I blogged about Mr Richard Dempsey as a result of attempting to write about the challenge of putting a radio show together, I felt his story needed to be told. I came across my initial reflections on the radio scripting and presenting process the other day and after reading it again I thought my story was worth an airing too, so hear goes.
I have had a few wakeful nights of late which I have put down to worrying about a challenge that I set myself. I mentioned it actually in an earlier blog in which I was writing about Steve faragher and his community radio station. Well I did indeed sign up for a six week course with the result being that I would be in the hot seat, producing, scripting and presenting a live fifty five minute show- one of a cohort of six on the course. My ideas for the show have jipped about over the duration of the six weeks and with two weeks to go, other than a name, one guest and a jingle the show seemed very lacking in either form or structure.
My guest and the shows title and jingle referenced my wish for it to be funny and upbeat. Richard Dempsey is a friend of mine for over ten years and agreed to come on the show as long as he could sing a song. In week three we were tasked with coming up with a name for the show for homework, all I could come up with was the Tricky Ridicky Show. We all had to record a jingle and trailer that week so I did the do, with a mention to the studio having other guests too, of the canine variety. Where exactly was this show going?
Richard had migrated to Liverpool in the late 50’s, loved to sing, had almost single-handedly brought up his daughter while caring for his wife who struggled massively with a schizophrenia diagnosis and care that that entailed. That he is indeed incredibly upbeat is a testament to the man. Such a rich character, so many experiences to tell an audience, but how could i do him justice and where would the shows title fit in, I think you can see my dilemma.
Did I mention I am both a worrier and a perfectionist. Its one of the reasons that such show-casing events is not my natural territory, my nerves get to me. I guess this state of being is something I have begun to challenge in recent years, post my great depression of 2011. Its taken a long time but bit by bit I have taken on new and different challenges, some of which I have detailed in this blog. So I am awake at night but i now have ways of stemming the worrying and getting myself an ok sleep.
With a week to go I managed to persuade another choir friend called Pat to think about coming on the show. She too wasn’t too sure and she had a lot on what with starting a new job and all. When we had all had an "Irish session" in the Caledonia pub the Tuesday before the recording on Thursday, some of which I recorded I went home buzzing and re-wrote the script to give both Richard and Pat equal billing.
Counting down to the show, i met up with Steve on Wednesday, talked through some of my ideas. Come Thursday I had everything in place script wise and the choices of music to play, with some extra tracks from our choir repertoire that could be used for back-up. I arrived at the studio an hour and a half before show time; Gillian had come along too to show support and look after betty while I had some last minute time at the studio controls.
So to the show; Richard and Pat were very up for it, curious about the process and they seemed to be pretty relaxed too. Betty was the coolest of all though- after she had been paid in sausages before the gig she just mooched from one to the other while in the studio giving out a natural calming vibe. Steve’s co-worker Dave was in the studio with me giving out sound and reassuring advice and I did my best not to panic and stick with the script. Was it any good, well I’ll let you judge for yourself. For me it was a challenge that I rose to and received some good counsel along the way-felt like a real team effort. Thanks team.Check out the finished product here.
I have had a few wakeful nights of late which I have put down to worrying about a challenge that I set myself. I mentioned it actually in an earlier blog in which I was writing about Steve faragher and his community radio station. Well I did indeed sign up for a six week course with the result being that I would be in the hot seat, producing, scripting and presenting a live fifty five minute show- one of a cohort of six on the course. My ideas for the show have jipped about over the duration of the six weeks and with two weeks to go, other than a name, one guest and a jingle the show seemed very lacking in either form or structure.
My guest and the shows title and jingle referenced my wish for it to be funny and upbeat. Richard Dempsey is a friend of mine for over ten years and agreed to come on the show as long as he could sing a song. In week three we were tasked with coming up with a name for the show for homework, all I could come up with was the Tricky Ridicky Show. We all had to record a jingle and trailer that week so I did the do, with a mention to the studio having other guests too, of the canine variety. Where exactly was this show going?
Richard had migrated to Liverpool in the late 50’s, loved to sing, had almost single-handedly brought up his daughter while caring for his wife who struggled massively with a schizophrenia diagnosis and care that that entailed. That he is indeed incredibly upbeat is a testament to the man. Such a rich character, so many experiences to tell an audience, but how could i do him justice and where would the shows title fit in, I think you can see my dilemma.
Did I mention I am both a worrier and a perfectionist. Its one of the reasons that such show-casing events is not my natural territory, my nerves get to me. I guess this state of being is something I have begun to challenge in recent years, post my great depression of 2011. Its taken a long time but bit by bit I have taken on new and different challenges, some of which I have detailed in this blog. So I am awake at night but i now have ways of stemming the worrying and getting myself an ok sleep.
With a week to go I managed to persuade another choir friend called Pat to think about coming on the show. She too wasn’t too sure and she had a lot on what with starting a new job and all. When we had all had an "Irish session" in the Caledonia pub the Tuesday before the recording on Thursday, some of which I recorded I went home buzzing and re-wrote the script to give both Richard and Pat equal billing.
Counting down to the show, i met up with Steve on Wednesday, talked through some of my ideas. Come Thursday I had everything in place script wise and the choices of music to play, with some extra tracks from our choir repertoire that could be used for back-up. I arrived at the studio an hour and a half before show time; Gillian had come along too to show support and look after betty while I had some last minute time at the studio controls.
So to the show; Richard and Pat were very up for it, curious about the process and they seemed to be pretty relaxed too. Betty was the coolest of all though- after she had been paid in sausages before the gig she just mooched from one to the other while in the studio giving out a natural calming vibe. Steve’s co-worker Dave was in the studio with me giving out sound and reassuring advice and I did my best not to panic and stick with the script. Was it any good, well I’ll let you judge for yourself. For me it was a challenge that I rose to and received some good counsel along the way-felt like a real team effort. Thanks team.Check out the finished product here.