"Your musicianship is excellent, (insert name here.)"

"You played very well and have made it into the orchestra," the letter I received in high school said.

Although I was pleased to be accepted into the orchestra, I was amused to read that phrasing in a form letter.  I trust that no one received an alternate version that read, "The orchestra is pleased to inform you of your conditional acceptance.  Although the judges believe you're a borderline case, dedication and regular practice will likely make you a successful orchestra member."

Best to stay awake

Twice, I've seen DJs fall asleep during their shifts.  Luckily, at one station, the DJ hadn't been asleep that long.  I knocked on the counter, and she woke up while music was still playing.

At another station, however, I'd estimated from the time I started hearing dead air to the time I got to the studio to choose music for my shift that the DJ had been asleep for about 15 minutes.  How do you handle a situation like that?  In that DJ's case, upon hearing the door open, you wake up, go back on the air as though nothing happened, and back announce the track that ended 15 minutes ago.

That's the only time I've heard anyone say, "OK, that was...," 15 minutes after a song ended.

Best to be the best you that you can be

XTC's "Wrapped In Grey" works just as well for drifting off to sleep as it does for waking up.  If you feel like hibernating, you can concentrate on the deliberately grey-sounding, melancholy instrumentation in the intro.  If you're waking up, you can concentrate on the lyrics about remembering to do the things that make you unique instead of sleepwalking through the day.

Nostalgic--to an extent

Several years ago, I watched a video about KCOU, one of the radio stations where I'd worked in the early '90s. I thought, "Good to see that the mission and spirit of the station are still largely the same.  This is like old times."  Then, I saw a notice in the studio telling DJs not to play YouTube clips on the air.

"So, it isn't exactly like old times," I thought.

One voice wearing too many hats

It always sounds peculiar to me to hear a live DJ go to a break and then immediately play one or more commercials featuring his or her own voice.  When I hear a DJ say, "I'll be right back," then play a commercial (s)he recorded for an auto parts shop, a station promo, a commercial for a florist, and then a PSA about the health risks of smoking, I think, "Are there no other smooth voices in this town?  It's like saying, 'I'll be right back,' followed by, 'Actually, here I am again.'"

Not a practical dream, but...

In a recent dream, I was offered a job playing any music I wanted on a radio station.  It involved a one-hour commute, an exorbitant parking fee, and bringing a sword to fend off a dragon who guarded the building. 

Still, in the dream, I wasn't ruling the job out.  Apparently, the allure of playing any music I want on the air is still fairly strong.

Reverential Easter music

If you're looking to celebrate the reverence of Christ's resurrection on this Easter Sunday, or if you simply want to hear two excellent renditions of well-known hymns, you can't go wrong with Harry Belafonte's version of "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?" or "Amazing Grace," as sung by Judy Collins.  Belafonte and Collins show considerable conviction in their respective versions without oversinging.

Also, if you're looking to smile at some Easter rabbits today, here you are:

2003: Rabbits relaxing at my parents' house.

Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates it.