DJ's
Career = A Rich Life! DJ's
Career = A Rich Life! Dion Lei
"It's easy to be
a DJ. They just sit at the studio and plug in some music," said Patrick Lam,
a fourth year
marketing student from
the Faculty of Business Administration (FBA).
"In fact, the work of DJs is not as easy as they think," Eva Chin responded. "To produce a program, Macau DJs have to gather material, do interviews and control all the equipment by themselves while on air." She has been a DJ for nearly four years.
Chin is responsible for an information program. Her major is journalism. Interviewing people is a major part of her work, because information programs require updates and various materials.
"Sometimes, I worry about my personal safety because you have to do interviews outside the station," Chin said.
Another
experienced DJ has been working in Radio Macau for ten years. Mick Lei explained
that DJs do not have regular working hours. "I'm thinking of new materials for
my program all the time. Even when I'm walking on the street, I'm observing
new things," Lei added.
Lei remembered that he was doing the latenight program when he began to work at Radio Macau. On winter nights with only 3¢XC, he still has to do the program.
"It is very hard to wake up in such cold weather. But if you are interested in this job, you will enjoy it as this serves an audience who works nights, the same as you," Lei said.
Phone-in programs can help establish a close relationship between the DJ and the audience, because they can communicate with each other directly through the phone. "If the audience likes your program, they will call in to express their opinion. I can get direct feedback at once," Lei said happily.
"Sometimes the caller may say bad words. We will press the delay system immediately; this will stop that part from being broadcast on the air," Lei explained.
Lobo
Ip, working as a part-time DJ for almost four years, is responsible for a foreign
music program. He complained that there is a lack of choice in the music library
of Radio Macau, and most of the songs are Chinese and English pop music. "We
can hardly find any rock, jazz or special foreign music," he said.
"I need to find the music by myself from other places like Hong Kong and the UK in order to have the latest CDs that I can plug in my program," Ip complained.
All interviewees agreed that a DJ's work helps them to keep in touch with society. They have to gather information from the newspapers, magazines and even talk with different people. The Internet is also very important and useful because they can get all kinds of information in seconds.
New Appearance of Radio Media in Macau
Radio Macau is not the only radio station in Macau, because Radio Vila Verde resumed operation in March this year. "It seems that there will be good competition between the two stations," Lei commented.
Be content with work
Chin once introduced a free of charge tutorial course in her program. Many parents phoned her after the program to get further information. "I feel so content because I can provide information that helps the audience. It's a feeling that one can't express in words!" Chin recalled.
"It's really an encouragement when I receive letters from the audience in China, which ask me some musical knowledge," Ip said.
Work as a Career
"A
DJ's work is suitable for my active character, and it's also related to what
I have learned in the University," Chin expressed.
"I hope I can take this job as my career," Lei continues, "but you have to keep in touch with the most up-to-date information and provide new ideas for the program. If not, you can't compete with others."
"I think I will work until they fire me!" Ip said.
Being a DJ is different from office work because the working time is more flexible. They find this job challenging and exciting because they want to provide different programs for their audiences.
