If you are one of those folks who think that being a radio dj is easy because all you have to do is just sit there and talk.... think again.
I realise now after scoping out the latest competition that doing radio is pretty tough compared to, say, tv. Of course, being a tv host has its cons as well... long hours, having to make sure you look good all the time on tv and even after the cameras are off because people will recognise you, etc... but with radio you don't have a pretty face to cover up your mistakes. On radio it's just your voice and your personality that comes across the airwaves and your listeners judge you on that. I've seen it happen... hot babe on tv who's a real blur-case or has no personality in real life but because she's so hot, the guys are just bedazzled and blinded by her beauty that they just don't care. But put her on radio.. there's no visual blindfold to buffer you from the blandness that comes through and suddenly, that person loses her attractiveness and all she is is a pretty face.
And I've seen good-looking tv hosts trying out for radio before, and if it's an established station or company, they don't get the job. Why? "She/He has no personality"... "... sounds fake"... "... trying too hard". But usually it's the "no-personality" factor.
Radio is harsh. Your listeners can be harsh. Because they judge you on what they hear. What you sound like. What you say. HOW you say it. You have to know what to say or talk about that will keep them engaged, entertained and not bore them with too much chatter. Having said that, one minute of aimless, empty content can feel long and draggy as opposed to say, three minutes of fun, relatable and interesting banter which can leave listeners wanting more. On top of that, you have to remember what NOT to say, how NOT to say things AND make your bosses happy. And if there's one or more people doing a show together, you have to know how to talk to each other and still make the listener feel involved, otherwise it's just an internal conversation among the djs with the listeners feeling left out. It's a balancing act and sometimes, for radio jocks, because you're in a studio, you don't feel when it goes out of balance, but the listener sitting in the car can. And that's when they tune out.
