[...]... Non-cost and Genuine ! 1 I had dreamed about becoming a radio DJ since I was about ten years old I used to make tapes in my bedroom with an old record player and a cassette tape recorder my grandfather gave me I had a few records my parents bought at a garage sale and I’d play them over and over again, announcing the name and artist along with today’s weather and news I’d listen to DJs on the local radio... shifts have a bit more latitude to ad lib, you may actually get a chance to participate in some clever unscripted on-air banter Some say being a traffic reporter is a great way to begin a career as a radio DJ While it is a way to get on-air experience and get your name noticed, you won’t learn the board operation skills or typical radio station political skills you’ll need to survive And your voice always... single watt to clearly demodulate a broadcast Since radio transmissions travel in a straight line, their signals are transmitted from broadcast towers, which are at the highest possible location in the area This helps the modulated broadcast signal travel further by avoiding being absorbed by buildings, people, and anything else that may block its path Broadcast antennas (usually called “broadcast towers”)... radio commercials all over the world, a stint with a local rock band, and ultimately the creation of this book We all make sacrifices in life, and I’d do it all over again, the same exact way So now you’re thinking about becoming a DJ Maybe you’re already a DJ looking to advance to the next level Or maybe you’ve been DJing in your bedroom and decided it’s time to start making some money at this madness... things at once Just remember, never talk over the singing! 16 BECOMING A RADIO DJ — Chapter 1 How to Begin Your Career as a Radio DJ Now that you’ve got the basics down, there are a number of different ways to begin getting real world experience to prepare for your career as a radio DJ Unlike becoming a mobile or club DJ, you just can’t wake up and decide that you’ll go out and get a radio DJ job There are... reason, chicks seem to love DJs Contrary to what some egocentric New York DJs will tell you, you don’t need a ton of raw talent to be a successful DJ You don’t need to know music theory; how to play an instrument; how to sing or how to dance You don’t have to be born with special DNA Many basic DJ skills can be learned from the information and diagrams in this book You can watch and listen to those considered... nightclub appearances and promotions, and appear to operate in a manner that’s surprisingly very similar to a commercial radio station This particular LPFM station advertises that it’s always looking for new faces for various station positions, including on-air shifts If you scour your local area, you too will probably find a LPFM station looking for help It’s a great place to get your feet wet and learn as... several board manufacturers, but most radio boards are fairly similar in functionality The best way to learn how to operate a board is to sit with an experienced DJ and just watch closely Smaller low budget college and community radio stations still use either industrial CD or Sony Minidisc players to play their music, announcements, and commercials Newer and larger radio stations have a computer that’s... large-size market, you could earn as much as $50,000 to $100,000 a year depending on your shift, your popularity, and the situation The radio DJs that get to do private appearances on behalf of the radio station (which is where your real money is made) usually earn about $100-$150 an hour for a two-hour appearance This can add up to some big comfortable bucks quickly Radio shifts are also becoming more and... the team, and they get to escape the nine to five corporate trap most of us fall into Most radio jobs are relatively loose regarding hours and location, with performance being evaluated based on results rather than attendance And since most radio folks are inherently creative, radio jobs can be lots of fun with daily practical jokes and a light-hearted office attitude Most aspiring and retiring DJs eventually . great tips on how to land your first on-air job and a great success story, definitely get your hands on a copy of Mike Staff’s How To Become A Radio DJ (available at www.djbook.com)—it’s mandatory. used to make tapes in my bedroom with an old record player and a cassette tape recorder my grandfather gave me. I had a few records my parents bought at a garage sale and I’d play them over and. now has a DJ rather than a live band. DJs are everywhere today. I have to admit…it’s hard to believe that all these people get paid for talking, playing music and having fun! Now you can too. This