One voice is a show. Several voices are a station. As soon as you bring in co-hosts, guest DJs or a rota of presenters, you need a few simple systems so that the hand-overs are smooth and nobody is locked out or talking over somebody else.
Decide who is on when
Start with a weekly grid. Give each presenter a regular slot, and write down who covers when someone is unavailable. A clear timetable is also what listeners see, so it builds trust. You can lay it out on the calendar scheduler; see how to schedule a show.
Give each presenter their own access
Sharing one password between everybody is convenient until someone leaves, or two people try to connect at once. Individual presenter access means each person connects with their own details, and you can change or remove one without disturbing the others. We explain it in the DJ access guide.
Agree on the software
Presenters can use different tools, but it helps to recommend one and give everyone the same checklist. Free programs such as Mixxx and BUTT are popular, and our guides walk through the settings step by step.
Plan the hand-over
The gap between shows is where dead air happens. Two habits fix most of it:
- Ask the next presenter to be set up and tested five minutes early, ready to connect as soon as the previous show ends.
- Let the AutoDJ cover the gaps. If nobody is connected live, it keeps playing from your library, so a late start is never silent.
Running co-hosts and guests
If several people are in the same room, one microphone each is the ideal, with someone responsible for the mix. If people are in different places, a video-call tool can bring remote guests in, and the host feeds that into the broadcast. Always run a quick sound check with a new guest before the show, and ask them to wear headphones to avoid echo.
Set house rules
- Which jingles and station IDs play, and when.
- Rules on language, topics and advertising.
- What to do when something goes wrong: who to message and how.
Give feedback and keep it friendly
Record shows if you can and listen back together. Short, regular, kind feedback improves presenters faster than occasional long critiques. A team that enjoys the station makes a station people enjoy.