Dragons, History... and a new blog!

Hello!

I have started a new blog, that is sort of a production diary for my new big radio project!

You can view it at here! I am extremely excited to begin this journey, down a road of history, fire and dragons; all based around the history of a small town in Dorset!

I'll see you there!

Colin

The Return of the Blog

Hi Bloggers,
                     Time goes so fast. I can't believe its been 10 whole months since I began my work experience at Absolute Radio. At this very moment I'm sipping Hot Chocolate from an Absolute Radio mug. Odd.

I wanted to continue my blog after I finished my month at Absolute. But thanks to a little thing called life, days, weeks and months past, and here I am, September 2012, 10 months later with barely a new blog to my name.

I am now in my third year of University, and I am fast approaching the end of my university life. I have learnt a great deal about radio since my interest in the medium first started back when I was 13. Back when I was a young and innocent youth, local commercial stations were more than happy to let me come in and have a look round. Everyone was very welcoming, and at one station, the on air presenter even said, because of my age, i'll have no problem getting into the industry.... I wonder if he's still in work.

Here I am, 20 years old,and the amount of jobs in the industry seems to be decreasing by the day. What made me want to write a new entry into this blog, was me seeing something. Something I've known was true for years now.

"In Radio, its not what you know, its who you know"

 

 

Of course it helps to know how to put a fader up, but when it comes down to it, if you know a producer at a radio station, chances are that you'll be more likely to get a job there.

 

 

I have uped my game with applying for work/work experience, so hopefully so exciting news coming soon.

 

If not, well I'll still have my radio based course to talk about! (Along with my 10,000 work dissertation!)

 

 

Keep it real Bloggers

 

Colin

 

 

The Square Eyes Podcast

Hi Internet!,
                    I finally have a podcast! Well, me and two others :D

Its called "The Square Eyes Podcast, and together, we listen/watch and play media products, so you don't have to!

Whether its a film. album or Video game, we'll tackle it.

We shall review, pull apart and laugh at each and every product!

Our first episode is now online! So why not have a listen... and like us on facebook!

www.facebook.com/squareeyespodcast

Listen via itunes here:

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/square-eyes-podcasts-podcast/id499919318
Or visit or Pod O Matic page :D

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/square-eyes-podcasts-podcast/id499919318
Any advice/Critism? E-mail us at SquareEyesPodcast@live.co.uk

Colin

Hello again

Hello Blog land,
                           Yes I'm back! after over a month of non blogging, its time for an update!

So its been over a month since my work experience at Absolute. Since then its been christmas, and I've been back at Uni...

BUT THIS ENTRY ISN'T TO TALK ABOUT BORING STUFF LIKE THAT...

Coming soon, I will be starting a Podcast with two fellow students.

The podcast will be about us watching/listening/playing differnet types of media, that none of us have seen before, then reviewing them. This can range from film, to Music Albums, to Video games.

This is an exciting new adventure, and I hope you reading this will join me on it!

For all the latest information regarding the podcast, go to our facebook page at:

The Square Eyes Podcast

or Email us at SquareEyesPodcast@live.co.uk

The first item up for revewing is "Rambo: First Blood"

The first show will be recorded early next week, so keep your eyes peeled and don't forget to like the Facebook page!!!

Colin

And Finally -- Thank You

Everyone at Absolute was incredibly supportive. Everyone was friendly, and most importantly, everyone clearly loved their job.

But there are a few people I would like to give a special thanks to:

Adam - First person I met at Absolute. Showed me what was what, and helped out whenever I didn't no what to do. Loves Radio, willing to sleep on the floor just to be at Absolute. And he likes football, so an Awesome guy.

Marc - The music god. Knows everyone in the biz. Well not really, but he knows bands who I love... and there managers.... Sweet! Proper nice guy, who is always willing to help, even when he is hungover. Also a funny guy, and hard working. He is always working on something for someone. Legend.

