Blast

You were the BBC Blast Arts Reporter for Kent in 2006. How did you get involved? Was there a lot of competition?

I didn’t know how much competition there was, which is probably a good thing! I found an advert on a BBC website asking if I wanted to be a junior reporter. To be honest that’s a pretty inviting question! I applied, was invited to an interview and before long I was there.

Was it a surprise to get the position?

I didn’t think I had a chance in hell to be honest! I thought the demand would be so high. I don’t know how many people a year apply for it.

About 400 nationwide I think…

I was pretty chuffed!

When you got the post, what were you expecting?

I didn’t know what to expect. I knew that BBC Kent wasn’t the main focal point of youth culture. I was quite excited to get involved with the local music team. Before I’d been doing work with local bands and booking them for local gigs. I wasn’t sure if they knew about the local scene. I got introduced to a lot of people there which was nice as it’s quite intimidating going for a interview at the BBC!

Blast Arts is not just about music, it’s also about other aspects of culture. Whereabouts did you go to cover these?

I did mainly stick to music but it was the only thing I really knew. I did try to broaden my horizons. I went to the Trinity Arts Centre in Tunbridge Wells but I wasn’t heavily involved in the theatre world. Since doing BBC Blast I’ve realised that Kent has a lot more to it.

Tom Kirkby at Lounge on the Farm 2008

What was your most memorable Blast moment?

Probably interviewing Super Furry Animals at Lounge on the Farm festival. I had to sleep out in my car and I got a phone call asking “Do you want to interview the Super Furry Animals?” That was pretty amazing. Plus meeting people in the BBC Kent team. It’s pretty surreal thinking “I’m working at the BBC!”

So what happened with BBC Kent Introducing?

Well I went back the next year to cover the same events that I had for Blast when I met Jim (Bursey) who was doing Kent’s Unsigned on Friday afternoons. There was only about 30 seconds for each song, three songs in the whole slot. It wasn’t enough. Jim said to me “What about doing an internet radio show?” I was over the moon. From there it got commissioned, I couldn’t believe it, it was ridiculous!

So have you got any advice for future Blast applicants?

Just get as much experience as possible. Even something like internet blogs, just anything on the internet. These days the internet is so accessible in the way of getting experience and put your work up there. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing; if you’re a a writer, broadcaster, photographer, just get your name out there and do it.