Meet Archana Gaikwad (Senior Producer and Radio Jockey at 93.5 Red FM), a happy go lucky, outgoing, jolly, and a talkative soul. She’s an patient listener and a great friend, whom a lot of people trust. Archana loves fashion, observing people, and mimicking them. She’s a Bollywood buff and loves entertaining everyone around her. She is currently the Senior Producer and Radio Jockey at 93.5 Red FM India. This year, she completes four years as a Radio Jockey at Red FM. She has recently started writing a fashion blog in Marathi by the name of “Saadi, Jhumke Ani Barach Kaahi”. One will read her story and feel absolutely inspired. By the end of our conversation, I was awestruck and have turned into her fan as well.
How is a Radio Jockey’s day different from a normal employee’s day?
I host a show on 93.5 Red FM, in the morning band, called Morning No.1 from 7am to 11am. My actual work starts a day before the actual show is aired. I start preparing for the show, starting with content. I thoroughly hunt for content on all available platforms, through online, offline means and observation of the activities that go on around in the area. We arrange for references and bites from various people in the city, sometimes national as well. Also, deciding a theme for the show is absolutely crucial. Then I prepare for the show; deciding the topics that will be involved in my show and lining up links, music, questions and interviews. This line up then goes to the supervisor for approval, via email.
After approval, all of this is presented in an impromptu manner, so that it is relatable for the audience, during the show. The next day, I wake up at 5am and report to the office at 6:30am. My show begins at 7am and ends at 11am.
How did you become a Radio Jockey?
When I was pursuing my B. Com, I came across a scroll about the requirement of a news anchor on TV. I decided to go and audition and fortunately, cleared all the rounds of the selection process. On 26th January 2006, my first show as a news anchor was aired on TV. I continued this job for two years, alongside my graduation. During that time, there also was a new, emerging radio station that I auditioned for and cleared all the steps to becoming a Radio Jockey. The position that was offered to me was in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Because I in college at the time, I couldn’t accept the job offer. I did, however work at multiple news channels. I then went on to pursue my MBA and after my MBA in Finance, I worked at Deutshe Bank as their relationship manager, but somewhere in my heart, I always knew that I wasn’t built for a desk job.
After 7-8 years, one fine day, destiny played its part. I got a call from Red FM, offering a job as a Radio Jockey. After all sound and link tests, on 10th August 2016, I hosted my first show called “Teen Taas, No Traas” from 11am to 2pm. 3 months later, I found myself hosting the prime time show in the morning, called Morning No. 1.
How is the routine of a Radio Jockey?
I have been hosting my morning show for the past 3.5 years and might I take the liberty to say that, Boy! It takes massive amount of toll on your body. I wake up at 5am, so that I can report to the office at 6:30am. My show starts at 7am, but I have not figured out how does time manage to slip away so fast in the mornings. After a very tiring day, every day, I manage to fall asleep by 10- 10:30pm. When I had initially started my morning segment, I didn’t find time to even eat breakfast. At radio, there is a saying that goes, “There’s a fixed time to enter the station, but no fixed time to leave it”. I end up working for 10 to 12 hours every day. When you love your job, you tend to overwork yourself. Its human nature, it just happens. Finding enough time for work, family, and myself is a herculean task and I am still struggling with it 🙂
How has COVID-19 affected your work?
Media falls under the category of essential services, so there has been no break in our job. We did work from home for 2 months, but have been on our toes all the time. The lockdown caused no hindrance to our work life. My company has not let me lose my momentum or energy, even for a second, with all the events and competitions and segments lined up. I have constantly been at work. The biggest setback that all of us faced was the lack of equipment when we worked from home. It was difficult to manage recording and editing shows with a drought of equipment.
What do you love most about being in radio?
The thing that I love most about my job is that I get to entertain massive audiences. I like to believe that I can uplift someone’s mood in the morning, make people happy. I love the fact that I can in some way bring about a change in my listeners’ lives. There was a time, when I helped a sports person achieve her dreams, by raising more than enough funds for her through the show. I love that I can express my views on so many topics that bring about a change in the city and areas around.
According to you, what are the skills that a person requires before stepping foot in the radio industry?
One of the major skills that you have to know the regional language of that area to the T. Your spoken language has to be flawless and you need to be communicative. Good public relations and knowing how to connect with people is an essential skill. Voice is important but that is not the only requirement for being a radio jockey. You should know how to observe things around you and know how to present them in an attractive way. You must also know how to present yourself in public places because you are the local celebrities and people look up to you. You should realise that you’re not here to give information. There are multiple media that do that work. Your main job will be to entertain the masses. Radio is an Infotainment business.
Links to RJ Archana’s Social Profiles:
Facebook: RJ Archana – RED FM
Instagram: rjarchana_935
Twitter: RJArchie93.5
Her blog: https://www.instagram.com/sadi_jhumke_anibarachkahi/
Nidhi is a 20 year old ambivert who completed her schooling from Nath Valley School, Aurangabad. In 2018, she joined the MIT School of Fine Arts and Applied Arts in Pune to pursue her BFA in Applied Arts and Visual Communication. She has a soft spot for reading, writing, and travel. Helping others find their true passion, is one of her interests. As a writer on Careerfox, she intends to interview professionals from diverse career backgrounds and blog about them. She believes that this would not only nurture her love for writing, but also would help youngsters make more informed career choices.