Guys… This will be the final part and I’ll do my best to focus on the benefits and lessons of my foray on radio so far. I am nowhere near the icons but I am grateful to those who still found me worthy enough to honor me and predict bigger and better things ahead.
It took three months to receive my letter of employment which was read to me first over the phone. I had lost faith and interest when I received news that a particular “Oga” was not impressed with my No Godfather status. However, it took some strong convictions prompted by divine intervention to overturn his verdict.
My first paid employment as a broadcaster was as a sport presenter. I didn’t last long on that desk as I had my eyes on full on presentation and wiggled, weaved, coerced and proved beyond a reasonable doubt that that was where I belonged. It meant extra hours on the graveyard shifts, news reading and audio library supervision.
I had to on many occasions, edit songs for radio broadcast. Fun and fulfilling, that was, though ultimately tiring.
I still recall the day I had to take over an afternoon shift while a senior presenter got served his suspension papers. It was a wake up call to the realization that one man’s misfortune reeks of opportunity for the young upstart!
The lessons I have learnt so far include…
1. Grabbing the opportunity when it presents itself: You may like someone a lot and consider taking up his space as a snitch move, but the truth of the matter is, you’ve got to step up to the plate when called upon. My advantage was constant preparation. I had the entire station’s schedule in my head and knew what to play and what to say, when to play and when to say… and I did that and still do. Despite the playback limitations I was able to introduce a seamless audio automation format, which improved the quality of the station’s output.
2. Expanding skill sets: I was hired primarily to present sport. I broke out and showed off my flair for entertainment and news. Not just as a presenter but as a producer and editor, my music production background enabled I determine how and what songs were appropriate for airtime. I also developed a knack for producing station promos and jingles, and also lent my voice to TV news narrations.
3. Productive Internet Activity: Not a big fan of formal education, probably because I don’t think the grade system represents applicable knowledge garnered, I delved into “how-to” YouTube videos and Google searches for broadcasting tips and updates from well informed climes and put such garnered knowledge to good use.
So far, across three radio station platforms and in just over six years, I’ve functioned as Presenter, Producer, News Reader, TV host, Station Production Manager and now I’m venturing into entrepreneurship with Audio Imaging & Production and Media Consultancy.
In everything, I insist that my passion comes first and income later. My passion is the reason I look forward to redoing things rather than getting stuck in a rot. Between jobs, I have found new ways to rebrand and re-present myself to the broadcast community of employers, colleagues and fan base.
Every day, I do it all over again.
I wouldn’t change anything if asked to.
(The Beginning)
(January 2010 STAFF OF THE MONTH):
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