WCBN DJ enlivens airwaves with her spunky personality

Music plays a role in everyone's life in one way or another. For Art senior Mrrranda L. Tarrow, assistant music director and promotions coordinator of WCBN, 88.3, music is something she appreciates - and it's her job.

"Music is a big part of my life. I am like a 'hipster,'" said Tarrow, who doesn't perform as part of her involvement with music.

Tarrow has worked at WCBN for the past two and a half years, and this year will be her last. She is a regular DJ, broadcasting almost six hours a week on "Freeform" (12 p.m.-3 p.m. Thursdays) and "Radio Limbo / All Out Attack" (10 p.m.-1 a.m. Fridays).

Besides her on-air duties, she works off the air anywhere from four or five to 20 hours a week. Tarrow handles giveaways, tickets, guest lists, CDs and local concerts. Sometimes she has the opportunity to interview bands at the Shelter, St. Andrew's

EMILY NATHAN/Daily Mrrranda L. Tarrow puts her own unique spin on broadcasting at WCBN.

Hall or the Blind Pig.

Although her job offers no monetary compensation, Tarrow said she enjoys it and that it has been her "single biggest source of friends and companions."

"We all get along great," she said. "I have met some of my best friends here."

WCBN is known for the variety of music it airs. Throughout each day and week, its programs range from country and hip-hop to reggae and industrial punk. "(Station) workers' tastes generally overlap," Tarrow said.

This sound collage is one thing Tarrow loves about working for the University's radio station.

"College radio is so different than commercial radio," she said. "We have so much leeway and can play whatever we want."

Commercial radio, on the other hand, has set playlists that must be followed.

Other things Tarrow said she loved about her job include "the access to the CD library, the free stuff and the fact that people know me."

She said having people recognize her gives her a feeling of accomplishment.

"The best experience I can remember was when I was in a restaurant in Ypsilanti and a customer recognized me by my voice," she recalled. "She said that she listened to my program and laughed so hard that she almost peed her pants. I was talking about a fight I had with a boyfriend and how I beaned him in the head with a loaf of frozen bread."

Tarrow said the flattery makes her job worthwhile.

Her job isn't always that rewarding. But Tarrow said she has only had to rant and rave on the air a couple of times. She explained that female DJs, especially those who work at night, sometimes have some problems with pestering callers.

"People have called for phone sex before," she said. "I just scream into the mic and tell them to stop calling." Although frustrating, the entire scene can be quite comical, she said.

Tarrow admitted that she "makes no distinction between private/personal and public life." She feels comfortable enough on the air to share her birth control side effects as well as her relationship sagas, all of which make for an interesting broadcast.

Although Tarrow may be loud, outgoing and semi-obnoxious on air, she confessed these aren't necessary traits for every DJ. She said she knows plenty of DJs who are soft-spoken, intelligent and articulate, qualities which she said make for an excellent broadcast. Basically, she said, anyone can do it.

Those interested in working as a DJ at WCBN should know that certain training is required. Generally, this consists of "fluff" work such as filing records and organizing the music library. Learning to spin and making a demo tape are also required. The know-how of actual broadcasting and the behind-the-scenes engineering takes a little more time and training. Tarrow recommended that people interested in becoming a DJ should apply during the summer.

She, on the other hand, plans to move to Portland after graduation. Tarrow explained that she has minimal interest in continuing her radio experience and instead would like to concentrate on other interests, which include photography and writing. She also writes Azines, small-press independent magazines, in her spare time.

But she won't forget the impact of the University and, more importantly, WCBN.

"This has been a fun, edifying experience at U of M, much more than many of my classes," Tarrow said.

It is hard to forget that, although famous on the radio, Tarrow is an ordinary, everyday person.

"Today my mind is trailing behind me with a thin piece of string and I'm going to play on the computer," she signed off.

04-09-98