JimK writesCHIRP Radio Record Fair Director Director Jim Klososky On His History With CHIRP Radio

I introduced myself to CHIRP Radio about 3 years ago, after noticing a table at a street festival. I had come to the festival to see an obscure indie band, and thought I'd play stump the DJ at this upstart radio station's table. It didn't go so well, as the guy working the table proceeded to fill me in on the band's soon-to-be-released album that I knew nothing about, and told me how he'd spun an advance single from the album on his show earlier that week. I signed up for the mailing list & walked away impressed. A few months later, a neighbor of mine (DJ Stevo) asked if I wanted to come with him to check out the new volunteer meeting for this new community radio station, CHIRP. I agreed, and we both signed on that day in February, 2012.

I started out reviewing new albums for CHIRP's Music Department, which was a lot of fun...getting early listens to new music coming out and writing little blurbs for the DJ's to scan quickly. I really had no designs on trying to become a DJ, but there were spots open and they were offering to train us, so I gave it a shot. My show, Diggin the New, went on live in June of 2012, and continues to run Fridays midnight until 3am Saturdays. I got involved with the Features Department and did a couple of artist interviews for the podcast section. I've worked several street fairs over the past few years, sitting at the CHIRP table telling folks about how we've advanced the cause community of radio not just in Chicago, but nationally. There are several opportunities a month to check out live shows via the CHIRP staff tickets and review the shows for this blog page. And there's more to do! I tell you all of the above only to illustrate how deeply involved CHIRP is with Chicago's arts, and especially its music scene, and that anyone with some time & passion can quickly jump right into the deep end.

So now I find myself, along with Morgan McDonald, a Co-Director of the CHIRP Record Fairs. We run one every April that stands on its own, and another right in the middle of the Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park, just west of the Loop. Vendors come from 8-10 different states to fill our tables with thousands of new, used, rare & vintage records. Even if you aren't a collector, these are super fun events for any music fan. Getting involved with the production of these Fairs has gotten me deeper into the workings of several other departments at CHIRP, seeing and really feeling how our 250+ volunteers work together to pull this stuff off.

CHIRP is a community of volunteers interested in digging into Chicago's arts scenes, and then sharing the best of what we've found. We do good work here, and we can't do it without support from our listeners. Thank You!

Show your support to our hard working and amazing volunteers by making a donation during the Fall Fundraising Campaign now! A gift at any level will help us conquer the airwaves!