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SINGAPORE: There's always a first time for everything.
Last week, American actor Bobby Tonelli popped his proverbial cherry as a radio DJ, co-hosting Cartunes with Jean Danker on MediaCorp Radio's Class 95. He's joined a pool of people who've also started a new career on-air in the past few months. We know, we know - people begin new jobs every day, what's the big deal?
Well, mostly it's because Bobby and his newbie cohort - Sarah Tan, Choy Wan and Divian Nair - have already carved out a career in the entertainment industry, mostly by being on TV. Not quite your average jobseeker then.
This, of course, begs the question: What gives? Why are these pretty faces venturing into virgin radio territory when they're already set?
"I've been a huge fan of radio. Growing up in the United States, we'd take these long road trips and listen to the radio," said Bobby. "It's just the person's voice, you know, their personality that grabs you … That's what always interested me about radio."
It seems he's off to a good start. "Bobby is a quick study," said Erina Cook, senior programme director of Class 95. And, like every good first time, he had a good teacher.
"Jean is a superb teacher, guiding and supporting him as a partner should."
Atta girl, Jean. Atta girl.
Bobby Tonelli
The 34-year-old Bon Jovi fan is probably better known as "that ang moh moustachioed policeman" in the Channel 5 drama Fighting Spiders. Oh, and as Joanne Peh's significant other.
Has anybody warned you what a beast radio can be?
I guess it's like any job - it's a beast if you make it a beast; it can be enjoyable if you make it enjoyable. I think that there's a commonality between acting and radio, in that you have to bring something of yourself to it ... When I listen to good DJs, there's an honesty about them. They're not afraid to admit their faults and laugh at themselves. And you can relate to that. So I think just being myself, hopefully the audience likes what I bring to the table.
And do people like what you bring?
I think the criticisms are going to come but, you know, you can't sign up for this industry without being criticised - and you will be put down, run through the gutter ... It's all about how you can turn around and stand up again at the end of the day. I'm blessed. Whatever happens, happens; but I'm just going to do the best that I can.
What did Joanne have to say about this?
We've talked about it. She's happy for me to do it. It's a great opportunity and she listens to Class 95. When I told her, she said, "Wow, go for it". She's given a lot of support. But, then again, if you're in a relationship where the person doesn't support you, then what are you in the relationship for, right? (Laughs)
Stuck in a room for four hours ... Can you hold it in that long?
The last time I was stuck in a room for four hours was with Joanne! (Laughs) I might have to bring a bottle in there and say something like, "Jean, turn around"!
Sarah Tan
VJ, model and, as my colleague declared, one hot mother. And now she's hosting The Longest Lunchbreak on 987FM from noon to 4pm.
"I'd taken some time out to have my baby, and I was looking to get back into work," explained the 30-year-old wife of TV personality Soo Kui Jien. "I got a call from Georgina (Chang, senior creative director for 987FM and Lush 99.5FM) and she asked me to come in for a test. She seemed happy with it and I got the job. It wasn't like I was going, "I really have to be a DJ.'"
Did you bring anything from your TV experience to radio?
TV and radio are very, very different. I didn't realise before I got the job that I had to operate the machinery myself. On TV, you don't have to know how to work the camera. And I'm not a very machine-computer-tech-savvy person, so that came as quite a surprise!
What was your first time like?
Sink or swim. There were a couple of times I was like, "I'm not sure if I can do this, it's too much for me". But once I got over a few hiccups, it was okay. It probably took me about two months - a long two months, though!
You're the host of The Longest Lunchbreak, but how often do you need a tinkle break?
Well, I time myself very well! I see where I have the longest talksets and I drink water accordingly!
Choy Wan
She's been an MTV host, events hosts, and even a Durian Sister in Royston Tan's 881. Now, Choy - sans twin sister May - hosts Lush Weekends from 8pm. And it's a job she says they didn't have to twist her arm to do.
"I've always loved Lush as a radio station," said Choy. "It was (Gold 90.5FM DJ) Hamish Brown who referred me to Georgina, who asked for my demo. And then she was like, 'Okay, let's go ahead.'"
Still, despite her enthusiasm, the 29-year-old said her first time - on radio, that is - was more than a little scary. Despite her previous experience hosting on TV and at events, it did not prepare her for life on radio. "It's not the same on radio," she explained. "You need to try to be as engaging as possible and think about interesting things to talk about"
"Luckily I had Claressa Monteiro, who was my mentor and trainer, with me," she continued. "It's still a little nerve-wracking though! But I'm getting the hang of it."
Such as prepping her talksets for each show. "I know a lot of people think that I just go on and talk, but I do need to prepare so I don't go like, 'er …' while on-air," said Choy. "I have to be careful to enunciate my words without any of that 'um, ee, oh, ah'. I did that a couple of times and my sister was like, 'Why are you talking like that?'"
Divian Nair
At 23, he's the youngest DJ on the 987FM block. Better known as the lead face of the YOG highlights programme on TV, Divian co-chairs 987FM's morning show, AM Jam, with Vanessa Fernandez every weekday morning. A far cry from his days as an emcee for events.
Fittingly, that's how he got into radio - Rosalyn Lee, who hosts the Shan & Rozz Show, was a guest at one of the events he was hosting, and asked for his namecard. "I didn't think she was serious, but I got a call from the station the very next day. I'll always be indebted to her for that!"
And, yes, his first time was "extremely intimidating".
"I felt like a toddler on the front of a battlefield alongside giants," he said. "It was very difficult to find my place among these huge personalities. The awesome thing however is that they give me nothing but support and room to grow … to share my own personality and to find my own sense of belonging."
Of course, it's also hard to find your own sense of belonging when you've got the whole world watching you. Or at least the crowd at 987FM's very public studio at *scape. "It can be distracting when people sometimes plaster themselves on the glass pane with their tops off. That actually happened once!"
His reaction to such antics? "I just carried on with the shift as usual. Because even though there might be a crowd outside, I try not to forget that 99 per cent of our listeners are still all around the island. But it's not exactly the coolest thing in the world to see a jock scratch his butt or dig his nose."
- TODAY/ht
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