How To Become A Radio Personality

You’ve been practicing your chatter and you want to know how to become a radio personality. Whether it’s talk radio, or rap disc jockeying, if you have a passion for radio, and a voice for it, you can break into the business. It takes guts, perseverance, and a willingness to make your own luck to become a radio personality.

1. Make a demonstration tape.  Record yourself doing a radio show. Use recording equipment that gives a high quality sound.
2. Get an interview with a program director. Apply for a job at a radio station. Send in your demo tape. Make follow up calls if you don’t hear anything after 2 weeks. You have to find the sweet spot where you keep following up, and refuse to accept rejection, yet you don’t become an annoyance.
3. Accept any job at the station, including becoming a volunteer if necessary. You don’t care if you’re fetching coffee during graveyard shift. Go above and beyond to show your enthusiasm and positive attitude about working in radio. You have an in, and you can work your way up.
4. Once you’re in at the station, make another demo tape. After working for a few months, you know the people at the station, so you can hand your tape to the most receptive program director.
5. Tell the program directors that you would love to substitute for a radio personality. Let them know that you can be ready at a moment’s notice if you’re ever needed to fill in. Be ready to be on air when you get your chance. Be confident and calm, letting your on air persona shine.
6. Once you’ve got some air time under your belt, apply at other stations, listing your experience at your current gig. Next thing you know, you’ll be hired as a radio personality.

Be flexible, and willing to relocate. Most famous radio personalities of today worked their way up from the bottom and had some hard knocks before reaching fame and fortune. You’ve got talent and perseverance. Your big break will come.