Magazine


Mission: Become a DJ ... in just one day

by Conrad Astley
25/ 4/2005

A COURSE offered in Manchester promises to teach all the skills needed for radio in just 10 weeks.

The course, run at the Radio Regen headquarters in the Northern Quarter, takes students through the basics of everything that is needed to work in this most mysterious of fields, which it seems everybody wants to get into.

Pupils learn about how to produce their own shows, interview guests, research small features, use a microphone, operate a studio and use some of that fancy high-tech equipment.

While main tutor Harry Stafford, who cut his teeth at BBC GMR, stresses the course is only an introduction, and is unlikely to turn anyone into the next Chris Moyles overnight - should that be what they want - but says there have been successes.

The government-funded service, which has been operating in Manchester since 1998, runs the community radio stations ALL FM - covering Ardwick Levenshulme and Longsight - and Wythenshawe FM.

Some students have gone on to work as volunteers on those stations, while others have been given placements or more long-term positions on the BBC or commercial radio.

Eager to see what the part-time course had to offer, and having been told numerous times I had the perfect face for radio (and the voice for print), I took a look.

It was my job to put together a 10-minute show. Harry showed me around the training studio, a mind-boggling array of boxes, boards, computers, knobs and sliders.

I had to cue up CDs, as well as remembering to press buttons on a mixing desk and move faders up and down at the right time.

As if this wasn't enough to contend with, I also had to introduce the feature in my best radio voice - remembering to stay just the right distance from the microphone - before conducting a radio interview with Harry.

It never sounds as difficult as all this when you've got the car radio playing some show you're not really listening to, but I suppose that's the point.

However, while I was safe in the knowledge that my clumsy mumblings would not be polluting the airwaves, I was warned Harry would be recording the whole ordeal for me to listen back to later, which was potentially even worse.

The first thing he told me to do was write a script that I could read back from word by word. I'd naively assumed all radio DJs were sparkling personalities who could come up with dizzying repartee off the cuff, but Harry assured me this was very rarely the case.

So, after jotting down a few choice phrases, I was off.

Following a bumbling start, in which he had to remind me which button to press, I did my best cheesy radio voice to introduce the feature, and the whole thing was over before I knew it.

While Harry insisted it wasn't bad for a first attempt, I wasn't too sure.

Listening to your own voice is never a pleasant experience, and while my spiel was pure daytime radio cheese, I was annoyed by the amount of times I said "err" during it, even though I was reading from a script.

If it was irritating for me, I dread to think what it would be like for other listeners.

It wasn't enough to make me think I was cut out for radio, but if anyone reckoned they might be, this would definitely be the place for them.

The next course starts on May 23, but applications must be in by May 10. Call 237 5012.


Have your say
 
Have your say Got an opinion you want to share?
Register now and have your comments heard.

Register now


 
External links
 
Personal Finance
 

Customers with a 'good' credit profile
Company Typical APR
Moneyback Bank 8.4%
Alliance & Leicester 8.7%
Halifax (Semi-exclusive) 8.8%
Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) 8.8%
Barclays 8.9%
Fixed Rate Bonds
Provider AER*
ICICI BANK
HiSAVE Fixed Rate Account 		7.20%
ICICI BANK
HiSAVE Fixed Rate Account 		7.00%
ICICI BANK
HiSAVE Fixed Rate Account 		7.00%
ARRAY(0x149017fc)
 6 Month Fixed Rate Savings Account 		6.60%
Fees may apply