Find out what bands and live acts are playing at venues near you to get a sense of all the musical styles you can explore in your own town.

Career

Explore the music scene near you.

If you're curious about radio, find a volunteer opportunity on this list or contact local radio stations near you and ask about helping out and find out if it's really for you.

Volunteer at a radio station.

Explore and listen to some radio shows or podcasts. What elements of this medium make it different from other media? Do you prefer scripted shows or talk varieties? Any particular genre? 

Listen to a radio show or podcast.

Radio and Television Announcers

Speak or read from scripted materials, such as news reports or commercial messages, on radio or television. May announce artist or title of performance, identify station, or interview guests.

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Second Interest High-Point

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Third Interest High-Point

First Interest High-Point

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

Announcers

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations

Media and Communication Workers

Prepare and deliver news, sports, or weather reports, gathering and rewriting material so that it will convey required information and fit specific time slots.

Read news flashes to inform audiences of important events.

Select program content, in conjunction with producers and assistants, based on factors such as program specialties, audience tastes, or requests from the public.

Study background information to prepare for programs or interviews.

Comment on music and other matters, such as weather or traffic conditions.

Interview show guests about their lives, their work, or topics of current interest.

Discuss various topics over the telephone with viewers or listeners.

Host civic, charitable, or promotional events that are broadcast over television or radio.

Make promotional appearances at public or private events to represent their employers.

Announce musical selections, station breaks, commercials, or public service information, and accept requests from listening audience.

Keep daily program logs to provide information on all elements aired during broadcast, such as musical selections and station promotions.

Locate guests to appear on talk or interview shows.

Describe or demonstrate products that viewers may purchase through specific shows or in stores.

Coordinate games, contests, or other on-air competitions, performing such duties as asking questions and awarding prizes.

Attend press conferences to gather information for broadcast.

Provide commentary and conduct interviews during sporting events, parades, conventions, or other events.

Give network cues permitting selected stations to receive programs.

Moderate panels or discussion shows on topics such as current affairs, art, or education.

Identify stations, and introduce or close shows, ad-libbing or using memorized or read scripts.

Write and edit video and scripts for broadcasts.

Maintain organization of the music library.

