DJ for a Day
I introduced myself and started my "commercial" for myself, thirty seconds in the style of INXS' video "Mediate". The stakes were high - 100 competitors were fighting for the chance to be one of ten people in the "Quit Ya Day Job" contest from rock station 99X.
When my name was called as one of the 10 finalists, I couldn't believe it. I thought my bit had been well received by the judges, but I didn't think I'd have a chance. From there, I had to show up at the radio station at 7:30 AM for a week of music trivia competition, and here's where my confidence had a boost: music trivia is one of my favorite things in the world, and when it came to remembering song lyrics, that was my Rain Man skill. I had been disappointed I never got the chance to compete on MTV's already-defunct "Remote Control" before it was pulled for some other inconsequential reality show.
I kicked butt all week, eliminating competitor after competitor, until the final three were remaining: me, and two guys I'd never met before that week. Jeff, a young married father of two, and Jason, a single party guy in his 20s. Our prize was an in-studio interview with Hoobastank, who had just hit it big with The Reason two years after signing with Island Records. All three of us interviewed the band and then introduced them on stage that night at a local club.
The three of us bonded and had a great time together, and when it came down to our last assignment - preparing for 30 minutes for a 10-minute "show" in which we were completely in control. So we thought. What we didn't know, as we bantered in a friendly way and generally stumbled, inexperienced, through an amateur ten minutes, the real morning show DJs were on air in another room and commenting on the show as it took place.
We turned the show back to the DJs, relieved - having air time to yourself is an exhilarating but somewhat frightening experience. You know people are listening, but you don't know what they're thinking. Soon, we found out, as listeners dialed in, most people had mostly critical and snarky things to say about us.
Like the internet, radio callers can be anonymous and judge and say whatever they want. Nobody likes the sound of her own voice, and we were hard on ourselves, but understanding that we're completely new at this. I know the DJs screened out some of the most brutal comments, but one in particular stuck in my mind: "She sounds like she's on drugs." I could have laughed, knowing that I've never taken an illegal drug in my life, but instead, I let it get to me. As some of the other abuse rolled in, I simmered as Jeff and Jason showed no reaction.
The most vocal DJ called me out. "Kristin has a mean stare going," he said. "She's pissed." The flamboyant regular in-studio guest "The Queen" stepped in in my defense and encouraged me to call out the "catty [people]" who were calling in with criticism. When I had my chance to say how I felt about it, the DJs applauded me. "These past few minutes were the best showcase of your personality all week," they said.
I didn't win. Whether it was because my mellow voice wasn't a fit, I really sounded like I was on drugs, or just wasn't as good as Jeff, the eventual winner, the voters didn't choose me. I was dejected, of course, but took some great lessons from this opportunity.
1) Being a DJ was not for me. I love all things music and I enjoyed the time at the station, but the job I already had, traveling around the world, was a better match for my personality and skills than sitting in a room with a microphone all day.
2) I have thin skin. This, I already knew. This is also one of the reasons I'm not in politics.
3) This was my first lesson in Don't Be Mild - my favorite tenet from Trailer Food Diaries' Tiffany Harelik. When I was trying to stand back, it didn't pay off. When I got fired up after listening to call after call of criticism, I was the real stand-up-and-be ME. Along with this was the knowledge that I took a chance and stepped onto that stage - you can't win if you don't at least give it a try.
4) People can compete without stepping on each other. I enjoyed meeting with and hanging out with my competitors, and I was happy for Jeff when he won, even as I mourned the evaporation of my dream prizes.
5) When a door closes, a window opens: that weekend after I lost, I would have had to start working at the station. Instead, I took a whirlwind weekend trip to visit my friend Kristi, and on the plane met Fox Sports personality Chris Meyers. I recognized his voice even before I saw his face, and we had a great discussion about women who love sports and how that could translate to an advantage in business. He encouraged me to write.
I didn't make it as a DJ, but it was an experience I'll never forget.
Does this remind you of some of the unusual experiences in your life? I want to hear about it.
Love,
