This is a recurring theme that I’ve dealt with before, but it seems to be metastasizing…again. It’s this thing; this all too typical “tease”….
“Listen up – this is something you’ll want to hear.”
No. I already don’t want to hear it.
Frost Advisory #790 – You’re Talented. And People Like Listening To You
This week I was a part of a conversation that had nothing to do with radio. Until I realized that it did.
For 790 weeks (that’s 15+ years for those of you keeping track), I’ve been churning out these Frost Advisories on my nifty laptop with the hope that they may inspire you to do better radio. Maybe even transformational radio. Golly, maybe even to impact your listeners’ lives.
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #645: More “Reveals”
After you get to a certain stage in your career where you’re confident in what you’re doing, you have a certain “flavor” that you bring to the show – and it’s working; you’re successful – how you get even better is when you show more dimensions.
Frost Advisory #789 – Creativity And Discipline: Two Sides Of The Same Coin
Which is more important? Creativity or discipline?
My answer is ‘yes.’
My first Program Director gig was when I was 21. Obviously, I didn’t know anything about programming at that age, but I did have the lowest voice on the air staff, had my own car, and laughed at the boss’s jokes.
In the decades since I’ve trained a couple of program directors, coached a few air personalities, and taught up to a few general managers about the fundamentals of programming.
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #644: They Own the Cameras
Years ago, the great comedian Norm MacDonald was fired from doing the “Weekend Update” on Saturday Night Live. It was because one of the higher-ups at NBC was friends with O. J. Simpson, and he demanded that Norm stop doing jokes about the ex-football player and accused murderer.
After that, Norm was on Late Night with David Letterman, wondering and griping a bit about getting fired. But Norm also quoted something that Letterman had told him about the bosses of network TV –
Frost Advisory #788 – Your Station Is Like A Song
I don’t mean to brag but I was third chair Sousaphone player in high school. I could puff out my cheeks on the half notes right along with the best in the county. My West Texas public school education learned me a lot about good music.
But enough about me. I wonder what we could learn by comparing the design of a great radio station to that of a great song.
Let’s start at the beginning.
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #643: Every Good Player Knows…
Major league baseball runs a commercial during a change of innings that says, “Every good player knows the value of a coach.” And that’s true, but I think the opposite is true, too – every good coach knows the value of a great player.
A lot of good coaching is just staying out of the way, or just gently carving at the edges of things – because…they’re good. They don’t need a lot of, “This is how we do this.” In radio/TV/Voice acting, it’s more about “This plays to your strengths more,” or “It’s better if you stop here instead of adding one more thing.”
Coaching is a two-way street. Hard to do on your own.
Frost Advisory #787 – Programming Lessons We Can Learn From Charlie Kirk, Part Three
In the two previous Frost Advisories here and here I have shared a few brief ideas of how we can learn from the Turning Point USA movement created by Charlie Kirk. This week I’ll dig a little deeper on one of those ideas.
#2: Do your homework. Prepare.
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #642: When Imaging Goes Wrong
It’s important to take stock sometimes, and wonder “How did this happen?”
Case in point, promos for a show playing DURING that show. Yes, I know, TV does it all the time — to the unheard voices of people screaming, “I’m watching the show NOW!” at their TV screens.
Frost Advisory #786 – Programming Lessons We Can Learn From Charlie Kirk, Part Two
On last week’s show I shared a few brief ideas of how we can learn from the Turning Point USA movement created by Charlie Kirk. This week I’ll dig a little deeper on one of those ideas.
Have a clear vision and purpose. Charlie made it clear what Turning Point USA stood for.
Continue reading“The mission of Turning Point USA is to identify, empower, organize, and mobilize students to promote the principles of freedom, free markets and limited government.”