|
Tommy Kramer has spent over 35 years in radio as an on-air talent, Programmer, and Talent Coach, and has worked with over 100 stations in all formats, specializing in coaching morning team shows. He was elected to the Texas Radio Hall of Fame in 2003. Contact
Tommy Kramer Coaching Tips The oddest thing seems to be happening both on TV and in radio these days. The phony, insincere, pukey deejay delivery is rearing its ugly head ... (read more - Tip #1) A lot of Program Directors, in trying to coach an Air Talent, jump too quickly to the second phase of coaching -- getting an aircheck, playing samples of "things done wrong," and making the process an uneasy one for the Talent right off the bat. No "foreplay." (read more - Tip #2) Think of how many times you’ve heard an Air Talent say--more often than not, with the sound of rustling paper or a page turning in the background--"I was reading an article in this magazine yesterday," or "I saw in the paper this morning that...." My problem with this sort of thing is ... (read more - Tip #3)
I once put up a
sign on the Control Room door that said: "I just got into
town. I got into the car, turned the radio on, and hit the 'scan'
button. It landed on your station. I don't know what station it is,
what the format is, what the dial position is, or who you
are. You have thirty seconds." I base everything I
coach on "first time" listening (read
more - Tip #4) You hear often that someone is "funny." "He's so funny." "I love to listen to his show because it's funny." But is it "funny," or is it "fun" that we're talking about? There is a difference, from a performance and planning point of view. "Funny" is certainly "fun," but "fun" doesn't necessarily have to be "funny." The Andy Griffith Show was a great example of being both (read more - Tip #5) Think about how many Morning Teams you’ve heard that have a decent energy level, but they just don’t seem to move very efficiently. Frankly, in many situations, the decision to have a Team Show in the morning overrides whether or not a qualified team is available, or whether the PD has the proper techniques for coaching them. If you find yourself thinking, “They just take too long” or “They’re good, but they just talk too much,” here’s a tip to help coordinate them fast: When the subject changes, the person speaking changes (read more - Tip #6) If you want to talk about something that isn’t local, unless it’s a giant national headline, it’s likely that you’ll get a “who cares?” reaction in the mind of the Listener. Whenever I hear a Talent struggle with this, I ask, “How do I get there from here?” (read more - Tip #7) Many air talents, even experienced ones, BROADcast. They speak too loudly, get overly exaggerated, and can’t seem to sound conversational without losing energy or enthusiasm. Usually, it’s just what they picture in their heads—the microphone as a megaphone, a device used to talk to the listener, somewhere in the distance. It’s the same sort of principle that makes many stage actors, who are used to broad, exaggerated movements, have to rein that impulse in to not appear to be chewing the scenery and over-acting when they do film work (read more - Tip #8) |
"Do Things For the Right Reasons" Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #9 (click here to listen to the audio version) Too often, an Air Talent wants to do something on the air for one of the following reasons: · "It'll be funny." · "It'll get ratings." · "It'll schmooze a client." Some Program Directors or GM's might agree that these are valid reasons. But they're not. Here's why: 1. "It'll be funny" is an aspiration, certainly not always a reality. Trying to be “funny,” besides being subjective, is really not the object. As anyone who has read my stuff knows, FUN is the operative word. "Funny" MIGHT happen, but FUN can be guaranteed if you filter it through the Listener's lifestyle. 2. You can't predict what will "get ratings," except in terms of doing things every time you open the mic that are compelling to the LISTENER (and anything that seems calculated solely to get ratings will ring hollow with the Listener). 3. "Schmoozing a client" means nothing to the Listener, and maybe even works against the Talent if it's perceived as "selling out." There are only two legitimate reasons to do anything on the air: · Listener Benefit. · Relevance. I guarantee you that if what you're doing has Listener Benefit AND has relevance, it ALWAYS works. Don't get "too hip for the room" or indulge in the false belief that you can MAKE the Listener care about something when he or she doesn’t. There are too many examples all across the country of shows that RULE in a market to which a newcomer might think, "So how can this succeed? This is isn't all that good." It succeeds because the show best reflects THAT station's listener in THAT city. © 2007 Tommy Kramer
|
