INTERVIEWS & PRESS
This page will show interviews and stories about me or The Morning Madhouse...
OTHER QUESTIONS ANSWERED....
A SCHOOL PROJECT DONE BY TARYN COX (September 2004)
1) When and where were u born?
St Helens Hospital, Auckland. March 28, 1974
2) What schools did you go to?
I have been to about 17 schools. (We moved a lot when I was younger). Here are the main ones: Frankton Primary, Fairfield Primary, Welbourne Primary, Highlands Intermediate, Otamatea High School, New Plymouth Girls High
3) What did you study at school?
High school, I studied Latin, French, Classical Studies, English, Media Studies and usual subjects
4) What training did you do?
I went to Taranaki Polytechnic to do a Media Studies Certificate but did not have time to pursue other courses because I got a full time job in radio when I was 17
5) What qualifications do you have in the Radio Broadcasting field of work?
Experience and time in the industry
6) What jobs did you have before this one?
I started straight from school, so before that I had after school and weekend jobs in Dairies, Paper Plus, Video Store, Car Grooming etc.
7) How long have you been in your job for?
Since 1991
8) What got you interested in Radio Broadcasting?
The Top 40 countdown on a Saturday afternoon. I also wanted to be an entertainer and I can't sing or play an instrument!
9) What did you have to do to get your job?
Be enthusiastic. I got work experience and I just had to work hard, not complain, show initiative and drive!
10) What are you daily hours?
I start work at 5am, but go on air at 6am. I finish on air at 10am,
then have meetings or voice ads. I get home between 11 and midday most days, then work from home all day. I have an afternoon nap and cook dinner, but otherwise, I work till 10pm. There is so much to do. The internet is a vital tool for my job.
11) What sort of technology do you use?
We have standard studio technology, Master Control. Off the air, I use the internet, email and TV a lot. We record everything we watch on TV incase something awesome screens.
12) What is the hardest piece of technology to use?
I can't use our studio. I can't edit either. All the technology is a couple of years old and I used to be able to use the last stuff we had, but haven't had time to learn the new stuff.
13) What is the hardest part of your job?
Getting out of bed at 4.20am
14) What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
When someone writes or calls or comes up to me to say that something I did or said touched them! That's awesome. Evoking emotion is my favourite thing to do on air. I also enjoy clowning around on air. If I'm laughing, I'm having the best time.
15) Is there a part of your job you do not like, if so what is it?
Getting out of bed, and having to prepare for interviews of people I'm not interested in talking to. (That doesn't happen often)
16) What skills of yours do you find the most helpful for your job?
You can't really learn skills for radio. You just have to have them. Confidence, a likeable personality, communication skills... these are all vital.
17) What tasks do you have to do each day?
Preparing for our show is the biggest job. Not only do we have to come up with four hours of ideas and make them happen, we have to do a lot of behind the scenes stuff too. Answering emails (EVERYONE wants something), organising recordings of our shows for clients who have spent money and want to hear their product mentioned, organising interviews and researching them, attending station promotions (Singled Out Parties etc), speaking to schools, hosting charity events, voicing ads, writing Scandal etc. It's a pretty full on day when all that stuff is involved!
18) What is you working environment like?
It's open plan at the Edge. The studio is great, but once we get off air, there is nowhere for us to work. We don't actually have a desk! We have to go home and work.
19) What price bracket is your pay in?
I'd rather not answer this question. Let's just say it takes a long time to earn the average NZ wage in NZ radio!
My hard work has paid off now though.
20) Do you have any advice for anyone who wishes to get into Radio Broadcasting?
Don't do it for the money because very few people in radio make any money. Do it for the love of radio. Listen to radio, and live it. Get as many skills as u can until u can get your foot in the door, and once you do, go hard!! Only the enthusiastic survive!