Improve DJ Performance Quality?

[dlee]

Nowhere in this process, neither in the loose email barrage or in the official Forum nor in this chat board, is there any open discussion of the quality of announcing at WTJU. There was a comment jn the Forum that 'amateurism' is a trait of WTJU. Others once in a while say why they turn off the radio sometimes, and sometimes that has to do with DJ quality more than it does the music.

DJ's have been attacked, aggressively. And they have their backs up; they're defensive. Not surprising. The recent email in which Burr shared the email from another GM was yet more 'combat mode.'

But can we see this transition as a time for improvement of DJ quality? Or are we too polarized and defensive to acknowledge room for improvement?

[billtetzeli]

I don't think we're defensive about our presentation at all. Who said that? Who?!? ;-) Seriously, everyone I talked to was enthusiastic about the idea of a DJ boot camp and said they'd sign on in a heartbeat. That's one area where I think most of us are in agreement, that we need to work on that. Other than Professor Bebop and Mister Jones (Hal Strong, no longer at the station but made a very welcome appearance at the folk meeting) and maybe one or two others, I can't think of many DJs who have a really engaging, on-air personality. Myself included. The day after the consistency memo leaked out I did my show and opened it parodying the "cool, hip, exciting" sort of commercial DJ stuff Burr seemed to want. Wow, I thought. I sound better as a parody than I do as my own self. LOL

[dlee]

The availability of the Tape Vault now provides a tool for monitoring newbies - even after a "boot camp." Directors now do not have enough time to be listening to shows for that - but could assign small teams of veteran DJ's to listen to newbie's shows and give constructive feedback - or recommend to the Director that he/she needs improvement of a more serious nature. I think this would take place in a probationary period, with the newbie doing a certain number of shows before being considered an "Announcer."

[alonzo]

Was 'amateurism' mentioned as a bad thing? I thought that was the whole point of the station. I prefer hearing people to 'personalities,' and I can't remember ever minding the presentation of a WTJU DJ, whereas most commercial DJ's make me want to shoot them in the face, repeatedly. I suppose 2-hour a week volunteers are never going to achieve a professional level of jackassery in any case, so the idea in practice is probably harmless, but the thinking behind it seems insidiously evil.

[Smilin Tyler]

Yeah, we can remain amateur, saying things that a pro jock wouldn't say, but we can say them more clearly, at the correct amount of space from the mic, without clipping or making people turn their radios up to 11. I think some word exercises would do wonders for most DJs. As far as being upbeat, couldn't hurt.. for some shows. In some places.

[Smilin Tyler]

Of course, the Radio Wowsville airchecks could go to ten minutes doing all sorts of trivia and idiocy... but people always said that liked that there.

[goldfinger]

So... DJ "quality" is an issue, now. I always thought it was about the quality of the music, first... though nobody is perfect in their delivery. Professionals, included.

Pete may have had it right about the American Idol-ization of radio.

Zat so, Burr?

[dlee]

Jul 5, 2010 17:06:40 GMT -5 alonzo said:

Was 'amateurism' mentioned as a bad thing? I thought that was the whole point of the station. I prefer hearing people to 'personalities,' and I can't remember ever minding the presentation of a WTJU DJ, whereas most commercial DJ's make me want to shoot them in the face, repeatedly. I suppose 2-hour a week volunteers are never going to achieve a professional level of jackassery in any case, so the idea in practice is probably harmless, but the thinking behind it seems insidiously evil.

To my mind, "amateurism" includes speaking so softly that you can't be heard, poorly enunciating so you can't be understood, talking about yourself instead of the music, showing up at two minutes before your show time, not showing up at all. There's nothing insidiously evil about that thinking.

[goldfinger]

I start by saying that I am as guilty as anyone, before I make this observation:

Modulating music, recorded promos/PSAs, and announcements is a real issue. Inconsistency in volume levels between those three elements is, at times, maddening. Like David said, not getting up on the mike; music too loud, then too soft; a blast of a PSA--those are sure turn-offs for a casual listener. I'M not going to switch to another station... but, it's ridiculous to have to keep running back-and-forth to the volume knob, just to be able to listen.

Maybe there's some inconsistency with how the digital/LED VUs display the signal on the board? Personally, I prefer the old-school, analog VUs. I've noticed, too, how a bass-heavy cut distorts the overall perception of how loud a tune is, compared to one less so. And, there are times, even when I'm up on the mike, that still have to peg the fader to keep the announcing on a level with the music.

It's all about what comes out of the speakers at the other end. Inconsistent volume is as bad as dead air.

That said... being a DJ is a crash course in multi-tasking. Not only do we have to present un-interrupted music and info, but we are always thinking ahead to preparing the next track, or PSA (and logging them), uploading the playlists, answering the phone... sometimes, all at the same time. It's easy to forget that the listener is getting the short end of the stick. Modulation is just as important as keeping the music spinning.