Inside traxx: Diary of DJ Sisyphus

My Life As An Intern: The Duties of a Disc Jockey

I started my internship around September of 2005 I was fortunate enough to land spot at WGCI, and having Diz, one of the bad boys as my mentor. When I began interning. I started with the mindset that if I had decent personality, I could do this job blindfolded. Man, I could not have been more wrong. The responsibilities of an On-Air Personality are never ending. The duty of a Disc Jockey goes far beyond introducing a song and telling jokes. You have to multitask on a daily basis and be comfortable working in a fast paced environment. Many of the personality's duties include, but are not limited to board operation, answering the telephones, checking email, keeping track of song requests, being personable, relatable, staying on schedule, interviewing, administrative work, production work, technical work, production work, and so much more. It is amazing the amount of work that goes into having a successful show. It is not as easy as it seems by far.

On-Air personalities also have a responsibility to their community. One thing that I found so amazing was the fact that many people turn to their favorite disc jockey for all sorts of help, advice, just to talk, news updates, rumor control or just to say hi and express their gratitude. It is amazing! Another great thing I learned from Diz as well as his partner Mike Love is to be carefree and realize that everyone has their own opinion and not to take many of the things people say to seriously. Those two guys rarely let anything bother them and they are awesome at handling any sort of criticism. As an On-Air Personality, there are going to be many moments where you will have to address very controversial issues and the thing I admire the most is the professionalism in the way Diz as well as Mike Love have handled very "touchy" topics or if a statement that they made may have been misinterpreted.

Another huge misconception is the salary of a Disc Jockey. I thought that I would have the job of my dreams and live very well right away. When the reality is that it is a great job to have, but the big bucks will not come quickly and getting your foot in the door is even harder. So, this is one profession that you will quickly change your mind about if you are only in the radio industry to become rich. After every misconception that I had was made very clear for me, nothing will make me happier than becoming a successful on-air personality. It is an awesome job, where you talk, to great people everyday. You get to meet some of your favorite celebrities, help and inspire people. This is also a career that can open many doors for you and could lead to so many other wonderful opportunities to better yourself. I love the radio world and I'm so grateful to have been introduced to this industry by NBTN and Diz. The most important lesson I have learned from Diz is when I do become a successful On-Air personality, I will Take my Fame and the affect that I have on people and use it to help someone and make a difference (it is important to use your position positively). I have gotten so much out of this program,

I did not only gain an education and experience from a great mentor, but in him I gained a Big Brother (who just happens to have the #1 night show in Chicago).

Thanks For Everything...

Jenna Maries!!