What Should I
include in my Radio Presenter Showreel ? by Rod
Lucas
It's important
to plan your programme presenter showreel carefully.
You can't just go into a studio and fake a programme
in a few minutes. It's best to record a full
programme in no less than 1 hour. In this time
you'll be able to settle down and really get into
the programme. It's only from a complete range of
programme links (announcements), that you can then
choose the best ones to include in a radio presenter showreel demo.
Getting a decent showreel together is one of the most
constructive things a presenter can do, even and
especially if you're in a station
already and want to move on. At RadioShowreels.com
we can help make the process easier, whether you're
a newcomer to radio, or already established.
Your whole career in radio is based on your
sound in a showreel only lasting a few minutes. You're never quite
sure what to leave in and what to leave out. That's
why it's best to have another set of ears listening
too. Making a good showreel demo is how to get into
radio and make a super career. Never record a demo
showreel by just going to the end of a song and
recording links. Record a show and pick from that.
Radio Presenter
Showreels for music programmes should only feature a few
seconds of the music being played in and out of
links. Remember, the listener is going to be a
Programme Director who only wants to hear the links
into and out of, your tunes. They'll be listening
for your varied ability to mix into and out of
songs. So you'll need to display your technical
ability at talking over music and how "tight" your
voice-over music links can be. Radio bosses will of
course, be listening for what you're saying between
the tunes.
Content is very
important in any radio programme and in a Radio
Presenter Showreel you'll need to demonstrate that you
not only have content but it's original at times
too.
Programme
Controllers will be listening for many different
aspects in your style as featured in your radio
presenter showreel. Here's a few to think about. Most
of which I can really help you with.
1) How
original are you sounding.
2) Do you have the ability to weave
music and chat and programme elements together.
3) Are you able to speak on a 1 to 1
personal basis with the listener.
4) Do you have varied content and programme
ideas that are different.
5) Can you read basic information handed to you, ie: traffic & travel.
6) Do you sound interested and enthusiastic playing
music you maybe dislike. (Remember in most commercial
stations you have no choice in the music you play,
it's playlisted).
7) Do you have a good sense of humour and do you smile ever.
8) Can you get out of mistakes easily.
9) What's your timing like, can you back
time to programme junctions like news and
commercials.
10) What are you like with people who call in.
11) Do you identify the station
frequently.
12) Can you interview people.
13) Work under pressure.
14) Will you be able to keep it all going when the
hard drives go down and no one else is around on the
station.
15) Could you present 6 days a week, 4 hours a
day with programme prep on top.
16) Do you talk too much and end up
waffling. (All presenters do it at times).
17) Are the links short, sweet and to the point.
18) Are you being yourself.
