I DJed in college at WUAG, the music 103.1. The radio station for UNC Greensboro (listen to WUAG).
Bumper sticker from the station. Photo courtesy of Randy Gupton.
I loved playing records, getting requests and recording my shows to listen to later. Because I was a super responsible in college, I served as both the programming director and the general manager.
John Rash and Benji Shirley at WUAG
Later my friend Kathy talked me into DJing wedding receptions and taking the weekend overnight shift at Rock 92.3, a classic rock radio station in Greensboro (listen to Rock 92.3). WKRR can be heard all the way to Charlotte. I was really proud whenever I would hear that family members or friends from high school heard me on the radio.
When I moved to NYC, I left DJing behind. I didn't think I would make any money doing it and I didn't think it sounded like a grown-up job.
While working at the dotcom incubator (1999-2001) my love of music got me a role as a web producer on the incubator's signature product. The Visual Radio Viewer was a multi-media player delivering premium content over DSL - the first version of high-speed Internet.
For the viewer we had content deals with HBO that were orchestrated by Ari Emanuel - Rahm's brother and the guy the Entourage character Ari Gold is modeled after.
Because of my DJ experience and my love of music, I was selected the programming for all of the alternative, college rock, indie and AAA stations. I thought it was pretty cool my college hobby got helped me land a job.
When I moved to Durham in 2002, I picked up a show at WXDU, the radio station at Duke University (listen to WXDU). I quit around 2005 when the responsibilities of my job began to conflict with my show responsibilities.
Last Tuesday I stepped into a booth for the first time in 9 years.
Virginia Ingram on WCOM in Carrboro.
Tuesday would have also been my dad's 81 birthday. Though my parents are extremely business oriented, the last input my dad gave me on my career was that I'd missed my calling as a TV game show host.
I'm not quite ready to abandon my life and begin a career as a game show host, but I'll happily share what I talked about on the radio show and even let you listen to the show.
As I contemplate my love for radio I realize my love for communicating on the web stemmed from my love of radio. It's a big world out there, but we learn so much when we listen to others and share our ideas and beliefs. I'm glad I had the radio station as my first playground. I think I've tried to capture the magic of that playground with every version of this website. As the web and virginiaingram.com continue to evolve, I am sure you'll see many more moments influenced by my radio years.