I’m surprised at how often I hear this conversation.
“That’s a lot of work.”
“It’s not in the budget.”
“I don’t have the time.”
Creating bad radio is easy. Just listen up and down the radio dial.
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #581: The Formula for Doing It Well
One of the things that comes up in coaching sessions with any music radio air talent is not just doing it, but “doing it well.”
It’s easy to wonder what key ingredients add up to accomplishing that. So here’s how it works:
Keep things short. This isn’t about a word count or how many seconds something takes. It’s about not adding words to sound more important.
Keep things simple. Make it easy to follow. Too many details, or parenthetical phrases will inevitably add up to unnecessary “side roads” in your Content. Always imagine the listener in the car, with his or her head on a swivel trying not to get crashed into by some distracted driver. The last thing anyone needs is something that takes too much time to follow.
Keep it short + Keep it simple = Doing it well.
Frost Advisory #725 – Stuff I Found On Facebook And Things That Don’t Matter
This Frost Advisory is a personal tirade. I’ll apologize in advance.
Now lazy disc jockeys have another excuse to be lazy.
I was recently listening to a very well known radio station when I heard the talent talk about Facebook – for three consecutive breaks.
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #580: IT versus US
Most air talents talk about “it.” A great air talent talks about us, and how “it” affects us.
Many air talents struggle for Content, but you can see Content pretty much everywhere if you think about how to make “it” about us, and if you do it the right way.
Frost Advisory #724 – If Our Format Can Be So Transformative Why Are Our Stations So Ordinary?
This week I’m jumping on a big airplane to share some nifty ideas with a group of your CCM radio sisters and brothers. In case you weren’t invited, I’ll give you a tease.
A while back I was trying to hire a major market pro to do the morning show in a really big market with very tall buildings. Although we had never worked together directly I did trick him into being the image voice for a bunch of my stations.
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #579: Observational or Experiential
There are only two basic types of Content: it’s either observational (you saw it or read it), or it’s experiential (you actually did it).
So… your initial camera angle will be either Observational or Experiential, and either way will work. It’s your choice.
Frost Advisory #723 – What Do You Believe?
It’s ironic, isn’t it?
In a format that is all about belief, few stations ever share what they believe.
Not a doctrinal statement, but a brand position. A flag in ground. A line in the sand. A reason to be on the air.
Chick-fil-A has one. Your money is no good there on Sunday.
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #578: The Two Goals When You Open the Mic
It’s very possible to become overwhelmed by what you’re required to do by the higher-ups. Research studies, guidelines for Content, listener profiles that only provide one side of the equation, etc. can hamstring an air talent to the point that you can feel like there’s nothing you can say. Or you second-guess things, wondering if you’re meeting the sometimes lofty guidelines that are presented to you.
So, let me simplify things for you. Continue reading
Frost Advisory #722 – A Programming Lesson From the 4th of July
The celebration of our nation’s 248th birthday can be a reminder of the transformational power of reflecting beliefs and values, and adopting common ground.
For 25 seasons I’ve had the best seat in the house as a semi-professional public address announcer for St. Louis Cardinals’ spring training and the minor league season that follows. That’s lots and lots of National Anthems, dizzy bat races, and seventh inning stretches.
Do you know what I enjoy the most? It’s when my voice is the cue for veterans and active service members to rise and be acknowledged for their service and sacrifice for our country. And, incidentally, that is when the ovation is the loudest.
What in the name of Thomas Jefferson does this have to do with programming your radio station?
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #577: A Simple Guide to Giving the Weather
It’s a shame that so few music stations do a good job of giving the weather forecast. An air talent clonking through it like it’s the biggest chore in the world is a drag, but by far, the more irritating form is the person who has to give every single little detail. Let me help you with this…
UNLESS YOU’RE FACING SEVERE WEATHER, the forecast should be short and sweet. What’s the high today, the low tonight, maybe the high tomorrow, and tell me if it’s going to rain (or snow). That’s it.