What is a radio teaser?

Radio: What quality does a radio announcer have to have?

• What does it take to be a radio announcer or a radio DJ? I want to know this because yesterday (2/13/2013) was the world radio day. And I personally believe that radio announcer is a cool job. What do you think?

• Answer:

  I am a radio announcer and I love my job!  I am part of a team morning show and we have been together 20 years.  I have also done my own show solo, but for me, this is much more fun.  Like Andrew says, you do need the ability to think on your feet - things don't always go as planned.  It helps to learn good interviewing skills and how to listen well.  You don't need to be funny, but having a sense of humour helps. It's also crucial to be adaptable and willing to learn new skills.  When I began 30 years ago, we selected music from a library of albums, but were expected to meet certain rotations and quotas.  We also had to prepare informative pieces called "mosaics" and "foregrounding" which was usually about the artists we played.  These were requirements of FM Radio in Canada in the early days.  They no longer exist in that form, but obviously it helps to be very informed - not only about the music - but about current events, pop culture, politics, etc.  Having social media skills is now essential in this line of work.  I spend as much time updating Twitter and Facebook as I do on the air. In the beginning, as Chris said, the hours are very tough.  You will be expected to work gruesome shifts, many, if not all, holidays and often last minute. You will often be expected to work at bars, concerts and other events on behalf of the station and you likely won't get paid.  It doesn't pay well until you have been at it a long time, and even then some people still have to take second jobs.  You may be required to move for work and often more than once as you try to work your way up to a larger market.  It's a tough job to have as often your significant other and your friends and family won't understand why you just can't say no.  Often, a station will change formats and you will find yourself out of a job.  However, if you work really hard, don't burn any bridges and you're lucky, you will find yourself in a job you love.  I've interviewed dozens of celebrities, traveled for my job to some amazing places, I've even flown with the Snowbirds (Canadian air force aerobatic team) and had a chance to work with some fantastic charitable organizations that I truly admire.  The down side?  I have to get up every morning at 3:45!!