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PRODUCER (OFTEN THE SIDEKICK TO THE ON-AIR
PERSONALITY)
JOB OVERVIEW
In many cases, the radio producers are backup
for the on-air personality whose
show they produce. They research, write, and
assist in advance planning of the show
and are available throughout the on-air time to
assist the on-air personality.
SPECIAL SKILLS
"Listening and typing," are two skills that
have proved extremely important to
producer Devon O'Day's success. "You have to
type in real time on a computer key-
board so that your host can see it while he's
on the air. I type 120 words a minute."
A DAY IN THE LIFE
"My alarm goes off at 3:30
a.m. and I turn on a news channel or CNN and
let my
subconscious absorb whatever is on," says
O'Day. "I get a wake up call at 4:10
a.m.
from the person who works overnight, and that's
when I know I've got to get up. If I
don't get a wake up call and talk to somebody,
they [the station staff] have learned I
won't wake up. I get to the station at
5:30
a.m. and start going through USA
Today
and
The Tennessean. Sometimes I'll go through local
newspapers too, and make a tip
sheet for Gerry [House] with funny stuff he can
talk about and questions he can ask.
I cut out articles I like, highlight
information, and write funny lines at the side.
Sometimes he uses what I write and sometimes he
uses his own jokes. Every time you
open that mike, you've got to have something to
say; something new, something
funny. It's impossible to do four hours of
standup five mornings a week, so he uses
the tip sheet. Gerry runs his own board and
does all the music, so he has to have
someone who can write, listen, and answer the
300 to 400 calls we get each morning.
Throughout the morning, he will go to me live;
he just hits my microphone button
and I'm on. I might be on the phone talking
with a listener about their gallbladder
"God puts you in certain places because there
is a lesson or a message
you're suppose to get. Sometimes you ask, `Why
was I here?' And you
realize you weren't there for you, you were
there for someone else."
"People would be so much more successful if
they would learn to listen."
Intern at a local radio station or get a job at
your school radio station
and develop an on-air persona, then make a demo
recording of your
work.
CAREER
TIPS
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