Listen to Aamir, Deepika and Ayushmann on 91.9 Friends FM

The chill has set in but the warmth and closeness felt in the City of Joy continues to inspire 91.9 Friends FM, which now has a whole new vibe. A great line-up of celebs went on air last week –– Big B, Kareena Kapoor, Anil Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha! Coming up this week are Deepika Padukone, Ayushmann Khurrana, Aamir Khan and others on Star Talk, which goes on air 9pm to midnight, Monday through Thursday. From a drive to collect warm clothes to an RJ hunt, an association with Coke Studio to major festivals… it’s all happening in December, on the 24x7 live station. So, stay hooked.

Over the weeks many have asked me about pursuing a career in radio. There are a lot of opportunities in this industry, from selling airtime and solutions to branding, marketing, event activations, finance… and on the creative side, one can become a producer, copywriter, sound engineer and, of course, an RJ. But working at a radio station is not only about glamour, showbiz and popularity, it involves a lot of hard work.

FM is city-centric and as a medium, it’s youth-oriented and not a boring nine-to-five job. Radio stations are constantly playing hit songs, RJs entertain you, they connect people and give live updates from various locations. And celebrities frequently walk in to give interviews. So how does one go about getting into the groove and become an RJ? I’m going to pen down some basic qualities that aspiring RJs need to have.

1. Gift of the gab: Be yourself, be natural and be original. You should love to talk.

2. Language proficiency: You should be fluent in the language. These days, fluency in three languages (English, Hindi and Bengali) helps.

3. Decent knowledge of music: Basic music knowledge is a must; it’s not just about talking.

4. Local area knowledge: RJs need to know the city they live in.

5. Interview skills: Interacting with people, asking questions… one should have a natural flair for this.

6. Spontaneity: An RJ should never sound scripted. The person should have a natural flair for talking.

7. Scripting and research: One should be well-informed and be able to plan his/her show.

8. Decent knowledge of computers and sound equipment: Studios run on these.

9. PR: Should be a friend to and maintain good PR skills with listeners.

10. Attitude: Should have a friendly attitude, be down to earth and accessible.

Besides these 10 basic mantras, one needs to be a go-getter, passionate about the profession and lastly, be a happy person.

And if you are an aspiring RJ, 91.9 Friends FM has just started Friends RJ Hunt. If you are fluent in English, Hindi and Bengali, call this IVRS number –– (033) 22899190 –– and give your full name, location, age and number. Then speak for 45 seconds in three languages. Or drop in your CV and a CD containing a sample of your language skills at our office.

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live your dream.