New Member Packet Name: Phone: E-Mail: Overview WKDU Is the Student Run Radio Station of Drexel University
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
New Member Packet Name: Phone: E-mail: Overview WKDU is the student run radio station of Drexel University. We broadcast at an effective power rating of 800 watts. This power is enough to cover the Philadelphia region as well as going into a good part of South Jersey. While we do reach the Philadelphia area, we don't have the million watts of the commercial stations. WKDU's programming mission is to play music ignored by other stations. We play a lot of local and independent artists. The styles of music played on WKDU can not really be pinned down, they are only limited by the DJ at the controls. We take a lot of pride in this. We receive all of our program funding from student activities fees, and for this reason all persons interested in joining the organization must be a Drexel University student. This packet outlines the process by which you will be able to join the radio station and how to get your license. The requirements may seem a bit overwhelming at first, but you have approximately ten weeks to complete everything. This definitely is a reasonable goal. General Membership Training General membership training consists of three parts: meeting the executive staff and other members, hands on training, and exposure to policies. Meet the Staff Please introduce yourself to, and get the initial of, all listed. The easiest way to meet everyone is to attend a general body meeting (aka GBM). Have the New Member coordinator create a website account for you; this will get you on our email list & enable you to start using wkdu.org. If you do not complete this step, you will not be able to complete your training. Executives General Manager Tim Plunkett [email protected] Station Manager Alejandro Valdes [email protected] Program Director Monika Julien [email protected] Public Relations Meghan Palagyi [email protected] Personnel Mitch Routman [email protected] Production Chris Baglivo [email protected] Comptroller Bill Neil [email protected] Junior Executives Web Admin Tim Plunkett [email protected] New Members Tim Plunkett [email protected] Music Director Mitch Routman [email protected] Philly Haps Meghan Palagyi [email protected] Booking Director Chris Baglivo [email protected] Sports Director Michael Mazzeo [email protected] Log Director Ebonie Butler [email protected] Staff Advisor Larry Epstein [email protected] Getting Involved You are required to contribute a total of EIGHT SERVICE HOURS at the station. It is not as awful as it sounds, and there are many ways that you can help out which are not too painful: helping the music directors put out new releases, layouts and articles for the communiqué, production help (making carts, burning cd's, producing live bands), soldering things, and there is always the record library. Ask around for some ideas of where an extra hand would prove to be helpful, or go ahead and find something to do. You can keep track of your hours in this handy table below - be sure to have someone sign off on the work you've done. Task: Task: Supervisor: Supervisor: Date: Date: Task: Task: Supervisor: Supervisor: Date: Date: Task: Task: Supervisor: Supervisor: Date: Date: Task: Task: Supervisor: Supervisor: Date: Date: Constitution You should also take a look at the Constitution of WKDU, this is an important document outlining the who, what, when, where and why. It is currently available online at www.wkdu.org/files/wkdu-constitution.pdf New Music Listening New music listening is essential to a quality show and is encouraged for all DJ's (not just new members). You will learn about newly released music, expand your musical tastes, discuss past exposure to music, and get free tips on how to put together a unified yet diverse show that will reflect your personal style. You are required to complete SIX one hour sessions. All six should be completed before the fourth sit-in. You can do this with a Music Director (or other member), or on your own. The way to remember what you did, and to show us, is to grab a blank playlist (from the MCR), then grab a bunch of new records or CDs. Write the artist and album name on the play list and where the song title would go you can write down if you liked it or not (for your future reference). Session One Supervisor: Date: Session Two Supervisor: Date: Session Three Supervisor: Date: Session Four Supervisor: Date: Session Five Supervisor: Date: Session Six Supervisor: Date: On-Air Training You will need to learn how to operate WKDU's broadcast facilities. This is accomplished in a four step "sit-in" process. A sit-in is an hour which you spend with a licensed WKDU DJ while he/she is on the air. You may want to sit-in with DJ's who have similar interests in music, but it is entirely up to you. Most DJ's will be happy to help you learn the ropes. the FIRST and THIRD sit in should be with an experienced DJ. There is a list of older DJs in the MCR, we are trying this out so new members don't do all their sit ins with new DJs. Try to contact the DJ in advance to ask if it's ok to sit-in. Be sure that each sit-in is with a different DJ and at least one week apart from each other! It should be noted that the licensed DJ has complete control of the show at all times and reserves the right to terminate training at any time. How to Schedule Sit-ins Begin by contacting the Program Director, he will schedule your first couple sit-ins. Next, take a look at the program schedule posted on wkdu.org (familiarize yourself with the entire site) and skim all the shows. You should be able to get an idea for who's show you want to sit in on based on the genres of each. Look at the times of shows and plan your sit-ins working around your own schedule. Take the initiative to email DJs, and ask them when you can sit in on their shows. 1st Sit-in This sit-in must be done with an older DJ. You should basically sit and watch the operation of the equipment. Try to gain a basic understanding of the controls through observation. You may cue records, set levels, etc... You will also learn some of the basic requirements that apply to all DJ's. New Member: Please initial each process to signify that you were trained adequately on the topic. If you did not receive training in any particular process or feel it will be necessary to recover any topics, leave it blank! The material can be reviewed at any time! Licensed DJ: Please initial each process to signify that you trained the new member on the subject. If there are any topics listed that you did not cover, DO NOT INITIAL for that topic. Station Overview NM DJ type of music broadcasted how show slots are assigned broadcast range, power, frequency, etc. Identification of Equipment NM DJ audio components (CD, TT, Mini-Disc, Reel, Tape, Mic, etc.) studio board EAS equipment monitors, cue speaker, amplifier, headphones transmitter remote control 1. how to read power output 2. turn on and off 3. switch channel 4. where to find information about the channels 5. what if it's blinking? Operating the Board NM DJ sources on the board program, audition, external, cue levels the DJ microphone on channel 1, on-air professionalism bleeping out the naughty words how to cue anything, possible cue confusion Hands-On Experience NM DJ cueing records, CDs, MP3s, Mini-Disc, playing carts setting levels Final DJ Signature Completion Date 2nd Sit-in This time there should be more interactions with the equipment. You should become comfortable being on the air: reading public service announcements, song titles, and other on-air programming. The music played is still the DJs. New Member: Please initial each process to signify that you were trained adequately on the topic. If you did not receive training in any particular process or feel it will be necessary to recover any topics, leave it blank! The material can be reviewed at any time! Licensed DJ: Please initial each process to signify that you trained the new member on the subject. If there are any topics listed that you did not cover, DO NOT INITIAL for that topic. Question Review from 1st Sit-in NM DJ Programming Requirements NM DJ Profanities and "airing dirty laundry" New release quota Weather (when? How to get it) Public service announcements (the book + minimum requirements) Public affairs programs (air-time, location of cds, etc) Philly Happenings Legal ID's (definition, air time) Recording your show Play lists and brief overview of logs Promotional Giveaways Live Performances and Interviews Non-commercialism Anti-Self-Promotionalism Developing On-Air Personality NM DJ Reading Public Service Announcements on the air Reading play list on the air Reading other live announcements if appropriate Answering phone calls (how to handle pranks) On-air etiquette (background noise, professionalism, "uhh/umm", etc.) Developing Technical Skills NM DJ Reviewing board operation Cueing CD's and records Practicing segues between songs, smooth operation Watch those levels! Final DJ Signature Completion Date 3rd Sit-in You will carry out all normal show operations under close supervision of the licensed DJ (segues, speaking on the air, music selection, etc.). This sit in should also be with an experienced DJ so they can make suggestions as you go along.