Eloise - One of the nicest/friendliest people you could ever meet. Always working hard, yet still managed to fit in a lunch break with me and Guy on my second week. Always willing to help, and I must say sorry to her, for calling her a work experience person in one of my blogs. Turns out she is a station assistant and was the producer on the old Iain Lee show on Absolute... and an awesome one at that!

Kerry - The normal receptionist, who chose me for work experience in the first place. She was on reception during my second and third week at absolute. Like everyone else mentioned, she started of as a "Worky" and then applied for the receptionist job and got it. Willing to give advice whenever I needed it. Another awesome person!

Clive - The big fish. I don't think I ever spoke too him, but I believe he was the one who found out about my blog. He then E-mailed everyone saying about it. This led to Geoff Lloyd mentioning it on his show live. So thank you Clive. You are awesome, and so is your station

And of course a Thank you to Guy, my fellow Worky. Will be weird getting back to normal, with you as Nerve Station Manager, and me as a presenter.

Of course I would like to thank everyone, everyone I had a meeting with, everyone who gave me advice, and of course, a thank you for reading!

Stay Classy Internet, OK?

Colin

Me, Guy and Adam

Day Twenty - So Long, and Thanks for all the Radio Advice

For the last time, hello blog land.
                                                     Well it is here at last. My final blog on AbsoluteColin. The twentieth blog entry, a day late. Not good!

For the past four weeks I have been a Worky at Absolute Radio in London. Before I started I was worried. About travel, about how to "present" myself and just because its Absolute Radio man!. But now, looking back at my time, I can safely say that I had an amazing experience. I met some awesome people, saw some amazing places and went shopping for Greg....

Cough.

Right, before the "Sentimental" bit, lets get on with my final day!

So I actually woke up early. Odd. Literally no struggle. Alarm when off, and I was on it. I was raring to go. Like a boss. So I get to Absolute, and the first thing needed, is bubble wrap. You see, Sky are a long time sponsor of Absolute (Rock N Roll Football) and they have sent members of staff gift bags. I'm guessing it was a sort of alcoholic beverage, as it was a long box. But there was loads of them delivered. Two haven't been picked up, as the people haven't been in.

So they need to be posted. They are pretty big, so bubble wrap is needed. So that's our first job. I meet Guy on floor one.

See, I had been thinking of getting something for people at Absolute on my last day, as a "Thank you" for all their help. I hadn't got anything in the end though, as I didn't know what to get.

Anyway I get to Guy, and he shows me what he has done as a gift. Guy is quite the artist, and can actually draw well. So he has drawn three cartoons. One of Marc, one of Eloise, and one of Kerry.

It is awesome, and I should have got a picture. Alas I forgot, so here's a picture of a funny cat:

So its an awesome picture, So I decide I need to get something, as I had originally planned. So, we go out to get the bubble wrap, and on the way Guy gets a frame for his picture and I buy a present for Marc and Adam on reception.

Good ol' John Lewis always saves the day. I get a weird thing. Its basically the bottom half of Santa, with chocolate balls in it. Sounds weird. But that's the only way of describing it. It may have been an egg cup with chocolate in.

So on the way back from John Lewis we get the bubble wrap from Rymans. Good times. So now we head back.

I hand the gift to Adam. He seems happy. Which is good.

We then go up and see Marc on the first floor. Guy hands him the Picture, and I hand him the Santa legs/chocolate balls thing.

He seems genuinely blown away. Which is a surprise, as I imagined every past Worky getting something to say thanks. Maybe not? I know Jack made a cake with the Absolute Logo on it. Awesome

But he seems happy with it. So its all good.

Next Jonnny brings over the Final ever press cuts!

Sad times =[ But we also have to finish doing the Iain Lee clips, so we also continue with that. But of course, we are asked to do other jobs throughout the day.

I had to cover reception for  abit, wrap the Sky things up in bubble wrap and parcel paper, and write the details down for special delivery, and get financial times stories for Jonny.

