Lancer Radio goes live for Rose Parade

Listeners of PCC’s Lancer Radio were treated to live coverage of the 2012 Tournament of Roses Parade, directly from the parade’s route.

With close to three months of rehearsing behind them, disc jockeys, hosts, a technical crew, and volunteers, numbering to more than 20 volunteers, found that the anticipation and preparation paid off on January 2nd.

“The experience was absolutely amazing. There was pressure but overall the day went beautifully,” said student disc jockey Brian Diaz, broadcast journalism.

As a host for “The Grotto,” a weekly music and variety show, Diaz says that it takes a tremendous amount of chemistry to make a broadcast appeal to listeners.

However, experience in radio does not mean students from other disciplines cannot become involved. In fact, Diaz encourages students to volunteer and try their hand at radio broadcasting.

“I highly recommend everyone to get involved. We could always use an extra hand!” said Diaz, who helped co-anchor the event.

While many student segments were delivered by first-timers on the parade route, one participant brought her experience from Lancer Radio’s Rose Parade coverage in 2011.

Dot Cannon, winner of College Broadcast Incorporated’s 2011 National Student Production Award for her documentary titled “PCC and the Rose Parade,” joined the station as a co-anchor in its second live coverage of the parade.

Although this year also marked her second time broadcasting the parade to listeners online, she still found the event to be “somewhere north of fantastic!”

“I have so many favorite moments from the day, but the one I remember most is watching the sunrise. I also feel that this was one of the best teams I’ve ever worked with,” said Cannon.

For those seeking an opportunity to participate in next year’s coverage, station manager Valentino Rivera encourages students to take the challenge.

“Auditions began in October. I gave students a chance to work on their chemistry and to become familiar with radio,” said Rivera. “Once students demonstrate they’re prepared to take a role in the production, then I prepare them for anything that can go wrong. They learn to have plan A through Z.”

While providing live coverage of an event that brought in about 80 listeners to their online stream, the participants rely on research to furnish a show that can compete with larger, well-known stations that are frequently present on the parade route.

“If you’re going against stations like KTLA, we need to have as much background on the event as possible to make sure our listeners know they are listening to quality radio,” said Cannon, who has an extensive background in broadcast journalism.

Aside from providing listeners with detailed coverage of an epic Pasadena event from the sidelines, participants advise future volunteers to have a good time with the crowd.

“It is a privilege to broadcast the parade, but you want your listeners to know that you are having fun!” added Cannon.