Presenting at Vibe FM

I approached the manager of the college radio station and we agreed on a time and date for me to come into the studio and work being a DJ, playing songs and triggering jingles and advertising packages throughout the one-hour period.

Aims:
·      Learn how a radio station works both technically and socially
·      To work on a one-hour radio slot
·      Gather further information about legal issues and details of outcome of FMP
Objectives:
·      Arrange with Station Manager and appropriate time and day to come in and work on a radio show.
·      Identifying and familiarising myself with technical equipment
·      Observe and learn the techniques involved in being able to manage a radio show independently.
·      Learning computer software programs used in radio production

To learn how the computer arranges playlists and adverts.

To discuss with the Station Manager about recording contracts, and artist/college copyright issues, pertaining to my Professional Practice Module.

I should be able to do the following here - learn how a radio station works, and also promote myself to the College audience - my target market.

Learn and put in place a standard copyright agreement between the radio and myself, the composer.

The Station Manager first of all introduced me to the equipment that is used to run a radio broadcast, these included media players such as Compact Disc and Mini Disc, as well as software based music databases and computer programmes. Other equipment included a compressor, mixing desk and condenser microphones to enable speech to the clear and bright in volume, for music and voice. I was able to learn how a playlist is put in order, and choose which advertising fits well with the preceding music.

I was also able to do a video interview with the Station Manager to ask him about feedback on the jingles that I have produced, and what work needs to be done to improve them.

My Reflection:

When I first arrived I was asking plenty of questions that a student needs to ask when either doing work-based learning or gaining knowledge in a negotiated project. The main important goals for me in this type of Foundation Degree project is to “make a nuisance" of oneself, that is, ask lots of questions, be inquisitive, research and develop not only the project but me as an individual.

I found the attitudes of the radio station management slightly puzzling. Maybe it's just me, but the questions I was asking were getting condescending answers, such as when I asked about a simple token contract that we should draw up stating who I am, and why I am writing jingles for the college radio station, just so I could fulfill part of the Professional Practice module that requires legal information to be researched, not necessarily having to make binding agreements with anybody in the real world, only if required should I be selling direct to market or a bona fide company etc.

I was told that “that's not how we do things here", and although I continued to explain the nature of this contract would purely be a token for the tutors, I ended up no further and was actually told the same answer 3 times, very helpful! It's rather surprising that, considering I have crafted a negotiated project from scratch which would not only give me a product and learning experience worth working towards, but at the same time provide a free jingles package for the college to play at their station whenever they want for however long they want to. These jingles can cost a lot of money if they are done ‘professionally’.

There certainly is nothing stopping me from reaching my goal of producing a jingles package using the latest production techniques that I have learnt so far on the courses I have done, and learning from talking to people in the industry.

My Strengths

·      Performing tasks asked of me
·      Remembering lots of technical info and putting it into practice first time, such as cueing up an ad and music before the news bulletin on the hour, (not a flexible time slot, as it is broadcast by Sky in London.
·      Fulfilling tasks quickly and effectively
·      Friendly and approachable behaviour
·      Professional conduct before, during and after the placement
·      Punctuality, being present well in advance for a briefing and other advice.

My Weaknesses

I don’t feel as though I have any weakness in this practice area, it came quite naturally to me, and I didn’t panic when I was executing the playlists and editing them. I think my only criticism is that I must expect a steep learning curve when working with other companies in understanding ‘underlying issues’, which may have been at work here, which hampered my communication with the management staff at the Vibe FM Radio Station.