Falling Off A Log

Falling Off A Log - There's something about being in a radio station that's unlike any other place on earth. The stacks of electronic equipment give off a faint odor of ozone that reminds you of how the air feels after an electrical storm. You get a sense of urgent tension in most radio stations; standing there, you feel like there's stuff that needs doing, and NOW!

And that's just walking in the door.

Being on the air is another level of the same feeling; when you open the mike, you sense that what you say is going to go out there to the rest of the world right now - there are no mulligans. The immediacy buzzes back at you through the headphones.

And that's just introducing a record.

Doing a talk show? It's yet another level altogether. Let's be honest; it takes a certain amount of ego to think your opinion - on politics, sports, cooking, whatever - has anything to offer to other people. And armed with that ego and (hopefully) a lot of show-prep, you sit down in front of that microphone, smell the ozone, feel the tension, and see that clock - and realize that it's two minutes after the hour, the opening theme is starting, and you have to keep some kind of talk going on for the next fifteen minutes. And then take a four-minute break, and repeat the process eleven more times. And if at any point you run out of things to talk about, you and your ego are going to sound really stupid.

Call it "Extreme Barroom Conversation". When it works, there's nothing like it.

So the Northern Alliance Radio Network debuted Saturday on AM1280 The Patriot. The show went wonderfully; better than most of the guys expected, I think, although about like I'd figured it would; there was too much talent involved for the thing to tank completely, and not so much talent that embarassing failure was guaranteed. With so many people involved, the big worry with this sort of show - not having any callers - doesn't mean much. We could have probably talked among the nine of us for the whole three hours without taking any calls - but that wouldn't have been nearly as much fun.

How'd it go? Well, so many people blogged about it, I can't add much; Brainstorming had a great review, and the American Thinker sounded off as well. Powerline did a great wrapup, and of course Captain Ed liveblogged the whole thing.

A few other notes: It was a pleasure to work with producer Joe Hanson again. We used to work together at another station, many years ago. He's the best in the business.

And the after-show party at Rocket Man's place was a wonderful time. Mrs. Hindrocket made the best roast beef I've had in twenty years - yes, I kept track! - and a "Martha Stewart's Macaroni and Cheese" that should be considered a mitigating factor in any upcoming sentencing. We got to meet the great Yale Diva as well.

Good show, good company, good time. We'll have to do it again sometime.

Tune in next week!