In 1994, during my final year of university, I decided that I wanted to try my hand at radio. I duly signed up to participate in campus radio and, on my first time on air, where I was to read out updates on election results, I stumbled over a random number so badly that they had to switch to music. For some reason, in that moment, I didn’t know how to say ‘a hundred and x thousand’… That was the last time I ever tried radio. About ten years later, spending time with Thabo “T-Bose” Mokwele when he was on Metro FM, I toyed with this idea of getting into radio properly again. Thabo was to help me record a demo but, somehow, I never got round to it. And, to be honest, the thought of being a radio producer appealed to the writer-content person-lover of random information in me more than being on air.
Even when I started being interviewed on radio, I used to do the thing that you should never do – plan the conversation down to ‘when I get asked this question, I’ll give this prepared answer’. It never worked when chatting up a young lady so I have no idea why I thought it would work in this instance. I started to enjoy interviews a lot more when I planned less and had more confidence in my views.
Just over two weeks ago, I get a random phone call from the same Thabo Mokwele, now of Kaya FM, to find out if I would be willing to guest host his show Best T In The City, while he takes a bit of a holiday. This is a show with an extremely loyal listenership. For some reason I say yes.
As to how I did? Below is a podcast of the full show.
A huge thank you to his producer Claire Mawisa for holding my hand through the process, schooling me on radio, how it works, and helping me a link at a time. And a thank you to Shane Ngwenya who was great company and handled the desk, which looks complicated.
Since I’ve done the show, I have read the comments sparingly. Putting oneself out there in the public sphere can be brutal on the ego and plant serious self-doubt.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/_hwDRygzfV4[/youtube]
I actually tuned in on that Monday- I thoroughly enjoyed the show…
Maybe you should consider getting back into radio?
You should be on radio more often! #justsaying
You were right not to read comments. It’s interesting that even high profile, successful people experience self-doubt. As a trainee teacher who’s having serious confidence issues, that last line rung true with me.
I loved the show, and got to hear some songs from back in the day. Thanks for that.
Thanks Buthayna, I reckon if one stops doubting and questioning, one should stop. It was very much outside my comfort zone. Thank you for the comment.
Thanks Carly 🙂
Thank you Nkuli. I do recognise that you can never please everyone. It is something I am considering.
You did good chief
Thank you sir
kojo, You did well standing in for Thabo Mokwele. You should consider doing radio despite your nervousness. Nice playlist + poem.