July musings in Radioland (***warning, it's a bit of a ramble) (not my image, by the way but isn't it great?)

 

Greetings, fellow babies!

                                 (Gad, I miss Johnny Fever and the whole crew at WKRP)

Wanna start by thanking everyone for supporting the station and this show.  Through your listenership and financial donations we are able to keep the ball rolling for independent alternative radio in an overcrowded dial.  Man, over 35 years on the air!  Think about that!

For me and the Ruby Slippers crew (Melanie and Cally the wonderdog), each week's show is an adventure into the unknown. Ever heard the term "Happy Mail"? Well, that describes what comes to the inbox each and every day from artists, record labels and music fans. The real challenge is trying to jam as much great music into an hour as humanly possible. Sometimes wonderful tracks are lost in the shuffle and if that was ever the case with your suggestion or music, please don't hesitate to poke me as a reminder. In the fractured words of Bones on Star Trek "I'm just a human bean, Jim".

Anyway...

I thought I might share this with you. RS is rather an organic thing and  the epitome of open format programming. Punk one set, hard rock another followed by 80's synth, a smattering of country and folk, take-a-breath instrumentals, prog and psychedelic: basically a musical journey through all the colours of life topped up with the latest selection and  interviews by our very own German music correspondent. For those listening, the goal is to achieve a sampler of amazing music with the hope that something will resonate and perhaps make you curious to seek out more.

Not gonna lie, the one hour show has been wonderful but for years seemed like it was bursting at the seams and needed more space to explore and showcase this content and more. Unfortunately, that was never going to happen on CIUT.

Then... COVID.

Everybody had to learn to do shows from home and fast. With that, however, came the opportunity to reach out to other community radio stations and find that space to play more music on a weekly basis without physically entering a studio.

Hence, "Through The Looking Glass" on CFRU 93.3 FM (www.cfru.ca) came into being and I am amazed to say, has now logged show number 208.

Same crew (Melanie, Cally and me), but a different feel for a Sunday night at 9 pm. There are often  artists featured on RS but more ballads and over all gentler programming for the time slot. Of course, rock cannot be stopped and Melanie's pick is always included on both shows. In doing this hour, though, I can feel this smaller community is just as supportive of their station as Toronto is for CIUT, but somehow...its different. You see, I started out there way back when, and for me, its like going home. 

Now, don't get me wrong. I will continue to barrel through the madness that is Ruby Slippers every week as long as it has a place on the schedule. I mean, really? That's a no brainer.

I have always believed that radio has the means to pull people together in a way nothing else can or I wouldn't still be doing this 13 years (or maybe it's 14?) later.

So the takeaway from this, I suppose, is to invite you to tune in to community alternative stations either on the radio dial or online. Go beyond your local tribe and comfort zone. Hear what other cities and towns are passionate about. Ever wondered what Fredericton is listening to? Calgary has a vibrant community radio culture. Did you know that Radio Caroline  (from pirate radio fame) is still broadcasting? No listening adventure is complete without WFMU in East Orange, New Jersey.  And of course know that you are always welcome to travel Through the Looking Glass and follow the music wherever it may take us on CFRU in Guelph Ontario. 

Well, that's it for now.

Hope you are all having a great summer.

See you soon.

Thanks for listening.

PS excellent image but I can't take credit for it.

 

 

Membership time again! Start Your Engines, fellow babies!

Greetings, one and all.

Once again here at the station we find ourselves staring down the barrel of a membership drive. 

I know that sounds ominous but for those of us who program it is always a time of excitement mixed with terror. It's not that some of you don't let us know you are there when you check out the playlists or download the podcasts of the shows (on the website, in case you didn't know, under the show pages) or even send messages on social media and via email. It's just that at the heart of it, we at CIUT  want to make a connection and share our joy and enthusiasm with as many people as we can as we put together every show. As odd as it sounds, donations are a vital way to demonstrate that you are listening and care about this programming while also helping to pay the bills!

As a music show host and producer  I listen to a lot of stuff every day of the week.  I am not a musician (despite years of piano and bass lessons and a cellar full of instruments). Hence, every submission, every discovery online and in records stores is a thrill. To think that someone out there created something unique and meaningful and had the guts to share it! Amazing and awe inspiring!

Therefore, I want to showcase as much as I can as well as I can!

Now as a one hour show in a single broadcast slot on Friday night (no repeats on the schedule), I worry that sometimes musicians' hard work is missed. Again, consider that there are podcasts of the shows on the website if you are as passionate about new music as I and other show hosts are (I'm looking at you, Alex).  Community radio is about making connections and feedback is a two way street. If one side is sharing and no one is listening or acknowledging that what they hear is of value, how will that work? 

I know this sounds like a ramble, maybe even a scrambled ramble (it has been a long week already and it's only Monday). In a time when many of us have to stop and consider how each dollar will be spent it is not easy sometimes to find money for non essential things like entertainment or charity. I always find it hard during these campaigns to ask for donations, not going to lie. But long before I started doing this, I was like you, a supporter of community radio and although I was not on air, I helped keep this alternative independent station on the air with what I was able to donate. Actually, I still do, even as a programmer. 

Without equipment or a transmitter or a designated internet feed or a website or people to train the army of volunteers who pass through these doors, or the handful of full time folks who make sure stuff goes out to the world as smoothly as possible, there simply would be no framework for the content. That takes financial donations and we all want to do our part by rallying the troops that listen to our shows.

I guess that's why I worry during these fundraisers. Is Ruby Slippers' commitment to new and alternative music important to you as a listener and as an artist?

If you are able at this time, please go to www.ciut.fm and donate. And let them know that the crew from Ruby Slippers sent you.

Your support is appreciated and never taken for granted.

On behalf of myself, Melanie and Callydog (still rocking it at 14) thanks for listening.