Note : The Edited version of this article was printed in the Indian Express Friday Supplement - "Indulge" - on the 18th of Feb 2011. This is the original manuscript!
Here is a Scan of Column and what got printed. Enjoy Reading! :):)
Here is a Scan of Column and what got printed. Enjoy Reading! :):)
Can you get me in?
This is the single most common question I get asked as a Radio Professional. I live in a world of giving away free passes, complimentary entry, personal guest lists and “getting people in”. I figure this is because the word "Free" has to be the most used and abused word on radio.
Radio stations give away so much stuff, and thus everyone assumes that Radio DJ's have an eternal endless supply of passes to events, concerts and parties. People do truly believe that Radio DJ’s get special treatment and get entry with ease. They think we can get them into any gig, anywhere, irrespective of which station is partnered with it or who is involved in the organizing. Even though this does make us (radio dj’s) feel like something out of XMEN with super powers – it is far from the truth.
With increasing ad breaks and non music content, and the ever flickering listener attention span, radio stations have found out that a great way to increase TSL (time spent listening) and increase listener stickiness is to give away
Valentines bashes, Christmas parties, and New Year events are the most sought after by “free entry” hunters. And GOD save you if your Radio station is tied up with a cricket match!!!!
"Free" stuff. Radio giveaways come in various shapes and sizes. They include film tickets, lunch vouchers, makeover vouchers, spa, food, makeup, home appliances, clothing coupons and the notorious “Free CONCERT Passes”
No seriously, Concert time is the worst time – EVER. “Free Pass” addicts swarm like mosquitoes in a swamp to get their hands on complimentary invites. In a city like Bangalore which is starved for International Live performances, if heavy duty acts like Bryan Adams, Foreigner, Lucky Ali, Niladri Bose and others perform within a span of 10days, the mayhem created by people wanting free passes is absolutely incredible.
Before every concert, radio professionals start getting calls from people who want to get in. These include the usual suspects – concert crazy friends, listeners, industry folk, free invite hunters, clients, and even people who you haven’t heard from in 8-10 years. The action usually begins around 10 days before a concert. Of course the closer to the concert the more panicky and crazy the calls get. Don’t even get me started on CONCERT days.
A typical conversation goes like this…
Person : Hello is this Anjaan?
Me : yes
Person : Hi I’m _____ do u remember me? We met 8 years ago at a party?
Me : umm....
Person : Chalo im sure u wont recall... but tell me do u have passes to Bryan Adams concert?
Me : Huh?
Even though sometimes I wish I could tell them off with a sarcastic line I’ve stopped being surprised when people who I haven’t spoken to for long call only when there’s a concert/party around the corner. Even though these calls send you into a Tizzy, its entertaining how people ask the funniest things - The most common questions I’ve got are – “Can u take me backstage? Can u give me some passes? Can I meet him? Can you make me meet Bryan?” And of course the most famous one… “Can you get me in?”, Some just stop short of – Can you ask him if he will go on date with me…
RJ Vinayak Joshi from Radio City says he gets 50-70 calls on an average for every concert in town. Every other friend and client of his invariably wants “free passes”. He feels the best way to deal with this is to tell them the truth & accept the fact that he can’t do much to get all of them in. And when he has invites – he prefers giving them to his listeners than his friends. His advice to people who call him only for passes is “remember me otherwise” (and not only during concerts and events)
RJ Rohit from BIG FM prefers to give passes to people he knows and to his listeners. He gets around 40-50 calls for concerts and events his station is tied up with. When people call him after a long gap for passes, he sometimes gets cheesed off but invariably asks them to Stop calling him!
RJ Rohit Barker from Radio Indigo has an interesting reaction to the question – can you get me in - he simply says “Sorry, I ran out of passes 40 people ago, I would have helped you if I could”
I think the Biggest Radio myth is that Radio DJ’s have a Special DJ Pass that gets us into concerts and events. Trust me - There is no special pass. (I swear: I was even once asked by an intern when she would get her special "Radio DJ pass")
Yes, we give away free stuff, yes you can win them on our radio shows and on our contest. But NO we cant take everyone in. Stop stop asking us to get you in. Because we hate to say No.
The only thing I can give for FREE to everyone is advice. Call me anytime for that. And don’t forget that if I had the power, I would get everyone (including you who haven’t spoken to me for 8 years) IN. Have a great time at the concert. Cheers!
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-- Anjaan is Programming Head and a Radio DJ with the 94.3 Radio One Network
