I got my first taste of DJ'ing (Disc Jockeying, as it was in the days of pre-computer automation) in Switzerland, on a small scale FM station, on 7th September 1997. I cut my teeth with my first segues and links knowing that I wouldn’t have too many listeners that could understand me.

Since then my experience, skills and knowledge have increased on an exponential scale, thanks to the help of many people. Aside from studying a four year degree, I also spent over 2 years as Station Manager, rebuilding and re-launching the University Radio Station [not something I would recommend if you're planning on doing some work on your degree :-) ].

My big break in “paid-for-radio” came in the summer of 2001 with Magic 97, in St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. After enough hanging round, “making the tea”, and annoying persistence, the Programme Director (Mike Campbell) gave me a chance to increase my experience. Thankfully, with it being the holiday season many of the presenters took some time off, giving me the opportunity to be unleashed upon the unsuspecting audience. From presenting the “Top 12 @ 12” at the weekends, to broadcasting from the odd remote, I was able to improve my on air presence. I spent some time learning how to use new bits of software and ended up producing the odd commercial along with remixing songs.

During my time there, I was given the opportunity to improve the Dance Music selection on the shows broadcast on Friday and Saturday nights. This gave me the chance to make contact with a wide selection of industry people. The music section of the website is further development of my work with Dance Music. It provides an access point for people to find out what “choons” are being played out in “club world”.

2002 has been a busy year. In April I was acting as overseas correspondent for 590 VOCM reporting on the Queen Mother's funeral arrangements. In June I had the privilege of covering the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations outside of Buckingham Palace. At the end of June I moved to Canada to start working for Steele Communications. On reporting for work I found that they had flipped the music format of one of their stations and that I would now be working on 99.1 Hits FM.

The story continues now in March 2003 where I was on-air in the late evenings on 99.1 Hits FM, I continued to produce a DVD review feature which I started in August 2002. Due to staffing changes and summer holidays I was given the opportunity to present the afternoon drive show, Noon - 6 pm, from May to August 2003.
When I then went back to the evenings it seems quite a few listeners were confused as to where I had gone, but my ratings were still very good.

So a big change happened in August 2004, I began working for OZ FM. This opportunity allows me more "live" time on-air, as opposed to being voice-tracked and certain projects are made my responsibility, which I find to be a refreshing change. I whole-heartedly welcome the challenges now being presented to me.
The potential for me is now so much greater. I still have access to my previous audience in the St John's market but now I can broadcast to the whole of Newfoundland and Canada via Satellite.
The company also owns a TV Station, NTV and magazine, The Herald. The synergies between these multimedia platforms are quite incredible.

So listen out for me on your Radio soon, or keep an eye on the TV or in a magazine, you never know where I might turn up!

Cheers

Toby