I was also given one last list of things to get. Not by Greg though... By Adam, and for Zoe. As you may recall, Donnach was going to dress as Father Christmas today, for young relatives of employers. But the kids needed snacks, so I had to go to Tesco and get:

12 Mince Pies

2 x Orange Juice

1 x Apple Juice

3 x Big Bags of Crisps

1 x Packet of Chews

4 x Beers (I'm sure the kids would love that)

For the first time, in my 4 weeks at Absolute, it was easy. I went there, and everything was there. Perfect. Amazing. Beautiful. I was a happy bunny.

I did have one issue though. See I'm not a big Orange Juice fan, so I wasn't sure what sort of orange juice they meant.

See I'm the sort of guy who doesn't know the difference between Orange Juice and Squash.

So I did what any self respecting 19 year old in London would do... I asked my girlfriend what to do via phone call. I would personally think Orange Squash is more appropriate... Surely that's more for kids?

But no I got the darn Juice.

As the day went on more people said there goodbyes. Finished for Christmas you see. Marc had to leave early to get Christmas presents... LOL!

I shook his hand, said said thank you for everything and wished him a Merry Christmas. Hes the main man for music, So I will be keeping in touch.

I decided to write a message on the White Board. A thank you to everyone for their help. And one last plug of the blog... O why not :D

My hotmail stopped working towards the end of the day for some reason. That was bad, as I had saved my Iain Lee work on there, a long with the financial times stories. Not good. I had to write the stories out again! Not a good thing I must say.

So that was really my last day. Not much happened, but everyone was in good spirits. That's what Christmas does to people!

I then had to make my leave. I shook hands, said thank you, said goodbye and also got a free mug :D I said goodbye to Guy, though I will be seeing him again in the New Year. It was all quite emotional.

Well not really, but I felt quite sad.

Its true what Adam had said. You get to know all these people, and then suddenly, your out, finished :(

And so it has arrived. The end of this blog, and my adventures at Absolute Radio in London... for now.

Here are some of my favourite moments:

Free Alcohol

Sitting in on Geoff and Christians shows.

Free Alcohol

The Hard Rock Cafe

Free Alcohol

Pizza Hut Express

Watching Brian get cake to the face

Meeting awesome people

Free Alcohol

 

I loved every minute of it, and it was an incredible experience. For four weeks, my life revolved around that place, and my blog.

 

Thank you for reading. Thank you for putting up with my constant use of the word Awesome.

 

You are all awesome for that.

 

I met some incredible people. People who are just so passionate about radio. It was amazing.

 

I will make a post, saying thank you to people tomorrow.

 

But for now, watch this space, as this may be the end of the chapter.

 

But not the end of the story for my radio adventures!.

 

Thank you for reading.

 

You stay classy Internet

 

Colin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day Nineteen - Penultimate Post + Christian O'Connell

Why hello.                  Well here we are. The penultimate blog. Number 19. Who would have thought I'd last this long? Not me that's for sure.

As it gets nearer to Christmas, more staff are finishing. Today it was Dan, the producer/phone call taker of the hometime show. He was the guy who explained things to me in the gallery, before I sat in on Geoff Lloyds hometime show. Awesome guy, so I hope he has a good Xmas and new year.

So today, I got in early, as I was finally sitting in on the breakfast show :D you will probably remember I couldn't last week due to the breakfast team flying to lapland, and I couldn't yesterday as Maggie (the producer) was off ill.

So finally I am sitting in :) First thing I do, is meet Maggie in the Gallery. She reads the travel, and has a program up that gives up to date travel information from around the country. She tells me that she looks for most of the travel that concerns the South East, as that's where they get the most listeners. But she gets some travel news for roads in Manchester and Birmingham, but only if its motorways.

So she is compiling that, and I sit there, then suddenly she says, "Lets go in the studio, so you can meet the team"

I am like this :

So I get in. And as soon as I walk in, Christian O' Connell looks up, and says "Hey, hows it going.."

