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"There's no formula for becoming a VJ," says VJ Exan Auyoung. That being
the case, her experiences give a good idea of what it's like to go from an
aspiring VJ to the real thing.
As a teenager, Auyoung briefly played in a band and volunteered at the
local university radio station. While completing a radio and television arts
program, she produced and hosted her own cable-access show. For a time, she
worked as a production assistant at a music video channel before joining YTV
as an entertainment reporter.
Another traditional starting point for VJs is radio. Three of the first
five VJs on MTV began their careers as disc jockeys.
Still, there are some standard qualifications for being a VJ. These include
a clear speaking voice, a pleasant appearance and a knowledge of music --
not to mention an ability to put your own unique spin on things.
VJ Leslie Bosacki sums up her advice in one word: volunteer. Auyoung agrees.
"That's exactly it," she says. "Anything where you're honing your skills on
camera or on the local radio show, where you can make all your mistakes in
the beginning and learn."
"I think the school of pop culture is the biggest thing," says VJ Chri
Booker, "not just being into what you're into, but knowing what else is out
there. You've got to be well-rounded."