Wow!
That’s how many people react to this photo. Particularly women.
Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #628: My Reflection
Radio isn’t dying, but in many cases, it isn’t thinking, either.
It’s so simple, but why do we not hear this all the time?
My reflection (as a listener) is the mental picture that could change the course of your career.
Here’s the deal: As a listener, I want to be able to picture myself in the scene you’re creating or describing. If I do, you and I have connected – the magic word in radio.
If I don’t, well, there are lots of other listening options.
Frost Advisory #772 – A Programming Lesson From Our Fathers
Quick! Name a TV dad that is portrayed as a positive role model! How ’bout in movies?
They say that 85% of men in prison grew up in fatherless homes. Role models can change the trajectory of a life. My dad certainly did for me. “Remember who you are and what you represent” from his beautiful baritone voice still echoes in my soul.
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #627: Think About the Other End of the Radio
It’s easy to think of radio as a one-way conversation. Hopefully, you get interest, even feedback from listeners, but that’s not how the process begins.
We should start by putting ourselves in the shoes of the listener – and what the likely reaction would be on the other end of the radio; the listene’s end.
Thinking people automatically care about what you’re saying is what makes for lame radio. Sometimes, they don’t. It’s YOUR job to “quality control” what you’re going to do when that mic opens, and to deliver something worth hearing each break you do.
Purpose. A goal. Having one in mind shapes everything that follows.
Frost Advisory #771 – Is Your Station A Commodity Or A Brand?
And now a little story…
In my other life I do some baseball announcing during Spring Training for the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins. I’m the guy that comes on loudly on the loud speakers and tells you not to smoke, run, or have any fun, by golly! And I do it in both English and Spanish because they’ll pay me twice as much. No fumar, por favor!
At some point in Spring Training the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies come to town. These games are sold out months and months in advance.
So why am I sharing this little story?
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #626: FIRST, Be of Service to the Listener
Sometimes I hear a station that seems to go overboard on trying to be “personality-driven.”
OF COURSE we want to entertain, but the first thought should be about being of service to the listener.
This could simply be in the form of a weather warning, or a traffic update. Keeping people up to date on what matters to them, or what could affect their lives, is our primary responsibility.
Entertain? Sure. Please! But, as much as you can, be of SERVICE to the Listener. If you start there, and keep this simple concept in mind, you’ll be on the right track.
When you MATTER to the Listener, adding other elements to that becomes almost effortless-sounding.
Frost Advisory #770 – How Would You Graph The Emotions?
It’s interesting what you can see when you change perspectives. In a recent coaching session with a very talented team show I decided to move away from nuts and bolts, planning and execution and go to a 35,000 foot perspective and discuss the show’s strengths and weaknesses. Clever, don’tcha think? Mrs. Mahan in high school drama would be proud of me.
While this exercise of identifying strengths and weaknesses can be a common one for program directors and big time consultants, this time I heard an answer I’d never heard before.
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #625: Vocabulary – Point By Point
The best air talents are almost always the ones who have a wide, expansive vocabulary – and the ability to select just the right words right NOW, in the moment.
Why do I stress this? Because…
When you know what you want to say, but not how you want to say it, you’ll always use too many words. (And that’s just boring.)
Frost Advisory #769 – How Will Your Station Be Remembered?
Memorial Day is often considered the official kick off to summer. But more importantly it is a time set aside to remember those who gave their lives for our country.
Perhaps this time of remembrance is a good time for us to reflect on how we hope our stations will be remembered.
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #624: Options to “If you…”
“Maybe you (did this)” also brings in the opposite – “Maybe NOT.” I’ve written about this before. “If you…” doesn’t have a downside. (“If” is the magic word that makes all things seem possible. “Maybe” isn’t.)
But you also don’t want to constantly use “If you…”
There are other options: Continue reading