Work & Play

By Farasha Khan Sayeed

The ease with which RJs conduct their shows camouflages the actual hard work that goes behind each one of them. At Radio Today 89.6 FM, Armaan Shayer is one of those talented people who’s been doing this for almost nine years now.
Although it is a stressful job where one has to be alert and prepared at all times, Armaan makes it sound very simple. “Our offices are very accommodating in helping us de-stress. We arrive an hour before our shows, and have coffee and just hang out between our on air time.” His confidence in his job stems from prior experiences in places like Voice of America (VOA Radio), Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM and then further training in Radio Broadcast Management from various countries. His enthusiasm in music is what encouraged him to enter this field. “I am a business graduate, but this was my first job and now I can’t think of anything other than radio!” When it comes to dealing with his listeners, Armaan thinks the key point is humor. “We are very stressed out in our regular lives anyway, so I feel that the mantra for entertainment should be humor; it gives the audience a change from the monotonous life.” Armaan’s trick of trade is to prioritise his listeners when he’s on air. “The listeners are the ones spending their money and time texting and calling us. We wouldn’t be who we are if they weren’t listening to us.”
Besides being an RJ, Armaan is also a TV actor and musician, and wears the hat of a senior producer for Radio Today 89.6 FM. His professionalism is what sets him apart, in instances where he puts aside his personal grievances to put on a showman’s cloak. Despite that, he is very content with his field of work since it allows him to stay youthful and relaxed. He ends with saying “Work becomes play when you enjoy it.”