Welcome to Maker Radio

Maker Radio 94.5 FM is community radio for Chico — volunteer-run, commercial-free, and independent. Here's the short version of how everything works so you know what you can do here and how to get started.

There are two separate systems, and they don't touch each other. One is about using our equipment and space (the stage and the recording studio). The other is about going on the air. You can do one, the other, or both.

System 1 — Earn hours, book the space

This is the "trade your time for access" side. It's how you get to use the stage and the recording studio.

How it works

Sign up at makerradio.org/volunteer — you're a volunteer the moment you submit. No waiting for approval. You'll get an email and a 6-digit access code.
Do volunteer work — claim shifts on the shift board (right now that's the What Is Art? open-mic crew every Thursday: door, sound, stagehand, streaming) or pick up posted tasks. When your work is confirmed, it becomes hours in your account.
Spend those hours to book the stage or studio. The work you put in is what pays for your time in the space.

In the portal you'll see:

Shifts — open jobs you can claim.
My Hours — your balance and history; this is what you spend on bookings.
My Profile — your photo, your skills, and an opt-in to appear on our public Crew page.
Chat — station-wide chat with the other volunteers: announcements, topic channels, and direct messages. Works on your phone even when the app is closed.

The whole loop: work → hours → book the space

System 2 — Climb the ladder, get on the air

This is completely separate from hours. You don't buy airtime with volunteer hours. You qualify for it by getting certified, one step at a time. Think of it as a skill tree — you earn your way up.

How it works

Every station skill and piece of equipment has a certification attached to it. You earn each one through orientation + agreement + a sign-off from someone who already holds it (or a station admin, for the safety-critical ones). Each certification you earn unlocks the next step.

The path to your own radio show (the Broadcast track)

Voice Over — you can record voice segments.
Live Voice — you can be live on the air alongside someone.
RadioDJ Operator — you can run the broadcast software yourself.
On-Air Host — the top of the ladder. You read and sign the DJ Manual, get the final sign-off, and you're cleared to host your own weekly show.

There are other tracks too, each with its own ladder:

Sound — stage orientation → stagehand → sound operator.
Stream / Video — stream orientation → shadowing → running the multi-camera stream on your own.
Studio — studio orientation → recording sessions → post-mixing → Pro Tools operator.
Editing — video editing orientation → editing shows → editing veteran.

In the portal you'll see:

Progress — your ladder. It shows what you've earned, the step you're on now, and the next steps with exactly how to earn each one.

Getting a show — how scheduling works

You don't pick your own time slot, and it isn't first-come-first-served in an app. Show times are worked out directly with Michael Branton. If you want a show, that conversation goes through Michael — he coordinates the schedule so everything fits together. Once your slot is settled, we enter it into the system and it appears on the station schedule and the website.

Your job is to keep climbing the certification ladder. The portal tracks your progress the whole way, so when you and Michael work out a slot, you're already qualified and ready to go.

The one-line version

Want to use the stage or studio? Do volunteer shifts, earn hours, spend them on bookings.
Want to be on the radio? Climb the certification ladder. When you're ready for a show, work out the time with Michael Branton and we'll put it on the schedule.

Two paths, side by side. Pick whichever one you're here for — or do both. Welcome aboard.