I have now driven the desk of a live radio show. I have, perhaps, made that sound more exciting than it actually was – it was an unpaid thing for a local, community station (I’m usually doing something on Mondays at 1pm, do listen), rather than being in control of things at the BBC. Nevertheless, it was a job that needed doing and a job I’d like to do again.
There was only one hiccup, which wasn’t my fault (honestly, your honour). About half an hour into the show, I had managed to play some music, open microphones for people to speak, queue up audio for playing and present pretty well, which is all a lot easier than you would think.
The ironic thing about it all was that, a few minutes earlier, now supremely confident with both the equipment and the computer programme I was operating, I suggested that listeners have a sweepstake on when my first cock-up on my first desk-driving session on a live radio station would be.
Then the chap in charge of the show needed a trip to the little boy’s room, so he suggested playing a long song so there would be enough time for him to empty his bladder and take a stroll to the lavatory and back to the studio. He suggested Riders on the Storm by The Doors, coming in at just over seven minutes.
So I cued it up. It went in after a station sting, directly after a track that I had selected – Madness or Belle and Sebastian or something like that. Everything was ready to play.
Madness/Belle and Sebastian ended. Good. The station sting kicked in. Good. My face was smiling, everything was running smoothly. The sting ended. Silence.
Arse.
I clicked the song, in the hope it would play. Silence.
Shit.
I tried again and then accidentally deleted the next song from the running order. Still silence.
Fuck.
Then I managed to play the next bit of music, a track by Feeder – no, the station wasn’t linked up to my iPod, before you ask – and everything was back playing. It seems the original track by The Doors was no longer on the system because of a transfer error.
Though I wasn’t to know that, it was still technically my fault because I didn’t check it would play. So, 32 minutes I lasted before my cock-up.
Maybe next Monday I’ll make it the whole hour.
Incidentally, I’m considering asking for my own show. Though I’d like it to be unique, so if anybody has any ideas, let me know. I’m thinking along the lines of some music, some arsing about over current affairs… Ideas welcome.
