By OBAKENG MAJE
A Vaaltar FM juggernaut radio personality, Michael “King Mike SA” Thebe said, he wants to use radio as his oyster to leave an indelible mark in this world. Thebe, who presents a weekend breakfast show called Rise and Shine from 6am- 9am, said it is not easy nowadays to keep your listeners tuned in because of high competition and internet.
“As a presenter, one should be versatile and well-informed to keep your listeners intrigued. Bring your show to life and inspire your listeners. I am presenting one of the most awe-inspiring shows at Vaaltar FM. So, I always ensure that I paint pictures with words to captivate my audience.
“Remember, radio is a theatre of the mind and as a kid, I listened to it. I always had dreams, but being a radio presenter was not part of them. However, that changed over the years and I’ll safely say I am now more passionate about listening to the radio more than watching TV,” he said.
King Mike SA (34), who was born in Austrey village near Ganyesa said he was inspired by the late Chris Matshaba to become a radio presenter.
“I fell in love with Matshaba’s radio skills, creativity and since then, I also saw myself as a radio presenter. As a typical boy from the deep rural area, that kept my spirit alive and described my passion. I had always been a music fanatic from a tender age and I read a lot.
“So, I use music, reading and researching as my daily dose. I am very patient and a go-getter as I strive to make life better for me and those around me. I was raised by a single parent and that inspired me to work harder in life. I am currently a full time employee at the North West Department of Health, however, I would love to venture into business one day and own radio station including the King Mike SA brand,” he said.
King Mike SA further said he was grateful when Vaaltar FM gave him a platform to become a presenter. He added that even though it was not easy, atleast he found individuals like the late Tshepang Seelo, who nurtured him to become the best presenter.
“I went through auditions back in 2015 and I was the second-best presenter after Seelo. Even though I had self-doubts when I started, I was fortunate enough to meet people who assisted me to grow. I was grateful to find my niche as my confidence grew over the years.
“So, to those aspiring radio presenters, it does not happen overnight to become a great radio presenter. One needs to hone his/her radio presenting skills and improve their show by engaging with your audience. Well, there are many challenges because the radio industry is unpredictable,” said King Mike SA.
He said usually there are no show producers at most community radio stations and that means as a presenter, you need to master the art of doing everything alone. King Mike SA said even though he struggled a lot at first to put all that together, he had learnt to master those skills over the years.
The Guardian 