Sheffield Garden Walk

Saturday, July 19th

As a promotions intern for the station, at the beg

inning of the summer I was given a special assignment for the summer. Other duties assigned to some of my fellow interns included blogging on the website to give an insiders view of what it's like to be an intern for 93XRT, being part of the Ravinia Festival Team, assisting our Graphic Designer, etc. I was pleased to be assigned to capture audio

 from listeners and fans at different events, using a small voice recorder.  Last summer (2007), when I interned with Jimmy Bu

ffett's Radio Margaritaville, I was responsible for interviewing the cafe guests by asking about their favorite song, where they were from, etc. Therefore, I felt very confident about fulfilling this duty for XRT. The sound bites I retrieve will be used for on-air bumpers.

After setting up our tent and table in the rainy and very humid weather, I hung up XRT banners at the entrances of the street festival. The Sheffield Garden Walk has been a continuous summer street festival for 40 years! The blocked neighborhood at WEbster and Sheffield "features self-guided tours of more than 100 Gardens, a Garden Center, guided Architectural Tours, live entertainment by some of Chicago

's and North America's finest bands, food and drink, and activities for children at the Kid's Corner." 

This festival, like many, is in support for neighborhood schools, local institutions and other community projects. Additionally, the proceeds are distributed to the Garden District of Chicago to help keep Sheffield a beautiful garden.

After the first few hours passed, we finally had some visitors at our tent. I really have enjoyed talking to fans and listeners of the station. It is living proof that XRT really is Chicago's best radio station. I have met a lot of great, and not so great, people who range from anywhere in their teens to their sixties. One man I spoke with testified that he grew up listening to this station and won't change the dial in his car radio, at home or even at his office where he breathes XRT day in and day out. Another man I spoke with believes that without XRT, Chicago wouldn't be the same for him. 

All of these testimonies were reassuring to hear that XRT means more to them than just a set of call numbers thrown into a sequence. XRT is a staple in these people's lives, something they have made part of their lives for most of their lives. I luckily was able to pull a handful of people aside and record their thoughts on our mini-voice recorder. 

Maybe today was another hot, humid day in downtown Chicago, but in actuality it was another reason that proved to me why I want to work for a radio station. Music means the world to me and I discovered that there more people that I thought out there who truly appreciate and understand music for what is meant to be.