An Open Experience

I recently produced (and presented) a show on the temporary station Open FM in what was the last act for me in what's been a truly wonderful learning curve and time. It all goes back to about 3 and a half months ago when I first saw the ad on the radiowaves site looking for people to volunteer for the station. At the time I was in dire need of getting more work in the radio world if I was to put my college degree to use and pursue the path I'd chosen. At first I was curious as to just what a "gay station" would be like. Rushes of stereotypes and bad Wham, Culture Club and Village People songs went flying through my head. I emailed anyway and went along for an interview - laughably now wearing all the purple I had, I think somehow in my head I thought this choice of colour in my clothing would make me a more appealing candidate to be on radio, I am at times quite the nonsensical boob you see.

After meeting with Liam and Emma, my whole perception of what the station might have been was completely flipped on it's head. Here were two young adults probably younger than me devoting all their free time to putting on a station for something they felt Dublin was severely lacking, to say I was more than impressed would have been a gross understatement. I immediately got on board with what their vision was and also felt quick ridiculous at my purple trainers, t-shirt, hoodie combo. Soon enough after they contacted me to let me know I was part of the family - maybe the purple had worked after all.

Soon enough, there was a meeting with everyone who had volunteered to get involved and there first thing I noticed that there was a lot of us, I mean a small army lot of us. Talking to people before and I became I was not the only "straight in the room" and that there was a truly wonderful mix of people on board. Some team bonding took place which I'm always a bit sceptical of but it proved it give a good insight into people's backgrounds and what brought them to the project. Next was the decision on what shows we'd all be working on, I got a mail to say I'd be working on a Saturday afternoon music show and to meet with Niall my co-anchor for the show that weekend along with Sam the station manager. What conspired was a really productive brainstorm where we were told that we basically had free reigns to do whatever we wanted to something I found completely refreshing, there was no preset rules or structure to the station, that was being put in our hands to create. After an hour or so sitting atop Stephen's Green while families crammed buffet food into their gullets. A basic premise for the show was formed, predominantly new music with a focus on comedy which seemed to cater to both myself and Niall's taste.

Weeks went by and there were pre-production meetings where things were ironed out including but not exclusively the toning down of the comedy elements slightly, the introduction of a guest presenter for each show, the arrival of a sports section, a new co-presenter in Mark (with me taking a back seat to producer happily thus avoiding being on air) and other things I'm sure I've forgotten in the 4 days since I've finished. By time it was we were ready to on air we had assembled what what I and the others felt was an extremely strong and stacked show.

And those shows, I think it's ultimately a true shame that the station for the moment only existed on a temporary license as by the time we'd got our second show of three we had only really got into the groove of things what with it being our first time working together. That aside I thought the shows went really well and never ceased to have something there to entertain or enlighten, be it from insightful discussions into the world of hair replacement, how to run your own record label, the Civil Partnership Bill, who was the best looking player at the World Cup, what it's like be on the set of a porn film or from the exposure given to new music from home grown talents like The Blue Choir, Autumn Owls, LaFaro and many many more.

A personal challenge and I suppose now highlight for me was having to take the lead on the final show as Mark and Niall were both tied up respectively in the rain at Oxegen and in the beautiful surroundings of Malaysia, I know for definite who I envied more. I hadn't presented anything on radio since my college days over three years ago so needless to say I was shitting it. The support I got from everyone at the station made it all go away fairly easily and everything ran smoothly bar playing a hip hop song which may have had some choice language in it.

So now I find myself wondering what the future holds for Open FM. I'd like to think that what we all achieved with it was only the beginning of something much much bigger, a sort of teaser trailer if you will. The fact that over 85 if I'm correct people were all working completely for free and out of the belief in this project speaks volumes about it and I think that what we have here is far too important to let go out. What I first saw as just getting a bit of experience has gone on to mean so much more to me and has been a huge personal growth in a lot of areas, I only hope that long may it continue. I read a quote recently from Churchill - the prime minister not the insurance selling dog - recently that I feel sums up for what the last three months have meant.

Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.

Phase two can't come quick enough.