Daniel Lucas arrived at Bath keen to try new things. While his Sport and Exercise Science course didn’t quite click, student radio did. He created his own successful hip hop show, which was broadcast around campus and internationally.
Now a Producer and Director at BBC Visual Radio, Dan works across radio and live music events – all thanks to saying yes to new things.
Why did you choose to study at Bath?
I liked how Bath had a campus feel up on the hill, but was also close enough to the city. Of all the university towns I looked at, Bath had the nicest feel, so that swayed my decision.
Did you have a particular career in mind when you chose your course?
No! I didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I just chose a course I thought I’d enjoy, which was Sport and Exercise Science.
Can you tell us about your experience of studying here? Any favourite memories, or places to go on campus and in the city?
Although I didn’t enjoy Sport and Exercise Science quite as much as I thought, it turned out to be a blessing, as it meant I threw myself into lots of other projects. I learnt photography, started a student radio hip hop show with some friends and ended up loving radio more than the course itself! I then produced and presented my show for the final two years, with the show being played around campus and broadcast internationally via the live stream.
Were you a part of any societies or sports clubs during your time at Bath? 
Football has always been a big part of my life, so it was great to play for Bath University and it is where I met many of my closest friends. In my final year, I was Chairman of the Bath Football Club, so I was very involved in the game at all levels. We won club of the year that year and I also captained my team when we won the BUSA final. It was a memorable year of football, and I still play five-a-side with some of my mates who I won that trophy with! We still reminisce about it sometimes.
Describe your career journey since graduating. What is a typical day like in your current role?
I got on the BBC Production Trainee Scheme after I graduated. It was a competitive scheme with only 19 places, but once I was there, I learnt a huge amount in 18 months. I was thrown into productions across radio, TV and digital.
I'm now a Producer and Director for BBC Visual Radio. A typical day involves directing live music, such as the Radio 1 Live Lounge, 1Xtra freestyles or 6 Music sessions. I pick the camera positions, set the lights and then vision mix live with four to five cameras as the artists perform.
Over summer, I direct many live events such as Radio 1 in Ibiza and Malta, which involves vision mixing over six hours of dance music live through the night. You can watch these performances on BBC iPlayer and YouTube.
What do you enjoy most about your career? Has anything surprised you?
The variety of music is incredible at the BBC as I work across all the radio stations. One week I might be filming a big pop star for Radio 1, the next I might be in Jamaica filming some new reggae or dancehall artists for 1Xtra. Music is hugely important in my life, so getting to work across all genres is great and I am always discovering new artists.
How did your studies help to develop you?
Being at university helps broaden the mind. I met lots of people from different backgrounds with different perspectives and I believe this social aspect is just as important as studying.
I also studied abroad at the University of Florida during my placement year. I met so many people from all over the world in the international dorm and took on a range of new challenges as the courses are very flexible in the US. I tried Spanish, scuba diving and international relations. I would highly recommend studying or working abroad if you can!
What advice would you give to prospective students thinking about studying your course at Bath?
Throw yourself into as many projects as you can. Try things! Don’t be afraid to fail. You need to discover what you like and what you are good at. That can take time, so don’t be too hard on yourself if things don’t work out straight away.
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