The Original Sims

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Great ideas on Twitter from friends for a Job Title (see http://davidsims.blogsome.com/2008/07/31/sims-digital-media)

Thanks All - this is better than a radio phone-in.

The first tentative steps have been taken and I am now my own Boss.  SimsDigitalMedia is officially launched celebrated by me at my PC with a strong cup of coffee (is it tax deductable?). My first expensive typo has been made, too when I registered simsdigitlamedia.com as well.  So now I’m going through the process of registering the company!  First job - what title do I give myself?  Managing Director sounds too … conventional.  I tried Creative Director - but that sounds like I have a boss.  Thought Director General - that’d be fun … but then again pompous and pretentious.

Some US New Media companies give their people great titles - Chief Evangelist, Head of Making Things Work, Director of Having Fun.  Then I remembered that Northern Ireland is insanely conservative in business matters so Managing Director it will probably be.

"So, Mr. Sims, do you have any clients?" Well, yes I do.  Two so far, and I’ve only been going for a week.  And prospects, too - several/many.  Should I be thinking of a public flotation before Christmas? Probably not.

So - here we are - available for web production, podcast production, radio production, training, and after dinner speaking.  Also considered - voice overs (done an audition, already), more radio presentation, guest "expert", dish washing, bed making and general household duties.

Oh - and U105 have invited me back to do another show - Saturday 2 August 10.00 pm to 2.00 am which is good of them.

It’s the BEST summer party I’ve ever been to.

Joby Fox (ex Bankrobbers and Energy Orchard) sang a song about Terri Hooley http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QTOYCEkUA8

And so many old friends:

http://flickr.com/photos/davysims/2705176116/

http://flickr.com/photos/davysims/2705174904/in/photostream/

http://flickr.com/photos/davysims/2705173854/in/photostream/

http://flickr.com/photos/davysims/2705174904/in/photostream/

Last time I sat behind a microphone and flew a live radio programme was around 20 years ago.  But with the help and support of Maurice Jay, Ivan Martin and John Rosborough, I found myself in a self-op studio broadcasting to greater Belfast.

There was a wild surge of adrenalin during the first 15 minutes on the first night, but things balanced out over the four nights.  The big challenge for me is that I’ve got into the habit of "early to bed early to rise". So I was getting to sleep much later than usual, so there was something of a Jet Lag feeling by the third night.

So thanks to all - it was fun.

So now I know - doing a live radio programme in a studio I’ve never been in before with equipment that I’m unused to and when timings are not perfect, then live blogging is one ambition too far.

So no more of that, then!

21.07 This is interesting - live blogging and playing with new studios —

212.20 Bythe end of the first 15 minutes - three texts to the show - very welcome

21.30 Ooops - at least six minutes short for the first hour …..

No promises; this will my first live programme in several years and it’s a strange studio, but I’m thinking about Live Blogging tonight when I’m presenter on Belfast radio station U105.  Maurice Jay has been doing the induction, showing me how to work the desk and the Selector.  I’ve been sitting in with Ivan Martin and John Rosborough.  The running order for tonight is done - and trashed.  Do it again before going on air.

So - I’ll attempt to Blog here - or Twitter here - or Flickr from here.

So if join me from 9.00 pm on 105.8FM, or http://www2.u105.com/ (you’ll be asked for a UK Post Code.  (If you don’t have on try BT7 1EB.)

And email me - studio@u105.com from 9.00pm

EB

This is going to be fun.  I’m going to be a DJ on the radio once again.  It’s a guest spot, one week only (well four nights) and I’m really looking forward to it.  Radio is where I started out 29 years and eight months ago at Downtown Radio. This time I’m going to be on U105.  But it’s little like going back to an old mates reunion. Almost all the presenters are old friends and colleagues from Downtown, BBC and UTV.  Maurice Jay - the head of programmes used to live 100 yards from me.

So I don’t feel like a stranger, and that makes a big difference.  But studios have changed.  The old desk I used to drive in Downtown has been offered to a museum.  Vinyl out - CDs pretty rare and there are three or four screens instead of turn-tables.

Naturally, you can listen online - but you need to use a Northern Ireland post code - something like BT28HQ.

Story Finders and Audience

Sometimes you just need to slap people on the back and let them know they’ve done a great job.  When BBC NI set up the Story Finders project I had one simple idea.  It was to get one or two people trained up to help provide stories for community websites like YPAM - part of the group of sites for which I was Editor.  With support from BBC (NI and Nations and Regions), Department of Finance and Personnel, BT and NICVA there were enough funds to set up six Story Finders’ centres around Northern Ireland.

BBC NI Controller Peter Johnston, PFP Director Bill McCluggage and Basil Davidson’s back

Each of the groups were given kit (PC or laptop, digital stills and video cameras, audio recorder) and training to help them explore the stories - often oral history - of their locality.  Evelyn Ellison is the co-ordinator and mre recently Cathy Moorehead has been assisting.

Cathy Moorehead trying to get the damn thing to work

So on Thursday 19th people from five of the centres came together to show and tell.  it was my last formal event before leaving the BBC.  I’m very proud of the work they have all done and grateful for their enthusiasm.