The Team is created

After receiving the call from Emma, I was very interested in the idea. In some way I had being looking for something like this to come along. I had always found the experience of working in radio as incredibly satisfying. The thought of being involved in creating a new station centred around gay culture was exciting.

We met in the Digital Hub at 1.30pm. I was introduced to a recent graduate and friend of Emma's, Liam. The idea had come to while walking to the post office. Within a matter of an hour we had come to realise, we were all on the same page. Well most of the time. We agreed that we wanted the station to highlight the gay culture while open the listeners mind. So many people have little or no experience with gay people that they revert to the old stereotypes. I have to admit I was even ignorant until my early 30's. This was probably due to my own fears and I imagine the same is true for a lot of people. So, with a resounding commonality we agreed on a style and format for the station. There was a strong sense of passion from all involved. It looked like we were in the process of creating something that could make a difference.

Liam had a contact with the Dublin Pride committee, so we planned for that meeting. The brainstorm went on for a couple of hours with loads of brilliant ideas and enthusiasm. At this stage we had no real foresight of what was really involved in taking on this baby. By the end of the meeting a name for the station was thrown in to the circle. OpenFM. I liked it. Emma liked it. Liam was a little....

How it all began...

Its quite bizarre really...I never thought a trip to the post office could spawn the next coming of radio. It started, like most things do, with initial contact from one radio folk to another. The idea: a gay cultured station for Dublin which would run over the week of Pride.

Within a matter of days we had a concept and arranged a meeting with the Dublin Pride Committe, a copious bunch of retro gays who'll do anything for the cause.

Basically we didn't want the station to be Gloria Gaynor on steorids, they agreed, through a communicative hand gesture which plagues the gays. Now we're here.

So what's next? Well, radio is an exciting medium and its never- to my knowledge- been used to both highlight the causes of the gay community and to reach out to everyday society.

What suprised me the most was that guys, usually straight who prefer a pint and the star on a Friday after a hard day at the buliding site, do actually think we gays only listen to camp music and act like women.

Yes, this may be true for a minority withing the gay community, but a majority are diverse who have a variety of tastes. Some may like MGMT or Kings of Leon while others may like house music or electro. Others might like watching Glee while some may like watching rugby. It's a premise which Open FM will stand for, diversity.

We hope you'll stay put and tune in.


Liam Cahill