/
Music Industry Today
https://music.einnews.com/
Ref Desk: A good site of world wide newspapers.
Blogcritics: A good source of stories.
https://blogcritics.org/
Reader’s Digest: The classic site for even more stories.
https://www.rd.com/
Mental Floss: Loads of weird stuff here :)
https://mentalfloss.com/uk
Urban Insite: Urban Radio Community
https://www.urbaninsite.com/
Next up...
Step 3: The Mixing Desk
Cheers!
Ashley
