Work in Radio

Kriss Herbert

Presenter and Content Director at Gaydio

When I first started, I got told a demo had ten seconds to impress...

Bosses were like, "make it the absolute best!" They said they'd take forever to listen, if they even got round to it, as they were really busy, too.

I used to dismiss that as rubbish - just something people said to pacify us. Turns out, it's true! I receive heaps of demos, and honestly, I don't get around to listening until I have a spare five minutes, which could be weeks away. Right now, I've got ten sitting in my inbox, untouched. And yep, I admit, I also judge them within the first 10 seconds, and if it doesn't hook me, I'm on to the next one!

My tips...

• First off, don't send it via some link that's going to expire. It's happened way too many times that I click on the link and bam, "Item not available anymore." So annoying!

• The golden nuggets need to be right up front, but honestly, make the entire demo amazing! Show off all your skills in those 3 minutes - the presentation, the personal touch, some serious stuff, a read, weather, anything that showcases your talent.

• Speaking of time, keep it within 3 minutes. I won't bother with 10-minute demos, and even 3 minutes is pushing it. If yours is longer and has some fantastic audio 5 minutes in, trust me, no one's going to hear it. Keep it snappy!

• Tailor your demo to the station you're sending it to. If it's an LGBTQ+ station, make sure the content is relevant. Likewise, if it's a local station focusing on issues in Bognor, they probably don't care about stuff happening miles away.

• Remember, this is about YOU! It's your demo, not the station's sounds or music. I'm not expecting some award-winning production; I just want to know what you can bring to the table.

• It doesn't matter much to me whether you send me real 'air check' audio taken from a broadcast recording or if you mock something up. Some folks want "real" clips, while others want station-specific demos. Just make sure whatever you include is top-notch!

• Skills! Radio isn't just about radio anymore. If you have more talents, show them off! Can you edit videos? Are you a whiz at creating content? Do you code websites in your spare time? Let it all out! Even if you make a mean cup of tea, let us know!

Getting noticed...

Networking, my friend!

Back in the day, I sucked at it, but now it's so easy.

Follow the decision-makers on social media and engage with them. Don't slide into their DMs like a stalker, but a quick reply or comment can start a convo. Trust me, every programmer out there wants to find the next big thing, so show 'em what you've got!