How do i become a radio dj?!
Question: apply for an intern position at a radio station and work your way up
Answers: apply for an intern position at a radio station and work your way up
Go to broadcasting school.
Start out in hospital / community radio, build up experience, a showreel and contacts.
The best way to start is get a voluntary job on your local hospital radio, i'm doing it now, its fantastic i love doing it. But one day I want to work on the national radio stations such as Talksport, or BBC Radio or local radio.
It also helps if you have journalistic background, I dont myself. But what i'm going to do is, do it for six months then start to send minidiscs in of my show to all radio stations in the Uk . I have my own slot on a sunday night.
Sometimes you can get lucky and get on with a radio station that will have someone to train you. More often, you'd be required to have some experience. Of course, this depends on the market.
I work for a radio station in a small town and we'll most often train our voice talent and DJ's. It is immensely helpful, however, if you listen to radio shows to get a feel for how the DJ's speak, their tone, their level of excitement, and their patter. You can listen to local shows and also radio shows online to get a feel for different talents.
Something I'd recommend doing is if you have a recording device, use it. Pretend you're in a studio with mics and soundboards around you and a song just got done playing. Announce it. Try working in a fact about either that song or artist that just played, or the one coming up. Keep practicing and listening to yourself, honestly critiquing yourself, and always trying to improve.
Another suggestion I'd offer is when you're behind the mic, be conversational. Not asking questions, of course, unless you have a call-in show, but like you're talking to your best friend, only slightly more over-the-top. It'll sound cheesy to you, but it transmits very well to the listening audience. Too monotoned and flat and you'll be tuned out, and taken off of the air in short order.
What a few of my employees have done is started by coming to the radio station and applying for any job they have, even if it's filing for a couple hours a week to begin, and make conversation to let the higher ups know that this is a field you're excited to be in, even if it's in a "back-of-the-house" context. They'll be alerted to this then and keep you in mind when an opening on air comes along. You may want to ask them after some time doing your job if they need any voice work done. This is your chance to shine and show them you should be more than a filer! It is this slow foot-in-the-door work that has gotten MANY DJ's where they are today.
Best of luck, and I hope you find yourself where you want to be!