Bazza—sport freak and friend

Press, 18 March 1986, Page 19

Bazza —sport freak and friend

Continuing her series about the people behind the voices on Christchurch radio, MARGARET BAKER leaves the 3ZM studio for the calmer atmosphere of Barry Corbett’s 3ZB breakfast show.

Just down the corridor and around the comer from the 3ZM morning . menagerie, another ‘ breakfast show is in full swing. 3ZB’s Barry Corbett has been in the chair since 6 ,a.m., a Canterbury rugby team mobile hangs above his desk, and another red and black mascot swings from the roof. Bazza’s show is a little calmer than the 3ZM production; he has been doing it for 4i/ 2 years and knows the format like the back of his hand. “I’ve been doing the show for so long now I know everything that has to be done and when to do it.” With his producer, Lesley Maclntyre, Corbett runs a very slick and tight show. Everything is neatly timed and fits precisely into an over-all programme — a long Winner Wish call puts them out by a few minutes and Corbett deliberates how and where to make it up. Only some of it is actually scripted, however, and Corbett answers all his calls himself. “I like the work because you never quite know what’s going to happen, it’s always different,” says Corbett. “And I like taking my own calls because they can often be

good for using on air, and I enjoy having the response from people.” Like Ellis and Daniels, Corbett finds it difficult to know what the reaction to his show is. “We’re like performers without appaluse; there’s no feedback and you don’t know if it’s worked until someone comes up to you in a shop and says they liked the show — or didn’t” As he works, Corbett opens a packet of cigarettes, drinks coffee, looks outside the window to verify the weather forecast and smiles as he chats to people on the phone. People ring in with queries they would ask any friend, talking to him as if they have known him for years — who better to ask than Baz? He is always polite, and usually manages to answer their questions or refers them to someone else. His manner is approachable, and it is obvious many people feel a real sense of identification with him — especially with sport, and rugby in particularly. “I love sport — maybe I even go overboard about it sometimes.” His voice is not exactly loud, but certainly makes you listen. It takes a while to realise the way he talks

on radio is basically the same as the way he sounds off air — somehow you expect the wellknown D.J. tones to be something used specially for radio. “It's only artificial to the extent that I’m normally a lazy speaker and I have to force it a bit sometimes, especially when I’ve had a late night. But hopefully I’m natural — my close friends say I sound the same, although I think I certainly switch into radio mode.” As far as the actual content of the show goes, Corbett says he likes the news and information service 3ZB offers. “It could be my age group, and the fact that the over-25 audience we attract is also

interested.” Every 15 minutes Bill Southgate appears from upstairs to read the news and exchange a few topical comments with Corbett. The news is one example of the different roles and aims of ZB and ZM. Corbett describes the relationship between the two stations a friendly but “when we’re on air we’re out to kill each other.” “It’s just a professional rivalry. Naturally enough we want everyone listening to our own station, but there’s nothing nasty in it.” He thinks Christchurch has never had it so good as far as radio goes, with both 3ZB and 3ZM held in high opinion throughout New Zealand.

“Christchurch probably offers about the best radio in New Zealand at the moment.” Corbett has worked on breakfast shows for eight years, and worked on private radio and Radio New Zealand stations in Napier, Rotorua, Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin. He likes the early morning slot because it attracts the biggest listening audience and gets the most response from the public. But his day doesn’t end after the 9 a.m. news. Working an average 60hour week, Corbett extends his D.J. role to taking part in station promotions, such as tennis matches, appearing as a special guest at gatherings (or acting as an honorary

judge at the New Zaland Kennel Club show), making commercials, and, of course, travelling all over Christchurch with sticky buns for Bazza’s smoko at a chosen workplace. “The smokos are great — Lesley and I get to meet people and they get a chance to meet us and ask all sorts of questions. In the studio we get a lot of complaints, but not a lot of compliments. Meeting people really gives you an idea of how your shows come across.” He says he makes mistakes on the show all the time, but by admitting it can always get away with it. “I’m only human, and I can always improve.” The whole production of the show is very much a two-person effort by Corbett and Maclntyre — Corbett admits to having been wary of producers in the past, but now thinks he enjoys his work twice as much because of the help and teamwork involved. “I love what I do — I really feel sorry for people who dread going to work. For me, getting up is the worst part; after that I look forward to the shows. The only thing I dread are the cancellations — the bane of every radio announcer’s life. You’ve no idea how many people ring in wanting to know what’s on, where and when. “But really, I think the show is just a part of me, I’m really happy in this room behind this desk.” And the most important thing he does? “Tell the time.”