The sound and feel for a radio show is driven not only by the announcers you listen to, but the people you don’t.
 
Every day, producers around the country are busy exhausting their contact books, bouncing around ideas for segments and thinking of the next bold move that will keep their show one step ahead of the competition.
 
In Adelaide, Tahni Schaefer and Laura Medlin are two of FIVEaa’s pool of show producers.
 
Tahni produces Evenings with Alan Hickey and Laura is a floater across weekday shows.
 
They are much more than just “phone girls” riding the ups and downs of a radio show along with the hosts.
 
radioinfo caught up with Tahni and Laura to find out about their pathway to becoming radio producers – the ups and downs as well as the ins and outs of producing shows for an older audience when you’re in your early 20’s.
 
 “People had often told me I should be in the radio industry”, said Tahni when asked about how she got her start.
 
“I’d think ‘Yeah, that would be good’ but it wasn’t until I came home after two years overseas that the signs were aligning that I should give it a crack. Completing (then David Day’s) Australian Radio School course cemented it for me – I’d found my career.
 
“I knew I could not possibly do anything else but this. If I had to roll around in icy cold cans of Coke in the middle of Winter to get my foot in the door, I’d do it. Luckily, no rolling was necessary as I got my first paid work producing after an internship through university,” says Tahni.
 
Laura also turned to study to get her foot in the door: “I was told I didn’t have the body for TV, but probably had a voice for radio, so I decided to do a Media degree and see from there.  My first step into radio was during my degree when I did a two-week work experience stint at Magic FM in Port Augusta.
 
“I stayed in a tent and got up at 4:30AM every day to sit in with the breakfast program. The managers said I could have a future in radio. But when I came back to the city it really wasn’t that simple.  I emailed EVERY radio station I could find to get an internship to get more experience. By some absolute stroke of luck, I managed to get an internship at FIVEaa.  During my time here I picked up a job and have had my foot in the door ever since.”
 
 
 What sort of things can go wrong before and during a show?
 
“How long have you got?!” said Tahni, “Anyone who doesn’t think the machines will one day take over hasn’t dealt with a petulant Zetta doing what it wants to. Also, time can work for or against you. You can have either too much content that you haven’t been able to fit in that goes to waste or when the calls aren’t there you can be scrambling to create content.
 
“You want to make sure your topics and discussions are both relatable and current.  Also keeping topics relevant to the station demographic is important, says Laura”.  That’s something I find hard as I am only 24, but I am producing radio shows for an audience mostly who are 50+ so what I think would be interesting and fun isn’t necessarily what they want to hear. You need to be able to take others ideas and run with them. Also try different things – don’t let a show get stagnant,” says Tahni’s.
 
Some of the best announcers in the business can also be some of the most demanding, so how do you deal with an announcer not easily satisfied?
 
“Develop a thick skin,” advises Tahni, “Assertiveness is key. By nature, I’m quite a happy soul, I like to catch flies with honey and not vinegar but if you bite me, I will bite back. I’m lucky that Alan respects my input. We butt heads…often! But it’s all in the name of us both wanting the best for the show and challenging each other so we can grow and step out of our respective comfort zones. For the most part, we spend a lot of time laughing. He’s like a father figure to me and he has my back.”
 
For Laura it’s about applying yourself, arguing your work will then speak for itself.
 
 “I think it is important to have a good working relationship with both the presenter you’re working with and your management.  This isn’t always the case – as in any work place there is always someone that isn’t going to play nice.  I have formed strong relationships with several presenters and when we work on shows together we bring interesting and strong content”
 
 So, what advice do Laura and Tahni have for budding radio aspirants.
 
 “Don’t get into it for the money”, says Tahni, “I have to work a second job and I’m not the only one, not by a long shot, so make sure you love radio. Like, LOVE it. Volunteer. I interned for three months and then harassed the Program Director to give me paid work. Intern if you’re at uni and get to know as much of the workings of a radio station as you can. Get on community radio. Build up a portfolio of your work. It can be tough to crack but give it everything.”
 
Laura echoes Tahni’s sentiments: “Be willing to work hard and for free.  Be a morning person, be a night person, be an all-day person.  Take whatever you can and never turn down an opportunity. Read everything – be a master of all topics, from politics, to sports, to health, to general chit chat. But mainly work hard.”