If you dont know what the SRA Conference is, it is 3 days of talks from industry professionals sharing knowledge and advice to stations across the country. It also allows for a lot of great networking and chance to just chat about radio for 3 days solid!  There is a massive following on twitter so anyone that attends usually chats to each other and talks about it via twitter using #SRACON

It also is an opportunity to party and enjoy some great evening entertainment including student DJs vs industry DJs and Demo Factor!

CSR is based way down south so it was a VERY early start at 4:30am to get to Bradford for midday. The journey was very enjoyable (for me!) I am very much a morning person and I sat at the back with Dan Gibson and sung the whole way there! (Sclub 7, 5ive, Boyzone and Steps all on the playlist!)

Finally arrived in Bradford and in true CSR style we went for a beer first! (Spark Sunderland had the same idea!)

A great morning of sessions included in conversation with… (one of the panel was Chris Evans ‘ producer), how to make a playlist and working with stakeholders, were all brilliant sessions to kick start the first day.

We were in the classy hotel (later become the troublesome hotel) Jurys Inn which was wicked, so that was sorted.

Evening entertainment for the first night was the ‘I Love Student Radio Awards‘ in which CSR won Community Spirit award which I was so incredibly pleased with I was in actual shock that I was unable to talk or thank anyone so made Mel do it for me. There is more info here http://www.csrfm.com/index.php/news/station-award-success-at-national-student-radio-conference/

So it was only right that we celebrated HARD that night! I will leave that there as far as that night went (drinkaware.co.uk)

Breakfast was amazing at Jurys Inn – Full english was needed the next day!

Station sound session was inspiring, got to hear about several stations take on imaging, jingles and promos from Radio One, Jack FM and Absolute this was all chaired by a Canterbury alumni James Stodd (all the notes here http://jamesstodd.com/2012/04/02/the-students-are-in-town/) this a wicked session and got to chat to James afterwards which was really good.

The rest of the sessions that day were really good and included ‘what is the role of a producer‘ – this was something I found really interesting (seeing as I want to be a producer!)

Evening entertainment was DEMO FACTOR – a live critique of peoples radio demos – a very entertaining and fun session however I feel that it was a bit too long and maybe next year needs to be revamped.

Again CSR partied hard into the night and not getting into bed until 4am (tut tut students hey!)

The final day was mainly taken up of the SRA AGM – which after last years events was set to be interesting – nothing drastic happened but had a few moments that was funny!

Well done to CSR’s very own Mel Lewis who at the AGM got elected SE Regional officer.

I had an awesome 3 days and got so much out of the event and am all ready looking forward to next years event.

Time to go and make CSR (even more) awesome with all these ideas that I have!

I will upload a video and my notes from the various sessions soon….

Please leave me your thoughts and comments below so that I can improve the edit as this is a draft

Hope it sounded good- I know I was a bit stumbly thats because I had no time to prep what to say but shall listen back tomorrow.

Radio one were in Ibiza and I love their imaging that they are using for it. It is the same every year and I love it!
I have started my new job as a driver for boots and love it!
I went for a run this morning. Bliss.

On the talk of radio got chatting to my friend last night at a party and he said I remind him of zane Lowe as apparently I talk so passionately about music. I took this as a big compliment as normally I’m compared to Aled of chris moyles.
He then went on to ask if I am a voice over for Kiss, I am not but apparently it sounds like me so am going to try and have a listen.

That is all, for now.

So began a marathon of editing of months and months of audio logs. I had my entry done and bang ERROR! <FML> so I had to redo that. Then we went to Lounge on the Farm, (wait did I not mention that? No big deal- VIP access press pass, got to watch all the acts side of stage, walked past Ellie Goulding and had a photo with Example) (Oh and Free drinks on the Friday night)

Anyway all a bit manic, long story short some very late nights editing and we are so nearly finished only a few days to go.

Along the way we decided to make some vlogs for our new website which are rather entertaining!

What was great about this one was I did get to play alot of random songs in my 45 min set. They included; Madcon- Beggin, Scouting For Girls, Amy Winehouse and Wham to name a few!

Also did a kids party this afternoon. The great thing about kids parties is they are in the afternoon leaving the evening free!

I have 3 more lined up for next week. To find out more about hiring me for any Discos then click HERE to find out more

Another thing I have done is cover for the spec music show we love house with my own dance music called warm up to the weekend. It was fun recording it but I felt very commercial. A 2nd show took 20minutes to do so it does save time for me! A very strange thing is that I can hear my show being played out right now while I’m at home 90miles away from the studio!

Monday- helping a breakfast show as one presenter was away so 6am start.

Tuesday- not as mental but still rather busy.

Wednesday- Visit to local primary school as part of one of the shows new feature, produce wednesday drivetime, go to our radio stations speech awards (plan not to drink) go to The Venue (Kent uni nightclub) get very drunk sleep in the CSR meeting room

Thursday- Breakfast show with Jezza, good banter with him as always. Came home sleep go out to CSR indiecate night

Friday- Get up breakfast show with Lucy. Do CSR work all day. DJ at the Christ Church Uni Summer Ball, get amazing VIP treatment. Me and Mel Lewis had a soundclash which, well, she won but it was a team effort! Then I had to DJ for Jodie Connor (of roll deep) on the main stage infront of 1,000+ people which was amazing! Got a free fry up at 3am and then a lollipop when we left.

Saturday- Woke up still drunk and then went to Artsfest (its a yearly Kent uni music festival) CSR was broadcasting all day, I had a 2 hr slot which was awesome, ended the night  by having a little rave in the studio!

Such a good week and this week will probably be just as busy as I have a load of SRA Award entries to sort and 3 shows to plan for!