Joe Calabrese '10 on the campus of C.W. Post.

Remember seeing Joe Calabrese '10 at every single school play and concert, running around behind the scenes, scrambling to make sure the audio equipment was working properly and all the performers sounded their best? Well, Joe's still at it up at C.W. Post as a freshman. Every Tuesday from 7-9 p.m., Joe co-hosts an on-campus radio show that streams live on the Web, and we wanted to know more!
 

E-News: So, what's the story here, Joe?

Joe Calabrese '10: I DJ and co-host Tuesday nights for a show called Real Rock Radio with my friend Matt Storz. The show goes from 7-9 on C.W. Post’s Web radio station (mywcwp.com, click on the blue “myWCWP” square to listen live) and is simulcast on 89.7 FM on campus. We play a mix of music that I like to say that it’s a great mix of Q1043 and 1019RXP, with our own comedic twist.


E-News: How do you get inspiration for what you play/say on the air?

Joe Calabrese '10: Each week I make a general play list, just making a print out of songs I want to play that night. It's so much easier that way to make sure I play a wide mix of music (like going from Muse to The Clash last night). We try to throw a talking break in there during the second hour, quickly covering weather and news. All the dialogue is unscripted, so it really turns into a comedy routine sometimes (actually a lot of the time).


E-News: What don't people understand about Web-based radio shows?

Joe Calabrese '10: I think it’s that people are mostly used to listening to the radio over an actual radio. It just seems foreign to turn to the web to listen to a radio show. Even I was so used to turning to the actual radio for music, that it never crossed my mind that I could find good Internet radio stations out there. Internet radio also allows for a wide audience to be reached; people outside the range of our transmitter can still listen in to the show. The campus runs 3 radio stations: the main FM station which is 88.1 FM WCWP, the myWCWP web station (which is simulcast on 89.7 FM only on campus) and a myWCWP Sports, which is Web only. 


E-News: What’s it like on campus, do you hear from people? Do they like the show?

Joe Calabrese '10: I love living on campus, because it’s living with my friends. A lot of my friends here tune into the show, and its always fun to hear what they think of the shows. Conversations always begin with, “great show tonight!” and progress to the humor Matt and I throw into the show. Originally, I never wanted to speak on air, just be a behind the scenes “button pusher” since I hate the sound of my own voice, but after a few shows, I broke into it and its fun. We make fun of each other on air. I remember saying that Matt had a “face for radio.” It took him a couple of seconds to get it, but when he did, he got up and walked to the other end of the studio and laughed hysterically. His microphone was still live, and it added a great backing track while I was introducing the next song.


E-News: What’s the most exciting and fun thing about being on the air, in your own opinion?

Joe Calabrese '10: I really enjoy everything about it. It’s a great experience. I’m still learning, having only done about six or seven shows so far. Everyone at the station has been so invaluable in helping me learn and improve. It's definitely fun to be able to be around all the awesome people at the station, but if I had to list one thing as my favorite, I would have to say it’s the comedic dialogue between Matt and I. I always get a good laugh out of it when I get to listen back to the show.

Listen to Joe's show here, TUESDAYS 7-9 p.m. mywcwp.com; click on the blue “myWCWP” square to listen live!