James Stodd – Radio Producer
jamesstodd
Student Radio Conference Bradford March 2012
Notes and references from the Production and Imaging session at this year’s Student Radio Association Conference.
Selected Audio (Copyright remains with original companies – audio provided for educational and demonstration purposes only)
Absolute Radio Complaints Promo
Capital FM – Who’s Doing Who Promo
BBC Radio 1 2012 Station Sound Montage
Rock FM – We Wouldn’t Play Em ID
Twitter Names
James Stodd @jamesstodd
Dan Mumford @danmumf
Lee Price @leeprice
Paul Jones @pjvoiceovers
Imaging and Production Blogs
Imaging Producers and Companies worth a listen to
Jeff Thomas – Killerhertz
Jeff Thomas – Interview
A break from the Norm
How many times are you tempted to fall back on the same routines? How often do you approach creative challenges with the same, often predictable solution? I suggest that the answer it yes – on both counts – in many situations. This is totally understandable in many cases. We all have huge pressures on our time these days – and sometimes it’s easier just to get jobs out of the door. But don’t let that become the norm.
I’m working on a project that encompasses almost every part of the organisation I work for. It will involve programming on radio, on Tv and an equally large body of content that will live online. The creative brief was challenging – but the solution has been surprising – putting a contemporary filter over very traditional content. It’s taken bold decision-making to make it happen. And the challenge for me has been to try to make the radio part feel relevant – rather than overly traditional – but also accessible to a wide range of audiences – and to sound relevant to the station sound on a range of radio networks. The project delivers at the end of the week – and I’ll share he tv and radio creative (along with the story behind it) once its on air.
The problem with breaking creative boundaries is that you have to be brave and take risks.
I’ve been lucky enough over the years to work with Programme Directors who have been very creative – and loved to try new things. And I’ve worked with a couple who have not. Some ideas led to ratings success and were celebrated. Others led to audience indifference and were swiftly dropped. But whatever the outcome, they always needed someone with the balls to say yes.
It’s easy to push back on highly creative ideas. They may cost too much. They may be too risky. They may be challenging to your peers or the people you are trying to impress as you line yourself up for your next job. But sometimes, you need to go with a gut feeling.
If you aspire to work somewhere truly creative – you need to take creative risks once in a while. Are you brave enough to do that..?
Related articles
- College Internet Radio…Driven by Passion (thecollegeradiozone.com)
- The Last Bastions of Outlaw Radio (musiccopsresent.wordpress.com)
A Demon of an Opportunity
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting the Media department of De Montfort University in Leicester. I was there as a guest of Rob Watson, who runs the Media Technology Degree.
Every year, they invite a load of industry practitioners from various areas – from business, to engineering to creative – to talk to the students about their real world experiences. We were on a panel called “It’s all going interactive”. You can read more about it here.
My fellow panelists were Andrew Dudfield – who manages navigation for BBC Online and Chris Skinner who is a freelance producer for shows like Dave Gorman on Absolute Radio and The Bugle Podcast. We all shared some of our experiences in getting into radio, and I also shared some audio tips on creating and developing audio brands.
What was good to see was the enthusiasm from so many of the students. What also really amazed me was the opportunity they have available to learn new skills.
Rob showed us around the facilities of the department – and there’s a jaw dropping amount of learning spaces. From fully specced Pro Tools HD suites to acoustic engineering workshops; a green screen studio; AVID suites and even a mixing studio with a huge analogue NEVE desk.
And then there were the facilities on offer to the students who work on the student/ community radio station – Demon FM. All of the students on the course have the opportunity to get involved – planning, producing and presenting shows. They have 4 production booths for pre recording and prepping shows. Plus an office/ talks studio too. And they’re equipped with access to all the IRN feeds and news management tools to be found in any big newsroom. To be blunt – a wealth of opportunity they are unlikely to have to hand in many real world stations.
The temptation for many is to emulate what already exists. Some want to produce station sound that emulates Capital or Radio 1. Some want to be just like Chris Moyles or Greg James. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
However, this will probably be the one station that they get to work in where they can pretty much do what they like. Test out some new formats,
devise new ways of doing things, write some experimental drama, broadcast some sound art, or try out some comedy. It’s precisely the place where you can try and fail.
I really hope that they realise that this is their chance to experiment and create something fresh and exciting, learn some new skills and think differently. And then hopefully reap the rewards that should follow when they create something extraordinary.
Related articles
- Greg James to replace Scott Mills on BBC Radio 1 drivetime (digitalspy.co.uk)
- Faces For Radio (jellylondon.wordpress.com)
- Absolute Radio’s Christian O’Connell to host show live from West End theatre (guardian.co.uk)
