Out on a Limb Day #1

(photos courtesy of veer.com)


I am pooped I just came home from an all day volunteer shift at the radio station.  Since they let me set my own schedule so the words slave driver doesn't apply.  I met about 20 dedicated, funny, helpful and accommodating people whose personalities were wonderfully colorful.  The station is having an annual pledge drive. There were lulls during the less popular shows and crazy busy times of phones ringing off the hook during the more popular shows.  Nothing unmanageable though.  I spoke with the public all day long. Have you ever done this? It is an exhausting task to undertake for free.  The station did pay for our meals all day, which was thoughtful.  Restaurants and local cooks donated all of the [mostly vegan] food.  I was happy to not have to shop, chop, & cook for myself in order to eat tonight.

The public is such a trip to deal with on a moment by moment basis.  I was labeled as "the poor new volunteer who received most of the weird calls" today.  The fantastic Volunteer Coordinator J. showed me the ropes and asked me to step into the ring.  I obliged, answering the calls of mostly very nice but I did get some doozies. One man had turrets syndrome, a few folks called just to hang up in my ear hang and my favorite story is next.

A woman called during the regular evening news program of a male host.  She had notes on the hosts topic.  Funny right?  Drive time editorial content producing.  Using a tactic taught to us by J. the Volunteer Coordinator, she was asked if she wanted to simply make a donation.  She refused, only wanting to get her point across.  She asked us to take notes of her thoughts and opinions, walk them into the booth while the man was on air to tell him that 'he was wrong and should recant his commentary, make an on air apology, and then discuss her thoughts.'  Um sure, we'll get right on that task lady.  She was offered to be transfered to the COMMENTS LINE.  This was set up to not indulge these types of callers.  Can you feel the pain of the person whose job it is to answer the COMMENT LINE? There is an extension for folks like her especially set up in order for them to rant onto a VM as to not bug anyone at the station.  Well she didn't take that option.  She was then asked if she wanted to be put on the air with the host to discuss her thoughts with him on a national platform.  But no, she swiftly back peddled from that suggestion, she ranted a tad more and then she hung up.  Thwarted!  Or so we all thought.  Now that would have made interesting radio.

Moments later, she called back to MAKE A PLEDGE!  After all of the drama she actually donated cash.  Unbelievable I tell ya.  People are funny!!

I enjoyed the experience so much that I scheduled myself to go back on Friday.  I look forward to the kookiness that awaits.  Stay tuned...