How to put together
a demo tape....
After spending 16 years presenting shows on radio
stations in the UK here is my list of tips on how to compile a demo
tape.
Firstly listen to the station that you are sending
the demo to. Listen to how the presenters are performing the links
on that station. This should give you a pretty good idea as to how
the programme controller likes his/her presenters to sound and what
he/she expects to hear.
Analyse their links and do the same type/style on
your demo. Each demo will be in a different style depending on the
type and format of station that you are applying to. So for example
a BBC local radio demo will be a different style to say a demo for
Galaxy/Virgin.
Try and keep the demo short, 3 minutes is more than
enough. (somebody once sent me a demo that kicked off with the weather
then three songs in a row and it lasted for both sides of the cassette!
the tape went in the bin as they couldn't be bothered editing it
and I couldn't be bothered listening to it) If the Programme Controller
wants to hear more he'll invite you in or ask for more work to listen
to.
Make the first link on the tape your best so as to
grab their attention, although this doesn't always work as some
PC's fast forward into the demo before they start listening.
Get rid of all the music as they want to listen to
you and not 30 seconds of Westlife's new song. Get rid of any name
id's as this makes you sound very vain and again they want to listen
to you not some jingle singers or butch voice over man.
Finally the PC will be looking to see that you can
do the basics of the trade such as reading the following:
- the weather
- sport headlines
- a news story
- competition link
- chat to a listener on the phone
- general link
- link for a promotion
- delivering a joke
- reading a script
- Q card
- promoting a programme or event. etc. etc.
You don't have to do all these in your demo but you
should include at least the weather and a Q card or script somewhere.
The PC will be expecting you to be able to read scripts
and deliver information at the right speed (i.e. not reading it
at 500 miles an hour) and being coherent.
Try to keep links short, one thought one link is enough,
don't waffle.
Don't try to copy the style of a presenter already
on the PC's station. He's already got say a Steve Wright or Chris
Moyles and will probably not want another one.
Finally be yourself, have your own style of presenting
that fits in with the general overall style of the station that
you are applying to.
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