Why Regional can Rock

Let’s get all the negativity out of the way now, you can at times feel undervalued, stressed out, lonely, a million miles away from family and friends and burnt out.

But like anything in life it has an ebb and flow.

I have definitely participated in those chats with announcers on a Friday afternoon after you have poured a glass of wine and you both complain about your week.

But you stay and there are some damn good reasons why.

THE PLACES YOU GO AND PEOPLE YOU MEET

You may have not have even heard of the town you are headed to, but that’s what’s so great about it and challenging at the same time. You have no idea what you are in for, and who you will come across on the way. I can say some of my closest friends that I have met are because of radio, and are still in my life; and on the plus side you always have places to crash if you want get in the car and go for a road trip. And whilst friends and family complain about you being so far away they enjoy their ‘adventures’ to wherever you live and you secretly love you impressing them with things like local wineries.

THE EXPERIENCES PLACED IN YOUR LAP

Coming to a new town as a radio announcer already affords you some awesome opportunities others don’t get.  The invites can be outright outrageous and I love it. From making Salami for Salami Festival, to playing with newborn white lion cubs at the local zoo. These ‘pinch yourself’ moments come with the job and are offered to us because of it.

YOU BECOME WELL ROUNDED

From reception to panel op to copywriting to music directing to production. You do it all, and as much as it can be a pain at the time these could be the things that, A. Make you a better announcer – you have a better understanding and respect for how it all comes together and B. Helps you to sustain a career in radio – not every day does your perfect job come up and having that extra feather in your bow helps.

YOU BECOME A RADIO BEAR GRYLLS

You have an amazing idea but the only problem is you have no budget and no promotions person so you do the best you can with what you have to get that idea to survive and thrive, and when you do you feel damn good.

THE ONLY IN (INSERT TOWN NAME HERE) STORIES

Every regional town loves to take obscure themes and run with it and they make for the best stories/ experiences.

From participating in Beef Week to a Scarecrow Festival to Festival of the Sausage these moments are priceless and you will look back on them and laugh.

THE TRIAL AND ERROR

Everyone has to start somewhere, and when you listen back to those early air checks you cringe – but you also thank god for that patient PD and that you didn’t have to justify your on air performance to a room full of people or go through a survey. You are given the space you need to stuff it up. Go for it and learn from it.

THE CRAZY CONTENT THAT COMES YOUR WAY

An emu making its way through the streets of Griffith had people sending us pictures and video, and us getting lots of content out of  ‘Oswald watch”, while learning a lot about emus from the local zoo, and also getting lots of listener interaction plus a few laughs – I was advised against dressing as another emu as the best way to get a sighting.

About The Author:

Carly Portch is part of the breakfast team at Star FM 99.7 in Griffith. She started in the biz in 2010 and has worked in Port Macquarie, Lismore, Nowra, and since 2014 with SCA in Griffith NSW.