Good Work Habits And Repetition

Being a good air personality is difficult. If it wasn't hard, everyone would be doing it. Once you learn the mechanics and start to excel at the art form, you become part of a fraternal order that only a few have entered. There are ways to put yourself in a position to become successful. It starts with learning what to do.

It Takes Time And Practice ...

I tell others who want tips on the best ways to get ahead, learn from everyone, from both those you like and dislike. Much like sports, radio announcing takes practice and repetition. A sports reporter once asked Major League Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddox, "How do you repeat your mechanics?" His answer: "I throw a lot." It is the same thing for a radio personality; it's a lot of practice.

Getting To The Job Interview Process

The first hurdle is getting through the online application process. Adjust your resume to what the PD is looking for. For example, if they are looking for afternoons, then list your on-air history and the music automation systems you are familiar with -- NexGen/Prophet, WideOrbit, Media One, AudioVAULT, etc. Also point out the digital production software you have experience with -- Adobe Audition, Pro Tools, etc.

What Your Resume Should Say ...

Don't list non-radio work experience or skills that do not directly relate to what you are applying for. If you get to an interview, that's where you can bring up your other skills. Don't worry; if you don't have any commercial on-air experience, list your college station, community radio, or online air work.

No Highlight Reels ...

I once had a client who was adamant about making the perfect aircheck demo. While working with him on show prep, timing, conciseness, and believability, I noticed he kept referring to his aircheck. Then it dawned on me; he thought making the perfect aircheck would land him the perfect job and life would be sweet. The aspiring personality wanted to edit together a demo from various shows.

Decision Makers Want Real ...

PDs hire air personalities if their demo is a direct reflection of their air work. If the aircheck demo is an edited "Greatest Moments" and the PD finds out they hired someone who can't deliver what was on the demo; that personality will lose the gig. This is one of the reasons many programmers ask prospective hires to do live auditions; they want to make sure of who they are hiring.

Talent Isn't Always Passed Down ...

Years ago, during my days on-air, the PD hired a newsman based on the demo, the resume, and the fact this guy's dad was a local news legend. Surely the apple could not fall far from tree, right? On the guy's first day, I tuned him in, and what I heard was painful to listen to. The afternoon drive jock said, "Maybe this guy was adopted, because he sure doesn't have his dad's talent. It's been like this all afternoon; the GM has been blowing up the hot line." It was the new hire's first and only workday at our station.

Kick Starting Your Radio Journey...

Stop worrying about other people, comparisons, or what somebody else has. There are no short cuts, just work. It won't take years, but it will require concentrated effort. The key tool in your arsenal should be patience. Do not start sending out aircheck demos until you have a handle on your sound and what should be on the demo. There's no one way to break into radio, however, I can tell you some of the ways others have done it; find an experienced mentor through social media, intern at a station, take broadcast classes at a local college, or hire a radio talent coach. If you are just starting out in radio, your goal should be learning how to do talk sets in one take; that applies to voicetracking, too. Practice makes you better not perfect.