Audio control consoles

Audio playback equipment

Compact disk CD players

Desktop computers

Digital audio recorders

Earpieces

Headset microphones

Headsets

Laptop computers

Microphone stands

Mixing desks

Multi-line telephone systems

Personal computers

Record turntables

Smart phones

Tablet computers

Teleprompters

Touch screen computer monitors

Adobe Systems Adobe Audition

Audion Laboratories VoxPro

Avid Technology Pro Tools

Burli Software Burli Newsroom System

Dalet Digital Media Systems Dalet Media Life

Database software

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Program logging software

Statistical processing software

Web browser software

Radio DJ

♪♪ here staring at every sign-- if it'll be marked. Did we pass Bel Air Road? overshot it. with Roadtrip Nation. How are you doing? what the procedure we come. to the gates we should just call? [laughter] sounds good. the procedures Mansion, call Terry Tamerson and she'll work somewhere to put the RV. us up and drop us back off. Welcome. Thank you. our senior year of Chicago, decided what going to look like. Like, what our passions are. to pin down our passions. what advice you have, we should look. think you wanna do? but I don't know. getting your feet wet, your feet wet. what did you wanna do? and I guess I was four or five-- a cartoonist. But I was very interested-- All of my adult life is really-- of that when I was a kid. newspaper when I was ten. passionate about writing? typically Midwestern, with not a lot of affection. very early on... into fantasies and dreams, movies and by the music. was obviously a huge risk. process where you were like, can do this. in the towel." that you weren't sure it through? something of a miracle, magazine with no money. Rochelle, Illinois, purchased a new press, some open print time, him where I paid part in 90 days. local loan company, collateral, and my apartment, a family loan-- was a business loan, money from the bank. And then went to anybody and got a few hundred here, A total of $8,000, the first issue. address on the first issue, would be a second issue. your conviction? magazine, it was almost like booth and coming out a superman. what I was born to do. confidence. that first summer and fall director that I hired part-time I created the magazine room and had stationary company, which was me, which was me. on who I was writing to, or the distributor, the ad director of the magazine you know? the greatest satisfaction magazine? greatest satisfaction comes from and the impact that's had. I've made some difference more comfortable now in our relationships before Playboy. did I have any idea? I had no idea. would be around, or two. prompts compromises, young, we dream sometimes - impossible dreams. to a certain part of that makes life worthwhile.  people on the planet. Being happy in yourself is more important in the world. [laughter] Oh. Whoa, stop!  [crunching sound] as well go now. Candace, you have to clear your back left corner... curb otherwise. Can you tell me when to stop?  I really don't like this. You're fine, you're so far from that pole. Okay, now turn. Turn? [frightened] Ahh! Ahh! Keep going. Drive over it. You need to straighten up. from Roadtrip Nation. and see how interview was looking. would call back, vacation for a while. editor of Seventeen. bye bye. New York...Kenneth Cole. Oh! Oh, Sam! Oh no! [laughter] I really don't know what I wanna do. I'm doing this: is out there. I'm barely turning 20, but I feel like going anywhere. once I'm out, to what I wanna do. I guess, no school to go to-- this at my age? way, you know? It didn't serve me, my aptitudes weren't there. I was spending time. go for? outta high school, what else to do. everybody's going to college go to college." high school had direction... and they aimed their whole, selves, toward that. when they had direction, of didn't? 'cause you wonder, normal or not. 'Cause I don't know  what to do, wants to be this. wants to be that. I wanna do at all." of us are there four, five, everybody's pushing you. be four years." people are in such a rush. rush to start their lives, sad to see people involved really wanna be involved with, decisions rushing into... and the rest of their life something they don't enjoy. at that time? main interest: I surfed. I became a flower grower, job as a boatbuilder, making my own surfboards. I started making boards. into surfboards? how to shape boards, teach yourself? Working with fiberglass just another form of sculpting. decent surfer-- amateur surfer. Championships and stuff, so I could translate that And then I started-- so I started making them and pro surfers, developed from there. was gonna be possible your boards on the side? I didn't go out with empire or being successful. times further on for myself, could be at what I did. major goal. I never thought about making surfboards. encouragement from get into surfboards living out of it. my parents... "You're gonna make surfboards for a living?!" started making surfboards, as you are now. through the early years? a lot of hard times... the lean times. they were good. that's a part of life, your friends or your family. part of life. rest of it weren't... factors really. point about the future? about the future. [laughter] [laughs] over that? pray about it, that's always there. what I do a lot times. going to be a failure. boards for is a world champion. working, you know? harder and try harder, I'm trying to accomplish so I use it for energy, to drive me. A lot of us wouldn't  see fear  will get us going. of advice you can give us, sort of confused as to and for our generation, piece of advice be? successful or set as being  you'll find it's not there. for yourself and you get there, they're pretty empty. You know, have goals. but if you're looking you won't find it. I think we're  out of gas. Are you serious?  [laughter] [laughter] Ah...hilarious! que cargar gas de diesel? that's it. Supposedly they're gonna stop over or something. come back. Gracias! Gracias! Oh, Nabil from  Sonic Boom was awesome. I used to work at a record store and I can't even imagine... to be able to own something it does what they want to do. I know I'm gonna be doing something that I love, trip just pushed that idea more. but also that it can be done. whatever it is, if that's what you want. surf, like it was for Al. into perspective, driving around in an RV. everyday and you're just... just happy. hair and you're like, all I need right now...some air. no TV, and I don't know, I don't need any of that." enjoying each other. what we think. that we don't want answers to, so why not ask it out loud feels that way too. So I guess what we're wondering is where were you about 20, 21 or so? to San Francisco State. dancer and an actress. I wrote poetry then, about being a poet. after a year so I turned 19 in Kabul. Nepal and Bangkok, and all these of just blew open my head. You just took off, traveling and all that... did you manage to do that? wasn't there maybe-- that will happen? It not work out? A year or two years older? experiences in between. went for something, "I wonder if I had, if...?" thing that'll happen? I'm a theater major. the second year... started calling me a poet. I'm doing a TV show. could you, like..." I was not...I was acting. Explosion Company, dancing. Repertory Company, acting. and writing on the side, get gigs doing it. into this poetry world, but more of like... That was it. It's a fire in your belly. when it's there. that fire?" Yeah. and I'm doing this. thinking about it. since you were small? but always for something. But that's what I'm saying...for something. this idea that you've got to be think you have to be. that excites you, grows tangentially from that. should get there: present...with the now. would have a career as a poet. I mean, that's kind of absurd. come across people how you were living or pursuing or were negative towards you? with that? my life, I was. It's funny, you always hear that cliche question: that could happen?" but you never-- You never answered? Yeah, actually think it through: what is actually the worst Like, I waste time? time, I just don't-- years older? the experience. That was a big thing too, the experience.  you have the experience. Why have regrets when Then know for sure. wonder. Wow! that's a big issue for myself. push out and-- latitude right now; it's brilliant. this better when I was younger. do anything. you may not be able Ask someone about it. You never know what can happen. you have to do gut feeling. into something wrong for you. To watch more interviews from the road, that keeps us driving, Online you can learn more about how to bring your classroom. 

