Roo Green – Breakfast presenter at Heart Wiltshire
How has radio changed since you first worked in the industry?
The technology is obviously the key thing. When I worked at Chiltern, we felt we were ahead of the curve as we were one of the few shows with a text number. Hilariously though it was a ‘Pay As You Go’ phone which my co-host Matt had bought (with a ridiculously forgettable number) and I had to transcribe all the messages by hand. Fads have come and gone regarding the way we prep material – but the key requirements of coming up with relatable, entertaining material have stayed the same.
What is a normal working day like for you?
The thrill of the job is that every day is different. Typically though I get into work at just after 5am and Jez has made me my first cuppa (that’s the deal, as I make all the ones during the show, as he’s driving the desk). We then have a chat, talk over the stuff we prepared the day before, add in some new topical stuff and then check our emails/Facebook page for messages from listeners. We then check the headlines for the paper review and I surf a few gossip websites – most of the stuff I can’t use but I like to feel ‘in touch’ with what’s going on in the world of celebrity.
We’re on air from 6am till 10am and then when we come off air we have something to eat and a little bit of a comedown from the show. We then voice lines for the daily breakfast promo that is played through out the rest of the day and then get stuck into meetings. We might meet with our boss to do a monitor and look at the show, or we could be in a brainstorm with the marketing team. Every day is very different, and when we can get out of the office to meet listeners, we will.
What are the main pressures of your job?
The main pressure is from myself. I am the world’s most nervous presenter and practically every day I feel like being sick in a bin before the show! I just want to do the best job I can, and every day I worry that I’ve somehow forgotten how to present. Thank goodness for Jez, who is a reassuring presence.
You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t worry from time to time about whether your bosses still like what you do – but that’s a different kind of pressure!
How do you know what you talk about is relevant and relatable to your listener?
You don’t! While experience gives you a ‘feel’ for what will work for your target listeners, there are surprises along the way. Topics that you think will ‘fly’ don’t always hit the spot, and then sometimes an ‘off the cuff’ comment will bring a deluge of callers and texts.
As a rule of thumb though, the longer you do the show, the more you have a feel for what’s working in your marketplace. It’s always best to be honest though about how you feel, don’t pretend to like things you don’t in a bid to be relatable, as your best material is always the stuff you genuinely feel passionate about.
Remember you can hear Jez and Roo at breakfast on Heart Wiltshire by clicking here.