Still Here!
Still Here! was Originally Posted on June 5, 2005 by lavarock
For those wondering, yes, I’m still here! 
Sometimes my blogs are few and far between. Years ago I was a disk jockey at a station ion the Kentucky/Virginia state line. Actually, I was more of an “Air Personality” than a disk jockey. The destinction may be narrow to some, but my show was more about banter than music. However, over the years I found it was difficult being “on” (creative) every day, on command.
When I first started out, I had the evening shift. I would leave college and head “over the mountain”, then UP the mountain t othe trailer where the station resided. It was a mobile home atop a mountain peak with a giant self supported orange tower towering over us. Can you say “lightning rod”?
Years later they moved the studios down to town and fixed up the builing to have apartments upstairs. I lived in an apartment and only had to walk down the stairs to go to work! What a life!
Our station was a “daytimer” meaning that we signed on at sunrise and off at sunset. I took the morning shift and would get up very early (the actual time changed each month). Then I’d go down and trigger the transmitter to start warming up. This was done via control pulses over a telephone line to the transmitter which still sat up on the mountain above us.
My show centered around me, well you would Expect it to, wouldn’t you? 
I would play music, extertain and inform. I’d tell of my adventures (alot like this blog), I’d tell of my slant on things and play some music. Our station did not have a strict policy on music, our shows and music just kept the commercials from bumping into each other!
Based upon listeners requests, the music ranged from easy listening to rock to country, all mixed together. Waylon Jennings, the Beatles and Mantovani, all intermixed! At one point we moved the music apart and I played mostly rock, another DJ played the country, etc. Oftentimes as I remember, the shifts were about 4 hours apiece, like 6-10am, 10 to 2pm and 2 to 6pm.
When we finished our shift we would often go back into the production area and cut commercials or station promotions. I like to think that mine were the best and oftentimes a store would specifically ask for me to do their commercials. I was from “up North” and had no specific accent, while some of the other DJ’s had local accents and in the case of the owners son, a speech impediment 
Our sales manager did his best to cram 60 seconds worth of text into a 30 second commercial. We would talk as fast as we could, delete a word or two and still find a way to record all of the information into that 30 sec spot!
I had a member of the Drifters and a member of a few other famous groups drop records off.
Once a few years before the plane crash, I was able to be the announcer for a concert at our college. This is going to date me, but it was Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band. I got in interview Rick after the concert and place a phone call to his wife for him. A side fact was that his Father and mine both attended Rutgers at almost the same time and both had orchestras!
One of my fellow DJs from the station ended up living about 3 miles from my Mom in Florida and we chat every so often. He works for the Post Office. Another DJ I tried in vain to find for 30 years; then recently found him through the internet. He has authored a few books and articles and now lives near Pikeville, Kentucky.
Many people hear a song on the radio and remember where they were or what they were doing when they geard it. For DJ’s and ex-DJ’s it is a different story. I remember many of the songs, many of the lyrics and can tell you the name of a song by the first few notes. Howevever, much of the rest is a blur
As I write this, I looked up and saw what looked like a Cardinal land on the lanai. The red feathers on the head are a give-away. Anyway, the station I worked at was owned by “Cardinal Broadcasting”…
One thing that I always remember is the “Swap Shop” show we would do. In small communities the radio stations will offer a free on-the-air classified ad service, all live and usually with no time delay. The DJ would take a call, make notes and ask questions and then review the item with the caller. If the number of calls slows, you fill inby reviewing the items. The show was usually sponsored by some local establishment so you had to fill time.
A typical few minutes might go like this with me answering the phone… Imagine me with no accent and a female caller with a southern/country accent..
ME: Swap Shop, you are on the air!
CALLER: Yes, is this the Swap Shop?
ME: Yes it is and you are on the air, what is your item please?
CALLER: Well, I have this hen I’d like sell on your swap shop or trade it for toaster over…
ME: (trying to understand) You have a hen that you would like to sell, or you would be willing to trade it for a toaster over?
CALLER: Yes, shes a good layer and might make a nice pet, but we need a toaster over really bad. I can let the hen go for $30
ME: Alright, how can someone reach you?
CALLER: You want my phone or what?
ME: Yes, what is your phone number
CALLER: My phone number is 775-1234 in Virgie Kentucky, ask for Maybel
ME: (hanging up with Maybel) Thank you Maybel, well folks, Maybel has a hen she is willing to sell for $30 or is willing to trade for a toaster over. Call her at 775-1234 in Virgie, over on the Kentucky side of the mountain.
NOTE: At this time I would be ready to make the following statement, but usually my better judgement would kick in…
ME: You know, if Maybel had a toaster oven AND the hen, I’m thinking dinner! Oh wait, she DID say it would make a nice pet…. nevermind!
ME: The Swap Shop is brought to you by the Jenkins Country Club where they ask that you stop by tonight and enjoy their Friday night buffet; tonight featuring fried chicken…..
Local radio, you gotta love it!
My blog is just my attempt to relive those days of yesteryear when people hung on every word hoping I’d utter a profanity or off color joke, just to see how fast they could boot my a** off the air and out of town
Swap Shop, you’re on the air….