<p>In Seattle, the Northern route team interviews John Richards, radio DJ, KEXP radio. In San Francisco, the Central route team visits the Exploratorium to interview Shawn Lani, exhibit builder. Later in Albuquerque, the team sits down with Tina Nenoff, an environmental scientist at the Scandia National Laboratory.</p>

Seattle - Albuquerque

Power KEXP 90.3, 90.7. the way up to 2:00 o' clock. in the studios of KEXP. I'll be back tomorrow for show bright and early at 6:00 AM. >> Hi, good to meet you. >> Good to meet you, Jeff. we go to art school in Brooklyn, New York. we're gonna do with our life. you about what you were thinking, 22 years old. from there to where you are today. yesterday that I was 21 or 22. to about when I was 20. bands coming into town, through Spokane and I saw this show. Alice and Chains. snuck into the club and I was blown away. these tapes and then being with your and maybe it was speaking to you. and center around Loving Rockets and were the only ones who knew about. pass time but we were passionate about it. thought we are on our own little club, and like music became the way we lived and having it on all the time. was sending me demos too. Nirvana on there and Pearl Jam and going on just 300 miles from my house. had no idea what I wanted to do. be in the music business. I wanted to be in Seattle. your future, but it hits you eventually. work in a restaurant anymore. the University of Washington and obviously a good place to start, media of some sort. degree and that's what you do. as I wanted more and that wasn't gonna do a thing for me. a station now known as KXB at the time. come in there and ask to volunteer. this guy named Patrick Cone answered. he said, what can I do for you? I work as many hours as you want. we have some stuff for you to do. They said do you really? the station is the fact that I was just do anything at any hour, and that's what got me into radio. enthusiastic about the place I was at. finding what I loved and who find out what they wanna do. give kids is dive into it and when. don't be half ass about it. that much of a sacrifice then it's you would make that kind of sacrifice. out the night before. someone's really into it. interning at KCMU and >> Yep. much right, you gotta work somewhere else. work all these other places, are in any kind of job, man. but that was tough. you have a stake in something, or feel some sort of passion for, love for. it's hard if you love something like that. I could come in five days a week, and where I was ready to give up and away from that shift. five hours every week to be on the air and I don't think I would have given it up. of reaching the youth of America but, are in our position, what would it be? thing right now and asking people. now, if I knew then what I know now. put me on the right path, talked to someone in radio. once I figured out what I wanted to do, talk to you all the time. maybe that is something I want to do. your family, people you trust most and it is the main thing. however crazy the idea is or however be able to achieve something, try it. ideas to people and never hear back, that's totally going to help you. 

Hard Work

Passion

Interview

I'm going to walk over to KCMU, which was the station, now known as KXB at the time, could come in there and ask to volunteer. knocked on the door, and I work as many hours as you want. I was just willing to come in and I was just enthusiastic about it. about the place I was at. finding what I loved, and who as late as the late 20s, who find out what they want to do. give kids is dive into it, you got, don't be half ass about it. least that much of a sacrifice, you. you would make that kind of sacrifice. it does involve not going out the night and working for free. someone who's really into it. interning at KCMU and the time was it ever frustrating? much, right? work in all these other places. >> Yeah, but work in any kind of job man. but that was tough. you have a stake in something. feel some sort of passion for or love for. something like that. could come in five days a week and I was ready to give up and just say, imagine walking away from that shift. those five hours every week, I don't think I would have given it up. 

Dive Into It

What would it be? thing right now in asking people. again if I knew then what I know now. would have put me on the right path, talked to someone in radio. out what I wanna do, talk to you all the time. you can take those and go, with your friends, and your family, however crazy the idea is, or not actually be able to achieve something. you never know what can happen. to people and never here back but that is totally going to help you. 

Community

Ask Advice

[John] It's about 20, and I headed to Seattle. idea what I wanted to do. Um, I didn't know I didn't know if I wanted I just knew I loved music I decided communications place to start if I wanted media of some sort. more to get into radio, gonna do a thing for me. which was a station now known It was on campus. so, you know, anyone could ask to volunteer. knocked on the door, answered, I'll never forget it. can I do for you?" Anything. "No pay, I don't care." this is listener power. I mean, everything you've got. make at least that much it's obviously just not 

John Richards

Radio DJ

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John Richards

Milestones

Education

Career

Career Roadmap

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