A RADIO DJ’S FIRST SHOW, From the Perspective of the Black Coffee Show:

By: Paige Fosse

8:40 AM
Arrived 20 minutes early
The MCR, or Master Control Room, doesn’t provide much room for pacing. Our nerves are oozing from our ears and bouncing across the control board like monstrous sprites. Little troll faces and devious fingertips threaten each button as Emily Hower and I look on in anxious horror.
Also, we’re having trouble logging into the computer. This is a crisis. If we could use Morse code to send an S.O.S without losing our pride, we would.

8:55 AM
THE PASSWORD DOESN’T WORK.
THE MONITOR WON’T TURN ON.
NO, NO, WE’RE NOT GREG WESTON. WE’RE NOT.

8:56 AM
Computer access achieved. Ship momentarily stabilized. S.M.S
Our beanies elegantly askew, overall straps buckled, shoes off and spectacle rims spanning from ear to ear, we are ready.

9:00 AM
Bombay Bicycle Club
Feist
“Can we play Paul Simon?” Uh.
Jake Bugg

MIC BREAK
“Do you want to talk first, or do you want me to? You can, you can, okay, yeah. After this song?”
Headphones on.
Stutters, giggles. “You’re listening to W-P-T-S Radio.”
Radio rolls off my tongue like water droplets sliding down the drain; slick.

Lord Huron
Dr. Dog!
“Can we play John Legend?” Uh.
Oscar Isaac

9:50 AM
Dad text: “So proud of you! You are such a professional!”
Mom text: “I can tell which songs are yours!”
Friend text: “PLAY LORDE!”

Must refrain from melting. No liquids allowed in the MCR.

10:00 AM
Check, check, check, check and checking those hourly requirements.
Alt-J
River City Extension
“Can we play Jerry Lee Lewis?” Uh.
Jack White
Eliza Doolittle
Broken Bells!

10:58 AM
“….WPTS Pittsburgh”
We relinquish our radio thrones to our new friend and following DJ.
No air died in our hands, releasing an eerie silence throughout the radio waves.
Not a single tear was shed and no animals were harmed in the making of our broadcast.

11:00 AM
Realization: The most exhilarating experience in the week of a WPTS DJ is rarely a Friday night party or an aced exam.
It is, however, slipping a mic-break between two songs without a second of spare sound.
It’s also checking to see how the show sounds near the front desk and smiling because it’s a song you chose to grace the ears of every listener (I’m talking to you extended family members!)
It is also lovingly making your playlists each week.
And signing your name on the operators log with an excessive amount of pride.
Also, it is your peers telling you it sounded good “from out here” before they slide into their own two hours of favorite tunes and weather reports.
Most of all, it is the whole plethora of validating comments and self-satisfaction in producing something that is all yours for the enjoyment of all who choose to tune in.
First show jitters, second show jitters, third show jitters: all part of the allure and appreciation for WPTS Radio.