Evening star., 1928-12-03

lent announcing,
there are other qualities nearly as i'm
portant. The aspiring announcer
should know something about music
and musicians even though unable to
perform himself Moreover, he should
be able to pronounce difficult names
and titles for he faces through the
microphone a critical audience only
too ready to "razz" him in the event
that he errs. Experience as a public
speaker is valuable in that it inspires
confidence in the use of the voice and
provides a certain amount of poise.
On the other hand, many of the
most proficient speakers have gone be-
fore the mike" only to discover to
their distress that the absence of a
visible audience is terrorizing.
1t is well If the person seeking a po-
sition as an announcer has playing
knowledge of some instrument or can
sing-at least sufficiently to pinch
hit" in an emergency.
Resourcefulness is another ingredi-
ent It must be remembered that the
announcer is in control Of the broad
casting studio during a program. He
is in command of the situation. A
30-minute stage wait or some other
unforeseen contingency will invariably
start the phones ringing. Folks want
to know what the trouble is.
In one of Americas largest broad
casting studios, one night, an orcheS-
ira had gathered to play for half an
hour. Railroad schedules are not pre-
pared with more preciseness than time
on the air. The studio must deal in
fractions of seconds. The leader of
the orchestra was temperamental SOUL
a fact unknown to the announcer, who
.ns aNol
nouncers) business was to see that the
show went on. About half way through
the program certain selection was an
nounced. The leader himself had in
serted it in the list of numbers, and
accepting 1t as 1t was written, the an
nouncer said, 1.-THE next selection by
the So-and-So Orchestra will be
-" Then he "cut" the micro
phone for a second.
At this point the leader suddenly re-
solved not to play the piece. The an
nouncer was astonished.
''I prefer to play something else in
stead" was the leaders cool remark.
You'll play what I have an
nounced," said the broadcaster.
"But I refuse to do so. have
changed my mind"
Quick as a flash the announcer re-
pIleu, xOu WILL PAay VAA1" AA-..SA a,,S -
I'll close YOU of the air. VIII you
play it or not?"
The wait was embarrassing for all
concerned but luckily the leader de-
cided that he was dealing with man
who could not be moved. The per-
formance went on.
we cite this incident to show that
the announcer should have an execu-
tive bent in addition to other qualinca-
tions.
The same announcer on another
occasion found himself alone in the
studio with a temporary breakdown IN
the "hookup." In less than minute
there would be a telephone stampede
at the switchboard. There was but one
thing to do and he did it. He placed a
mike near a piano and announced
that he would play and sing few Sc
lections for the audience. A few min
utes later he received the flash that
the "hook-up" had been restored ana
all was well.
The aspiring announcer must not be
thin-skinned. He should expect pan
ming and he will not be disappointed.
His head may become inflated one mo-
ment by friendly letter and the next
second reduced to less than normal by
q missive telling him what an awful
boob he Is.
The person who is inclined to par
ticipate in evening social activities
should never choose broadcasting as
livelihood His nights will find him all
too frequently attending affairs or per-
formances in the studio that will pre-
clude any possibility of that freedom.
Not long ago local announcer was en-
gagged to appear for week in WASH
ington theater Between shows he
rushed back to the studio to announce.
He was on the stage one evening when
he suddenly rose and explained that he
was compelled to leave to preside at an
affair at which the President was to
speak.
The broadcasting companies of i'm
portance insist that a prospective
speaker submit his proposed talk This
is done for the purpose Of suppressing
objectionable matter or statements
prejudicial to the interests Of different
classes Of listeners-in. On a few occa-
sions fortunately few the speakers
have injected remarks not In the manu-
scripts as originally submitted. In
this case, the announcer must consti-
tltR himself a cepS0r apd "c11fo the