Programming a part 15 radio station is free range territory, where any mode of programming is acceptable.
A few part 15 stations share the same lack, as I see it, as most of the licensed stations: we are vending machines, juke boxes, assembly lines... cranking out pre-recorded playlists without live hosting.
To their credit, some part 15 stations feature live segments, hosted by announcers and DJs actually spending time with the audience.
Fact is my station, KDX, has no live portions at all, for one reason: I'm unwilling to sit here talking to the wall and further unwilling to seek and deal with volunteers.
What I could do, I suppose, is patch someone else's live show via incoming stream, and have thought about it. Two programs available live include Free Talk Live and Alex Jones Show, which would require airing them at the time they're actually happening.
I tested the technical aspects of going live twice in 2007, and could hypothetically perform my radio programs live, but that would require more advance preparation... but I have an attitude against that.
Alright, we've talked about it now but haven't gotten anywhere.
There's live, and then there's LIVE. LIVE is what you refer to, Carl, in interacting with the audience. Tough when you're Program Director, DJ, Broadcast Engineer and audience combined.
I did some live stuff when I had my station on Bowen Island, interviews no less, with people who walked into the storefront my station was located in, and had mixed results.
I prefer live (small 'l') - prerecorded, perhaps, but recorded on the fly so it can later easily be scheduled and archived (I know that live shows can be recorded as well, but it's just another one of those tasks along with the rest).
Local live events, in the studio, on the street - you still get a flavor of a live show, but you don't have to have 8 hands and 4 brains to get it done. And in the studio if you say something bone-headed (as I am want to do), you can do it over again.
Live (small 'l') broadcasting is just a reality of typical Part 15 broadcasting.
Oh, I wasn't even thinking of all those flavors of live and LIVE, but you're right.
One guy who does LIVE is Ken Norris with Friday Harbor Walkie Talky Show in and out of businesses up and down the street.
The "livest" show I ever did was interviewing 3 in-studio guests at the same time, but mostly I was recalling the days of the talented live JOCK saying wacky things right up to the start of the vocal part of a record.
Garrison Keiler did a LIVE radio show in an auditorium filled with people, but I agree with radio personality Tommy Mischke who was heard saying, "Radio talent should never be seen... they should only be heard on the radio."
I even think publicity photographs of radio talent are too much... Bob and Ray were extra funny weaving their spell on the microphone but I don't think their pictures, stage or TV appearances had the same magic.
Perhaps the first use of a video camera in a radio station was in 1962 when the manager of a local station put a camera on the disc jockies... one of them didn't like it so he mounted a "MORE TO COME" sign to block the camera.
Maybe we could use TeamSpeak and do a live multi-voiced program. Could be just talk, could include call ins and music. Could be interesting. Run it to the recorder and archive for later broadcast.
The live program could be picked up by other ALPB member stations using TeamSpeak. We'd have an ALPB-TeamSpeak network program!
Great, Bob, fabulous idea!
Wonder how many stations we could link up for a Teamspeak Live Show?
We really ought to try doing a pilot.
Well, we've had maybe 8 participants at our meetings. That could be a start.
Might be a good reason for some of our latent members to get their TeamSpeak going.