Toby’s radio and audio production career started at the BBC towards the end of the 1990s as a Project Officer for the newly formed BBC Digital Radio pilot service where he not only looked after two national listening panels but also represented BBC Digital Radio at a number of exhibitions including the HiFi Show and the Birmingham Motor Show demonstrating digital radios to the public and helping to raise the profile of the new revolution in radio listening. It was while at BBC Digital Radio that Toby took his first steps into radio and audio production working on an audio brochure all about digital radio which not only could be handed out at exhibitions or posted out to the public but it also provided information about digital radio in an accessible format for visually impaired people.
In 2000 Toby joined the BBC Radio Arts Unit and further developed his radio and audio skills assisting Producers on programmes such as Saturday Review, Night Waves, Front Row, The Film Programme and many one off programmes too.
At the Arts Unit Toby grabbed any opportunity he could to develop his radio and audio production skills recording extracts of theatre productions and book readings which were being reviewed on Saturday Review, Night Waves and Front Row, producing recordings of interviews with Presenters and Guests and was even dispatched to record the switching on of the Regent Street Christmas lights for a programme all about the many festivals of light.
Not long after joining the Arts Unit Toby knocked on the door of the then Producer of In Touch, Cheryl Gabriel to see if he could do some work for the programme and his first piece for In Touch was an audio diary all about training with his first Guide Dog Dixie.
Toby has continued over the years to successfully pitch ideas and produce packages for In Touch.
When Toby joined VocalEyes in the spring of 2006 he quickly took his radio and audio skills to produce virtually all of the charity’s audio content from studio producing the recordings of the audio introductory notes for described theatre performances, a tri-yearly audio newsletter and what’s on guide, a number of museum recorded audio-described guides, podcast features and interviews for the VocalEyes website. Interviews with visually impaired people working in the arts such as Maria Oshodi, Artistic Director of Extant (award winning visually impaired theatre company), Jonathan Huxley, visually impaired British Contemporary Artist, Sir Matthew Bourne, Choreographer and Artistic Director of New Adventures and Emma Dexter from the British Council and features about arts venues which are providing great accessible services for visually impaired people such as Shakespeare’s Globe and Handel and Hendrix. Toby also produced all of the award winning ‘London Beyond Sight’ project recordings of well known Londoner’s talking about their favourite London landmarks. Toby also prepared and voiced a monthly up-coming audio-described events slot on RNIB Connect Radio mainly live via phone or Skype.
If you are looking for someone with a proven track record of working in audio to produce your venues audio podcast helping you to engage with your audience or clients in the easiest and most accessible way then do get in touch with Toby either by emailing info@tobydavey.co.uk or call 07551 384 348.
Below are a few examples of Toby’s audio work on his Audioboom channel.