I quickly respond, in an over excited tone, and say "I'm good thanks! how are you"

BUT I INSTANTLY MAKE A FOOL OF MYSELF

You see, today, Ritchie is out at a restaurant. All this week they have been doing different things to raise money for their Christmas lunch. I said a few blogs back that Ritchie had to clean cars to get money, well today they had sent him to a restaurant to clean plates.

So when I had walked him, Christian had been talking to Ritchie via on the phone, via the desk. So he had said hows it goings to Ritchie not me.

Meaning I had made a prat of myself... Not good!

Anyway, he shakes my hand and continues talking to Ritchie. Once hes done, he asks me a bit about myself.

Turns out he used to work at 2CR FM in Bournemouth. I tell him I have met Ritchie beforeetc and we chit chat. Nice guy, still knows a fair bit about Bournemouth stations. Turns out he lives near my uncle too! Good times

After chatting, he goes on air. It is awesome. They talk exactly the same on air, as they do off it. You can tell its a genuine show. Christian is a funny guy, and that team work so well together.

Also, to raise money for the lunch, they have put some things on Ebay. They were Vinyls of songs from the band Toto (Who I had never heard of) Ritchie bought them for £4.50 and they sold for £175.

This made the breakfast team feel guilty, as they couldn't make a listener pay £175 quid . So they get a text from the person "claiming" to be the winner, and the other producer (Mark) rings the number. It is the right person, but they don't want to go on air as they have a sore throat, and anyway, they bought it for someone else. So the team plan to send it to them for free. Awesome

So the show ends, and I loved sitting there watching it. It was so relaxed and seamless, just like clockwork, as if they were all just chatting in the pub.

So on the way out of the studio, I say thanks to Christian for letting me sit in, and he gives me some good advice, and says that if I ever want to come in and help, just e-mail Greg (The guy who likes the lists) So its all good :D

I also got a picture with them:

Good times, though my hair looks a mess.

So yeah, an awesome start to the day. But now its time to get on with other tasks. You know, the daily tasks that I mention every single blog :D

So I get to work on the Recon, as there hasn't been live reads for a few days now. Weird.

 I forgot to say yesterday, Me and Guy created the Christmas Bible for Paul Sylvester

Here's what the front cover looked like. We searched Paul Sylvester on google and found that image. Guy used his Photoshop skills to put the Santa hat on him!

Anyway so I do recon, and now I have time to help Marc sort out Iain Lee clips. Some of you may know, a few months back Iain Lee did a show in the evenings on Absolute, four days a week. It was basically a show where Iain interviewed people on the phone. Eloise had been the producer on it. Though the show was no longer going, as it had been around earlier this year, it was egible for a Sony award. So Me, Marc and Guy had been given the task of listening to different shows, and finding the best bits.

So here's what I had to do. I had to listen to any of the shows on the list, and write down what happens in each link, and then highlight the "best bits"

Its a slow process, as Iains Lee links are up to 10 minutes long. Luckily it is a very funny show, so its all good!

Obviously, we get interrupted by different jobs frequently. Today's included getting wine for a leaving presenter, sorting the post that came late,  and making tea and coffee for a meeting for two.

We were reminded about 4 times about this meeting, so it must have been important... but I made it fineee. And I am not tight on the biscuits either!

We also had a meeting today. It was with Adam Bowie,  who is a researcher for promotions, and also a member of RAJAR. Now the meeting was good, but most of the stuff he told us I already knew, after all I am on a Radio Production course. He mainly told us about RAJAR, and how they gather there data and listening figures for each station.

So after the meeting its back to work on the Iain Lee show. But then another thing... getting the post. There actually wasn't that much today... surprising.

O, and another job I was asked to do. You may remember that I had a meeting with Donnach a few days back. Well I was asked to bring a Santa outfit up to his office. Apparently, tomorrow staff are bringing their children, nieces, nephews and other relations in, and its up to Donnach to dress up as Father Christmas. That should be awesome!

PHOTO OP ME THINKS

I look forward to that!

Well that was pretty much my day.

Tomorrow is my last day! Which means the last blog!

Sad Times

So till then,

You stay Classy Internet!

Colin