One year ago CSR FM lost its conference virginity to Crush Radio and decided to go and repeat the antics in Bradford this year!

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….

Second podcast as part of my radio course podcasts. This one was to go a week without any technology and I made an audio blog during the week and then reviewed it in a ‘radio labs’ style podcast.

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

As part of my University degree in Film Radio ant TV I have to create a 3 part podcast. The idea for this one is that it would sit on a website such as mashable, gizmodo, tech crunch etc and each week would be a different challenge similar to that of the gadget show. Week 1 it has to be made entirely from a phone. Please listen and let me know your thoughts so that I can change this/ work towards the next one.

Today, all ready to do my show on CSR FM, covering the Wednesday drivetime slot- 45 mins go fine and then I go to ready the travel update for the 4PM update and one report says “Broad Street Closed due to suspect package incident.”
Quick refresh of twitter all local news groups reporting same thing- OH dear out goes ALL the show content- Rest of the show becomes a rolling news update and travel advise from various news and twitter feeds.
It was mental but exciting to be reporting breaking news stories, especially something so important to local listeners.
It showed me what I really want to do though is be a producer (I knew this anyway) as I had to do everything single handed as no one else was available. I literally had 6 mins (2 songs) to rewrite every report that came in as they changed really quickly.

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.

I don’t want to bore my twitter followers but here are some random thoughts that I thought might get me some un follows so can post them here.

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.

Having only been with CSR FM for less than a year this is my first experience of entering the Student Radio Awards. We were really well planned…. we thought. However due to a reading error (possibly on my part, but no one is pointing the fingers!) We were 5 days out, the deadline was not the 25th its the 20th!

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!