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n response the tale of Dan Jones’ journey to get into radio, Jason McLean (pictured) has written in to tell his story while Jason Stavely had this comment, “What an inspirational story Dan Jones’ is… Really inspiring to learn that people still find radio a desirable career path and use initiative to get that first gig. Sadly, the story about PDs being impossible to reach is too familiar. Being ignored by PDs and rejected by AFTRS is something that I dealt with in 1985……. The advice to anybody keen to work in radio – don’t give up,” says Jason Stavely.
Jason McLean agrees, “Great story that on Dan Jones…..good luck to him.
My path was similar to Dan’s, except I never did community radio. I was at Max Rowley’s radio school and finished that to head back home to the Gold Coast. All I had was a demo from the school……and hitch hiked my way up NSW dropping into various stations, about 10 in all. Got nowhere with it….then when staying with my parents back home, sent out 26 tapes all over Australia.
Half of them didn’t even reply, 12 PD’s did but it was the standard letter. Then 1 guy, Richard Burns at 4CC Gladstone rang, but said he wanted a ‘real radio aircheck’.
I had never even heard of the term ‘aircheck’…..and assumed he meant to go into a station and record one. So I went to my local station in Tweed Heads, Radio 97…..and did one. The PD, John Hurst took my number on a scrap piece of paper and stuffed it in his file cabvarchar(15). I thought, oh yeah…..that’ll slide down the bottom. I also didn’t end up getting the 4CC job.
At the same time…a production assistants job came up at the coast’s other station at the time 4GG (now Gold FM). I didn’t get that, but as it turns out, they hired one of Radio 97’s ‘opermators’ (panelling a shift but not talking…..playing the voice of one of the older guys off a reel to reel tape).
4GG sent all 167 applications to John Hurst at Radio 97, but instead of going through them, he remembered ‘that enthusiastic kid’ from the week before and gave me a call offering me the job.
Incredible luck…….and 25 years later I’m still in radio. Won a few ACRA’s and worked at some top provincial stations.
If you’d like to share your story of how you got into radio – use the comment box below.
Don't dismiss community radio as a valid stepping stone into a commercial radio career. A lot of these stations have old radio guys "from back in the day" who just love the craft of broadcasting and they're the people that helped me get a start in the mid 80's. Sure they may have egos but take on board the advice they give you about who to harass at a radio station and what needs to go into an aircheck.
My start was through work experience at 2GN Goulburn where they literally asked if I wanted "a go" on air and after 4 hours in the chair got offered a part time job til I finished school and I have never looked back!
Well said Bilko. My very first ever time behind a microphone was at Jazz Radio 94.1FM on the Gold Coast. A station which at the time was full of former ABC and Commercial radio people with 30 plus years’ experience. It was only at their recommendation that I embarked on the radio journey (driving great distances like Dan just for interviews). Sure some had ego's, but I didn't mind because these were real radio people.
Here i am now with SCA working for Star FM Wagga. My first gig at 2NZ Inverell never would have happened if it wasn't for those old pioneers. They gave me great encouragement and motivation :) - Pagey