Open days radioshows
The point was to test all our radiophonic equipment in a non-radiophonic setting, to draw locals to our new radio and involve them in the project by encouraging their participation. During these open days, anyone could propose starting their own radio program.
Domenico, full of determination and courage, and myself, hands on my head, not knowing whether to laugh or freak out, got our shit together and got the mics running.
Action took priority over perfection. fWe organized two open days, featuring open mics, walk-in programs, and spontaneous talks.
The first one took place on December 8, 2025, for Immaculate Conception Day (Giornata dell’Immacolata in Italian) which we ended up calling Immagroovata instead. Not knowing in advance how the day was going to turn out, we ended up happily surprised!
We recorded 10 hours of non-stop, diverse interactions with enthusiastic friends who came to explore, dive into, and fully immerse themselves in the radio experience.
One after the other, voices and music flowed. People showed up with musical instruments ready to play tunes or music to share on the radio. Vinyls, CDs, mp3s, and even tapes were played throughout the day, while the stage was constantly being set for the next performance.
A big success for us. Domenico handled everything like a master, conducting the programs, improvising continuously on what was coming next, and at the same time, keeping the radio control room up and running smoothly.
After the good result of the first day, little did we know that the next would turn into an even bigger adventure.
The second open day session took place on December 21, 2025, and it turned out to be even more surprising and unexpected than the first one. That day was originally meant to be a ‘normal day,’ when we would try out our two new programs for the first time: La Voce del Popolo and Lento 33. But of course, at Villa Paciugo, the home of our radio, nothing happens without a little chaos.
And just when we thought we had seen it all, our friend Sara had already organised her annual, traditional tortellini-making day (apparently a major tradition from the Emilia-Romagna region, where she is originally from). Driven by the novelty of the radio station, before we even realised it, ten people were making homemade tortellini under the big-top tent.
To be honest, at first I saw panic in Domenico’s eyes as he silently swore in Neapolitan dialect. He was caught between mixed feelings: the desire to overcome technical challenges, the realization that the day wasn’t going to go as planned, and the joy of meeting so many people, all showing great interest in this ‘open radio’ concept.
People of all ages were walking around, smiling and impressed at how easy it was for them to participate in an improvised radio program.The result was fantastic: a radiophonic report with interviews about the tortellini day at regular intervals, all this happening between the first broadcasts of our two already organized programs. By the end of the day, instead of adopting a mascot, we had adopted Michele, “The Disturber”, a character whose only goal is to be awkward!
Well, there is always a catch!
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