Thread: Saying Hello

Saying hello from my radio perch:

Nice pic Obie. You look right at home behind that mic.

Originally Posted by Tathra11

Nice pic Obie. You look right at home behind that mic.

In a radio studio, anywhere in the world, I feel so at home. I have been to many in my some 40-year radio career. There is something magical about a radio studio, where you sit all alone and chat with an audience that you don’t see. You sit behind the microphone and creat a big world around your small surroundings. Yup, something magical about it.

Awesome !!!

Thanks for sharing Obie

When I was working I (at times) had to approve visas for DJs at some of our stations here in New Mexico and I remember a station Manager once telling me he could tell if a person was a born DJ within 3 minutes behind the mic. He said you can't tell by talking to someone but if they are "the real deal" once behind the mic they just come alive like a whole new person.

You look very much at home in that photograph.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

When I was working I (at times) had to approve visas for DJs at some of our stations here in New Mexico and I remember a station Manager once telling me he could tell if a person was a born DJ within 3 minutes behind the mic. He said you can't tell by talking to someone but if they are "the real deal" once behind the mic they just come alive like a whole new person.

You look very much at home in that photograph.

I am at home, Spendor. I retired from commercial radio about 20 years ago. In the interim years I did commercial voice work — commercials, narrations, and son on — but no more radio.

After my wife passed away last year, my world shattered. One day when the world felt bleak like the bottom of a pit and I couldn't breath, I called this radio station. As it happened, the general manager came on the line — he recognized my name on the caller ID. He had been an old listener of mine. We hit it right off. We met and he gave me the show.

On my first day, he was on the air with me to introduce me to the audience. Of course, I was not familiar with the equipment — DJs do their own engineering here — but the moment I turned on the microphone it was as if 20 years gone were only yesterday. I was home.

By the way, the show is on WMSE, 91.7 FM, Milwaukee, Sunday 8 to 9 a.m. central time. We call the show Obie's Opus, after my second book, and you can stream it. Go to WMSE.org. WMSE also has an APP.