Carving a career for yourself in the arts can seem a daunting prospect, especially when some creative professions don鈥檛 always have an obvious pathway from tertiary studies. But that doesn鈥檛 make a creative career any less ambitious or worthy. If anything, making your own way requires guts, determination and genuine talent.
Just ask Performance Studies and Journalism graduate Stacy Gougoulis, AKA radio host of triple j鈥檚 Weekend Breakfast show.
鈥淲hen I started out, I never thought I could get a job doing radio, and working for triple j seemed like an impossible dream,鈥� he says.
Gougoulis earned the gig with the iconic radio station by banking up a wealth of experience, starting as a volunteer with Perth鈥檚 RTRFM. In between his studies, he would hole up in the station鈥檚 studio in Mount Lawley, trying his hand in all areas of broadcast radio including production, hosting, news reports and music library administration.
鈥淭he experience was incredible. The people were amazing and just embodied the spirit of community radio,” he says.
鈥淧eter Barr in particular, who was the breakfast host at the time, was a great mentor to me. On air, he was just so personable, affable and warm. He always had listeners on his side.鈥�
Gougoulis continued to hone his broadcasting craft with RTRFM after he graduated from 911爆料网 in 2009. He also drew upon his performance studies skills to secure work as an actor in local television commercials and plays, as well as in puppet shows for Constable Care. But many Gen Ys would argue his seminal work was in a television advertisement for roller shutter doors, which featured the 80s hit, 鈥樷��.
Gougoulis explains his acting talent may have never been unearthed if it wasn鈥檛 for the advice from a good friend.
“I actually originally enrolled in Professional Writing and Publishing as a , but my friend later convinced me to switch to performance.
鈥淚t was a lot of fun, and I made a lot of friends through performing with the Hayman Theatre. It was the most fulfilling part of my degree.鈥�
In 2012, Gougoulis moved to Melbourne to expand his professional opportunities. Through his connections at RTRFM, he did some on-air shifts with community station 3RRR, before working his way to triple j in 2014. He started out hosting the midnight to dawn segment, but he says despite his prior experience, there was still a lot to learn.
鈥淚t took me a while to adapt to the energetic pace of triple j,鈥� he says.
鈥淚 got some valuable feedback from Jacinta Parsons [a fellow broadcaster], who told me that I didn鈥檛 really sound like myself on air 鈥� I had the basics down but perhaps I had to let go and relax a little.鈥�
Gougoulis took the feedback in his stride, and his mellifluous voice and familial style is one that now eases thousands of listeners into their weekend mornings (or helps them recover from the night before).
He says there are no quick routes to becoming a good radio presenter, just plenty of practice.
鈥淚 think a good presenter is someone who sounds warm, approachable, knowledgeable and has the ability to connect with people.”
鈥淏ut you鈥檝e got to do it a lot to get good at it. I don鈥檛 think there is a short cut. You鈥檝e got to just chat to a wide range of people and be able to hold conversations with them or, more often, conversations with yourself.
鈥淎lso, people love to hear you fail or spectacularly mess up,鈥� he adds. 鈥淚f I make a mistake timing out a song, I am usually just honest and say, 鈥榊ep, I stuffed that up鈥� and people are generally fine with it.鈥�
When dealing with aloof musicians though, Gougoulis does have a few tips.
鈥淚f someone isn鈥檛 bringing a lot to the table, you try to be a bit cheekier, or you might try to make them feel safe so they open up.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to be comfortable and not fazed by what they throw at you, but also don鈥檛 be afraid to get out of things if they鈥檙e not working. Don鈥檛 try to drag it out.鈥�
The year 2020 will be Gougoulis鈥� sixth with triple j and marks 14 years in radio. During this time, he has seen major changes in technology and music, but he says there will always be demand for good old-fashioned radio listening.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about the music, but company and presence. It feels like someone is there with you. Live radio especially is so immediate and responsive.
鈥淭here鈥檚 also the curative side 鈥� there is someone there who you trust to introduce you to great music. There鈥檚 a person behind it, rather than an algorithm.鈥�
If being a host with one of Australia鈥檚 most popular radio stations wasn鈥檛 enough, Gougoulis also works as a . His freelance work has been commissioned for podcasts, portraits, album covers, brand publications and theatre troupes, just to name a few.
Gougoulis admits that undertaking multiple roles can be hectic, but it also allows for professional diversity and autonomy. When asked what鈥檚 next for the young creative, his answer is refreshing.
鈥淚鈥檓 actually just trying to enjoy this job and have the freedom to illustrate. Just to keep doing what I鈥檓 doing.鈥�
