Volunteer Reader FAQ
Q. Does
Virginia Voice need more volunteer readers?
A. We always need additional readers but the days and times of greatest need vary.
Sometimes the need is for “live” readers
who are available on Sunday afternoons or 7:00 a.m. weekdays, sometimes
the need is for people who are aviailable on weekdays during the day.
Q. Do I
need to commit to a certain number of hours each week?
A. A reading or recording session may last from
one-half hour to two
hours. Some readers volunteer once a week, some once a month, and some
are “substitute” readers who are on-call as needed.
Q. Is
there an age requirement?
A. There is no specific age requirement, but all
readers must pass the
oral reading audition.
Q. Who decides what
the reader will read?
A. After the audition, the program director will
decide what type of
material will be most comfortable for the volunteer. Then the
assignment becomes a juggling act between volunteer availability,
studio
availability, material availability and when the preferred program goes
on the air.
Q. Will I always
read the same program?
A. Maybe. Maybe not. Some volunteers are "regular
substitutes,"
having a regular recording schedule each week, but not knowing what
needs to be read until they arrive. Other volunteers read the
same program every week. So much depends on the programming
needs for each day and whether or not all scheduled readers are able to
be present.
Q. What
is being judged in the audition?
A. Voice strength, vocal quality, vocabulary,
inflection, intonation,
speed, phrasing, enunciation and pronunciation.
Q. Are
the readings recorded or “live?”
A. The first reading of the Times-Dispatch each day
is live, all other
programs are pre-recorded at times necessitated by the program
schedule.
Q. Can I
record nights after work or on weekends?
A. Yes. Our three recording studios are open on
Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday evenings until 8:30 p.m. We’re open on Saturdays
until at least noon, sometimes later, and on Sundays from 2:00 to 5:00
p.m. All studio assignments are by appointment to ensure as few
conflicts as possible. After you pass the audition, you and the program
director will find the best time for you.
Q. When
is the
earliest I can come in to read?
A. Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m.; Saturday 9:00
a.m.; Sunday 2:00
p.m.
Q.
What’s the audition like?
A. The audition, which is recorded for later review,
includes newspaper
and magazine articles that are typical of our daily programming, as
well as a vocabulary list. You should allow about 30 minutes for your
audition appointment.
Q. What
if I don’t pass the audition? Will I still be able to
volunteer?
A. Virginia Voice wouldn’t exist without
volunteers.
Volunteers are needed to deliver radios to listeners, to help with
mailings and to assist at health fairs. We also need volunteers with
technical experience to help in the studios with audio editing,
to operate the sound board on occasion, as well as to help with
occasional computer
or other technical problems. Computer experience is also needed to help
with the Web site and to assist us in developing our use of social
media.
We hope to see you at the next Orientation!
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