How about a peninsula-wide radio station...

In another thread, someone mentioned that the DJ's really could stay a few more hours than they actually do.

I was thinking that it would be cool if they had a peninsula-wide radio station that all the DJ booths could be hooked up to during the day.

This could be very useful. They could give up to date weather forecasts to warn people of any severe weather. They could give the waits of the coasters in the park to help spread out the crowds. They could have quite a long loop of music set up on a randomizer with a whole lot of songs that would play them a maximum of twice during the day. This would cut down on repetitive songs being heard in different queues.

The biggest thing this would help with is that it would cut down on the DJ's day hours, and they could stay later in the night. The DJ's could show up and start requests at around 6, and stay until closing or until the queue has emptied. The radio tower wouldn't have to be incredibly tall if it was set up somewhere by Breakers. The maximum distance it would have to go would be a little over, or around a mile.

Not to say that this would happen, but in it's secluded location on the peninsula, could this be feasible?

I think it could be feasible.  I think that they should broadcast from one DJ booth to he others.  By this, I mean that they cauld have one booth, probably on MF because it usually has the longest waits, and they could use a transmitter to transmit the music to other rides.  Not only would this increase the time the songs are playing, this would also allow them to have music on all rides.

I only suggest this as opposed to CP_Bound's idea because this would cut down on the space needed, and I'd rather be outside by a coaster than cooped up in a little room.

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...That was Schwabinchen' awesome!!

Paul

Yeah, that sound's better. The only problem I see with that is that the DJ's will be constantly getting requests for boy bands, Britney, and other pop-py junk without mixing it up.

Now if they actually had the music schedule set up like a real radio station where they have a list of the songs they have to play, and then they have an opening for a request every few songs, that would definitely work out.

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MF count: 23

Here's my theory: Go To MTV.com each day and get the video rotation used, edit out any offensive songs, add some oldies and classics (love shack!), and broadcast to all the parks existing booths. The only problem with this is getting a Broadcasting License. Anything past a few hundred yards, you will need some sort of license, as well as a registered location on the dial (96.5, 107.9, etc.) So it might actually be just as expensive to get and maintain this license, as it is to occasionally staff the DJ booths.

OR, they just buy a 5 disc CD changer and burn a different mix on 5 different CDs and just let her whirl.

Obviously Cedar Point must have a good reason for putting flesh in those DJ booths, and I think its that it creates a more personal experience when you have a live DJ speaking over the microphone.

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Jes
Webmaster, Jes's Roller Coasters
"Thank You Jeff Putz"

If you got the loop from MTV, you would just have a bunch of pop mixed with a little Linkin Park and Staind (no, Staind would be too offensive) and perhaps some Puddle of Mudd. That's the kind of thing I wasn't going for.

ummm...

good idea

how much $?

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Wicked Twister Rocks

If it was set up like CP4LIFE said, it wouldn't cost that much. Between the wages saved up from not needed DJ's at 3-4 locations for 8 hours several days of the week for the season, the money saved for it would add up.

That's a really good idea....(yes for 'Love Shack'!!!) That would also be great for the employees, whether in the caf, or even when off-duty in their rooms. I would love to have some better music than what the local stations have to offer!
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Millennium Force- 2001
ATL Peanuts Playground/Ocean Motion- 2002

Well CP_Bound, what else can you do but try and appeal to the widest audience possible?  It’s not always fair, nor is the music always the best. Many radio DJs will tell you that they don’t like the type of music they’re forced to play. Say Jeff, what did you think of the music on Jammin’ 92.3?

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Jes
Webmaster, Jes's Roller Coasters
"Thank You Jeff Putz"

I thought 92.3 is now "extreme" radio. It used to be rap last year and even before that it was "jamin" which was awesome. They had that big dude dancing around town.

Either way, they should play the type of music which is on 92.3 now , hard rock and tolerable pop.

The Hard Rock Hotel in Universal Orlando plays their music from computers.  Would it be easier to load some computers with MP3s and play it around the park?  Just a thought...  Otherwise, CP could just dial into a local radio station.

Jammin' was awesome? Not after I left it... ;)

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

Today's radio DJ's don't pick the music that they play.  I know, I am one.  Do that, get fired!   

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"If we go any faster, she'll blow apart for sure!"

A few DJs get to play what they want, much to the chagrin of highly-paid consultants. Thing is, it doesn't usually happen at commercial radio stations.
That said, why would CP need to broadcast at all? Nobody up there is carrying an FM radio...why deal with the hassle? But if they want to have more hours staffed in the DJ booths for less man-hours, why not just tie the booths together so that all queues can be fed from any booth? Let's take it a step further and put all the music on a central server. Better still, equip the DJ with a wireless microphone and set the music system up so that it can be controlled with a handheld computer. There are some really cool things they could possibly do.

But apart from putting a library of several hundred (do I hear several thousand??) songs on a music server and connecting it to all of the booths, is any of it really necessary for what they're doing up there??

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
Who would like to see "Love Shack" and "YMCA" banned from the Cedar Point playlists...

I think that the radio station idea is excellent.  They already have a AM station for traffic and weather, why not do an FM?  I am sick of the same music being played at Mantis, and they could do news updates, weather, and waiting times for rides, just like Disney does.
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...I will be more than happy to give you a cigarette...

The cost involved can't be justified. No profit = no bother. The kind of programming you're talking about costs money to produce.

People like real live humans in the queue as DJ's.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

Jeff,

I agree.  Live people are better than dead ones.   :)

J/K, I do radio on Sat and Sun nights, part time (kinda a hobby).  I actually am at the station for an hour and a half to do this.  Give me a 'puter and a Mic, and let me go!

PS:  This station is tapeless.  CDless too.  It's all computers.  LOL!

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"If we go any faster, she'll blow apart for sure!"

Jeff is right.  People prefer actual DJ's in the booths instead of a radio.  But alot of times there is no one in the booths.  And Mantis doesn't even have a booth, just a screen that is constantly covered and some speakers that plays the same thing every 4 hours.  So a radio station, or something like it, would work well.  Especially when the booth is empty.  And it would make a good replacment for the system in the Mantis que. 
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Ride Statistics:
Magnum: 10
MF: 4

How about those of us who would prefer that the DJ's, and music in the queues, for that matter, disappear entirely?  Nothing against the DJ's themselves, but I find that the music in the queues is _way_ too loud.  I am tired of having my ears ringing by the time I get up to the loading platform, and who knows whether any permanent hearing damage is being done to patrons.

Before I get flamed, no, I'm not an old f*$t.  I just don't care for music played at a level that is way too loud for my ears.  I'm certain there are also people who don't like the particular kind of music being played, but to me, that's not as annoying as the volume at which it is played.

I suppose I do show my age by noting that I've spent many an hour in queues at CP before the DJ's went in (and since, on days when they've been gone), and it's not entirely unpleasant just listening to people talk as you "queue along."

*** This post was edited by Western Cruiser on 2/3/2002. ***

*** This post was edited by Western Cruiser on 2/3/2002. ***

This topic was actually discussed with a few people last summer during one of my VertiGo days (testing day if I remember).

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VertiGo Rides - 82 (2001)
And looking forward to more!!!