“I am 42 years old, never been in radio….I'm told every day "you missed your calling" and "you should have been in radio". I say , yeah, yeah. However, the thought does intrigue me. How do I make a demo tape and where and to whom can I send one to?” – from Jack
First, you should know that these days breaking into Radio is no small task. It takes time, determination and a little bit of luck because there are fewer jobs available than ever. Between voice-tracking and automation coupled with the affordability of syndicated personalities in lieu of local ones, a Radio career requires commitment and patience.
Before I would suggest anyone make a demo tape, I would first advise them to do something which might actually be more helpful in his or her pursuit of being in Radio: just get your foot in the door doing anything at a radio station.
Everybody wants to be a DJ or talk show host. Program Directors hear this all the time. But, in the real world what is more helpful to a P.D. is someone who wants to intern – for free – on the morning show or in the promotions department.
If you’re in college, you can usually get some credit hours for interning. If you’re not in school or already in another career, you should volunteer some hours in exchange for the experience.
Be upfront and tell the Program Director you're a big Radio fan and want to learn a little about the business. Suggest the hours you can devote to it each week and if he agrees, you’ve made a great leap in your quest.
Why is it more important to just get your foot in the door doing anything? Simple: when something goes wrong at the station or a body is needed right away to fix a problem, Program Directors tend to turn to people they already know – like interns or volunteers. These moments can provide the kind of “breaks” which make careers.
I have seen it over and over again. I had an intern on my radio show a few years ago who was later hired part-time at the station, then full-time. He’s still in Radio today, quite successful on the East coast. This is the real-world embodiment of "being at the right place at the right time". You still can be in Radio.
By the way, your chances of being able to intern or just volunteer at a radio station are generally better the smaller the city you are in.
Now, having said all this, if you still want to make a demo tape (by the way “tape” is somewhat outdated. We should really be calling it a “demo CD” or “demo mp3”) please see an earlier article I wrote entitled, How to Create An Audition Tape For A Radio Station.
and How To Create An Audition CD For A Radio Station.
You might also want to sign up for my free online course Working In Radio which will give you a nice overview of Radio as a career.
Lastly, if you want to know more about the underbelly of this business and what a cutthroat and competitive one it really is then read my book, The Cash Cage.
