Australian Radio Training teaches you in a fun environment the essential ingredients of starting out in radio. There is no point having you sit in a radio studio trying to record a programme without first having a skill level in order for you to achieve this.
We teach you on – air announcer secrets in order for you to be competent of sitting in a radio studio broadcasting to listeners.
We train you in a classroom environment with lots of practical, this is where you work with a formatted programmed radio station called Triple X 99FM. Any radio station you listen to is programmed, Australian Radio Training shows you how this works and sounds in an on – air radio situation. It’s a fun process of understanding how a radio station delivers its programming and how announcers really do what they do.
What personal skills do I need?
A good understanding of the English language is essential. From there we can train your voice which includes good diction, tone, projection and a personable style for on – air presentation. A strong sense of what’s going on around you in the world, being curious to look at what is happening in your local community. Also a love of music and what recording artists are doing on the music scene. Any high school dramas or plays will help, also toastmaster’s public speaking and a love of writing. A willingness to absorb information and show a keen interest to improve radio techniques that will be taught during your course is a must.
What are some of the exciting aspects to radio?
It doesn’t feel like a job! You get paid to actually do something that is not only fun but has different aspects to it for job promotion. You get to meet people such as celebrities, politicians, city leaders and successful business owners. There are no two days the same, radio is a vibrant industry to work in. Plus you get to cover events that people have paid to go to!
How technical is understanding the radio equipment?
Fortunately with the introduction of computers and automation technology over the last 10 years, this whole area of technology has been made incredibly easy. Most people know how to use a computer competently and are very knowledgeable when it comes to a lot of different programmes that are available. Even if you have a limited knowledge of computers, it’s very easy to learn how radio automation works. All music is stored on a hard drive so there is no need to play anything manual. The computer handles all the manual things that once upon a time announcers had to do. Which makes it fun and easy to learn.
What is the life of a radio announcer really like?
Because of a range of different aspects during a day in the life of an announcer, there is always plenty of variety. An announcer will have a four hour radio show to present each day, which of course will have to be prepped before getting into the studio. So, if an announcer is on – air from 12pm – 4pm daily, they would start to prepare that show at 10am that morning. After the radio shift is finished there will be radio commercials to voice and record, perhaps a pre-recorded radio commercial from a clients shop, where you would drive the radio station vehicle to and maybe run a promotions give away before you headed back. After a promotions/announcers meeting there might be a commercial to write or show some school kids around the station before heading off for the day.
What is voice tracking?
This is where an announcer doesn’t have to sit in the studio for four hours broadcasting. Instead an automation programme allows the announcer to pre – record an entire shift in less than 30 minutes. This can free the announcer up to do other things, which means that old saying of ‘you can’t be in two places at once’ is not the case when working in radio! In fact it’s possible to be in three different places at once if you have ‘voice tracked’ two different shows on two different radio stations which does happen. Even though it’s ‘voice tracked’ it still must be prepared before being recorded. Voice tracking is a radio discipline that you learn on the job which is fun a process once you have mastered it.
Are there really jobs in radio?
People are always constantly moving up the ladder of success in radio which in turn creates the starter positions at an entry level. But you need formal training to know how to apply for these radio jobs along with having a very good radio audition C.D which without this type of formal training you wouldn’t be in a position to achieve successfully. Typically starting at an entry level you could be elevated after only six months based on your development during this time. Some people have a more rapid rise than others and can achieve within a two year period amazing job promotions within an organisation. The jobs are available if you are determined to succeed.
What types of radio jobs are there?
There are many different facets to the broadcasting industry which is what makes it so dynamic and diverse with it’s appeal for people to move into different areas.
Jobs include:
• On – air announcing
• Promotions
• Programming
• Creative copy writing
• Sales advertising
• News presenting
• Traffic administration
• Producing for talkback
• Commercial production
• Research and tracking
People can leave a radio station to move into television where they can transfer into television presenters, journalists, producers, or move into advertising agencies, PR companies, media commentators, recording/music engineers or become media advisors.
Why should I choose Australian Radio Training?
You learn in a very easy way how to understand and grasp just how radio works and operates. The radio broadcasting training is specific to on – air announcing which covers lots of radio techniques you won’t find elsewhere. You learn the correct way of what is involved when applying to commercial radio station’s for jobs.
This course is spread over 5 days, in which you receive a vast amount of information with handouts, you learn a practical set of skills that with continued practice over a 2 – 3 month period, based on your skill level will give you every opportunity to look for work within the radio industry.
Because the course is built around the practical side of understanding how the radio announcer operates, you will learn these steps piece by piece which will prove to be not only one of the most exciting courses you have ever done but more importantly you dramatically improve after just 5 day’s of training! We are serious about delivering to you the knowledge and practical skill base to get you started, which is a powerful learning experience. Plus you get to meet other like minded individuals for networking and training with after the course ends.
Can we as a training organisation guarantee you a job?
Of course we can’t.
Can we guarantee you will have learned a set of new skilled specific to the radio industry that will set you in motion and on the right track?
Of course we can.
The Director of Australian Radio Training has over 20 years of commercial radio experience, including breakfast announcer, Programme Director, radio station Manager and radio station owner. He has trained students for over 10 years who have gone on to be employed by radio stations and have won radio awards!