Here are some tips and bits of free advice to help your radio show.



Music tips:

-Try and get to your show at least thirty minutes before it starts so that you will have time to pull your records and get prepared.

-Every week, try and play five bands you have never played before.

-Explore the world music, soul, comedy, arcana and jazz stacks. There are all types of records and all types of music outside of the main broadcast studio. Take a look around and see what you can find!

-Do a show of just singles and 45s one week, just for kicks.

-Do a show of just compilations one week, just for kicks.

-Read reviews on records at WPRB and check out bands referenced on the records you enjoy.

-Try to play bands from different decades, different parts of the globe and more than one style of music. Diversity keeps your show interesting and always keeps listeners curious.



Broadcasting tips:

-Never play commercials in the middle of a set of songs. Always play commercials during your breaks.

-Similarly, never play a station ID and *then* go on mic. Station IDs are supposed to go between songs in your sets, not at the start or end of your set.

-Don't play a band's station ID unless you are playing the band doing the ID right after you play their station ID.

-Don't do "shout outs" or dedications. Radio is supposed to be for everyone, not directed at a select few. It just sounds embarrassing to a majority of the listening audience.

-Don't mention Princeton, your classes or school on the air. WPRB may be part of the University, but nearly all of the listeners are not students and they couldn't care less about your schoolwork. It sounds sloppy and unprofessional.

-Turn on the microphone before you pot it up. Don't leave the mic potted up and *then* turn it on when it is time to talk. This makes a weird noise over the air.

-If there are friends or visitors in the studio, keep them quiet during your breaks. Ask them to keep quiet before you go on mic. Nothing sounds lamer than chairs squeaking or people having extraneous conversations in the background while the DJ is talking.

-Keeping your playlist as accurate as possible will help you avoid embarassing moments like forgetting what you played or being caught without knowing what a song was called.

-Obviously, try and keep your uses of "Uhh..." and "Er..." to a minimum when on-mic.

-Look at the previous DJ's playlists before you do your show. Don't play bands or records that the previous DJ has played.

Broadcasting tips:

-Listen to WPRB and other local like-minded stations like WFMU [91.1 fm] and WRSU [88.7] to get an idea of other stations and other DJs on-air sound.

-Keep things moving smoothly in the studio.

-Along similar lines, avoid dead air [i.e. silence], the ultimate show-killer.

-Do a station break every 4-5 songs or every 15-20 min. Try and vary what you say and how you are saying it to keep people interested.

-Never appologize on the air for anything.

-Do not use radio/WPRB jargon like "PSA", "New Emph", etc on the air. People don't know what you're talking about and it sounds silly.



I hope this helps. It is easy to sound professional with out being "a professional." If there are any tips you would like to see included here, please email me. I hope you will find this page useful. Thanks to Brian Farmer for his additions to this page.

Thanks for reading.

Jon Solomon
January 2001
Princeton, New Jersey


How to review records | Internet resources | DJ tips | Index