I love all things about broadcasting, the stuff going on behind the scenes, the iconic and not so iconic (AKA duff) performances in front of the microphone, the camera, sometimes both.
I have also had great broadcasting experiences, from the first time I sat in the studio reading the horse racing results in around 1981 to doing my own show today for More Music Radio in Spain and during the past year for my local radio station in West Lothian, Regal Radio.
I did take a break from it all a few years ago, but there are somethings you just cannot take yourself away from, like watching another episode of “Britain’s Got Talent.” (Joke)
Since then, my second stint at MMR has been more enjoyable than the first, in that am no longer doing makeshift shows sitting in the car, reciting ten minutes of dialogue, and the dropping the tunes inbetween the gaps and hope for the best.
Today a corner of my front room has a studio feel about it, everything required to turn in a decent standard of production, decent microphones, mixer with all the fancy-coloured buttons.
Everything a digital broadcaster wants, aside from decent show content obviously. That part is and always will be a work in progress.
I have come a long way since that day in hospital radio reading the results of the 1:30 at Newmarket. (All other high-quality racecourses are available) There are lot of things I have created and produced of which I am proud.
There was a time when I briefly earned some money, but that was enough to cover the cost of a steak pie supper (that is in case anyone from HMRC reads this – you never know.)
My programme was sponsored by a dentist. (I am still trying to work that one out.)
But I would say the time that really transformed my broadcasting life was transformed when Barrhead Pin up, Mr Michael McEwan walked into the studio one day where we teamed up to deliver a new show that became the hit around parts of Renfrewshire Council, (so I hear) “The Lunchtime Experience.”
This was a music and chat show packed with energy, with the best bouncy type tunes, fab interviews along with an assortment of challenges, many fun, some painful. (I have my daughter to thank for that.)
Watching the above video, I am proud to say that aside from those painful moments that went out on air, no expletives were used during the recording of that show. Mind you there were plenty in the car going home.
It took us a long time to recover, but there was a moment of pride that it raised a few quid for a good cause. The fact that the listeners got to hear us suffer was a bonus, for them that is.
Since then both Michael and I’s career has gone down different pathways, he is now a journalist and prominent disability campaigner whereas I continue to write and broadcast my shows, which includes a solo updated version of the “Lunchtime Experience.”
It has the same fun, the energy as well as the traditional bouncy type tunes. I do not do the interviews – not yet, but I am working on that and there is certainly return to any leg waxing.
This month, June 20th, the “Lunchtime Experience” will be rounding of an enjoyable year on West Lothian’s Regal Radio but will be returning in the Autum for what will be a special time in the history of the show.
It is around 20 years since the first edition of the “Lunchtime Experience”. So, the plan is to bring it back bigger and better on the Mix Cloud platform, already got the new set of jingles in place. More about nearer the time
But as this is going to be the show’s 20th anniversary, I wanted to do something a bit extra, a linked podcast, which will bring back the spirit of the original format. Still got to work out the structure.
However, discussions have taken place where we plan to feature the original presenting line up.
Yes. We may be getting the band together back together.
Exciting times lie ahead.