Today marks ten years since I finished up on air.

Ten years since I last foisted a Nickelback song into anybody’s ear.  And I’m pretty happy about that.

No, this is not going to be one of those ‘pffft radio these days’ rants or a bitter spray against those who wronged me. I left on good terms, most importantly I left on my terms. And I think I was liked well enough by most. 

So this is just a quiet (albeit publicly shared) reflection on ten years away from radio.

When I say ‘away from radio’, I haven’t strayed too far. I guess I’m still lurking in the fringes as a full time voice over.

I’m delighted to have been able to support myself through voiceover for a decade. As I’ve said frequently during that time, ‘thank gawd for the interwebs!’  It’s meant I’ve been able to deliver work from places like Maui, Marlborough and Madrid. Albeit often recording under a hotel desk or a thick coat.

Having been asked many, many times ‘but do you miss radio?’ here are five things I DO miss about radio:

* The techie: Sigh, how I long for the days when sorting out a technical snafu was as easy (and cost-free) as skulking into the room with the racks and whining ‘Trevor/ Mark/ Darryl / Phil, could you pretty please come have a look at…?’

* The stationery cupboard: Because sometimes in life you need one paper clip/ clear plastic sleeve/ manilla folder.  Not a box of 200.

* Social media: 10 years ago MySpace and Friends Reunited ruled the social scene. Facebook was gaining momentum, but we were certainly not allowed to Poke or Throw Sheep at our handful of ‘friends’ from the on-air studio. Being outraged is so much simpler nowadays!

* Movies: Since I’ve had to pay for them, I’ve probably seen only a handful of movies at a cinema. ‘Les Miserables’ was one of those. I’ve been furious about that $17 ever since.

* Yeah yeah the people. But again with social media, I feel like I’m in touch with my old workmates and more or less up to date with their lives.  But the best thing is, unlike in face to face situations, I can yawn and walk away if they start going ‘all radio’ and crapping on relentlessly about themselves.

Though you won’t hear her back announce any more Nickelback, Dani Bellamy is a voice for hire at www.thevoiceover.com.au. 

Dani was an announcer and music director at 97.3 FM Brisbane, and a casual announcer at Mix 106.5 and Vega.