THE FIRST STEP IN IMPROVING ON-AIR PERFORMANCE

Wouldn’t it be great if you could download new behaviors into your brain, like a program and make yourself more productive, error-free and focused? It turns out that we have an app for that. It is called habit. Good habits can help broadcasters and podcasters to do a better show. Habit is like software.  A … Read more

Your Critics and Complainers

In Italy, Ferrari racing fans are called “tifosi.” Formula 1 is their religion. The tifosi worship Ferrari drivers passionately when they win, but become wrathful when they lose. Passion is good business. It is rumored that Ferrari makes more money from Ferrari-branded merchandise than they do from cars. Ferrari is worth more as a company … Read more

How To Know What To Cut

When I teach storytelling for in-person workshops, I have each participant prepare and deliver a story no longer than 60 seconds. When they have each told a story and shared feedback, I say tell that story again – in 30 seconds. The audience always looks at me like I asked them to flap their arms … Read more

How to Name a Show

On names, the public has the final say.  The Staples Center in Los Angeles, home of the Grammys, the Lakers, the Sparks, and the Kings have been renamed the Crypto.com Arena.  Twenty years from now, as those naming rights end, Californians will likely still be calling it the Staples Center. In naming a personality-based show … Read more

Two Secrets of Highly Effective Teases

Thousands of valuable viewers and listeners are tuned in to your show at any given moment. Keeping them is key to your success. That’s where teasing is crucial. Teasing sounds easy, but it is difficult work. Most broadcasters and podcasters underestimate the challenge of teasing well. Teasing has two essential moving parts: Consistency: teasing every … Read more

How Comedians Use Communication

You can laugh out loud while learning to be a more powerful communicator.  My homework assignment for you today is to watch stand-up comedy. Even if your goal is not to be funny, studying comedians is a master class on commanding the spotlight and being memorable.  Great comedians are the best communicators in the world. … Read more

On-Location Broadcasting Done Right

On-location shows can be fun for the hosts but torturous for the audience if not executed well, and a week of bad content can have a negative effect on Nielsen results.  Consider these points as your show plans a beach-side or theme park broadcast. Don’t change the show. Keep all the regular benchmarks. Do your … Read more

Where Your Best Ideas Come From

It was very early morning in May 1964. A man was sound asleep in his Clearwater, Florida hotel room when a loud guitar riff suddenly jolted him out of bed. The sound did not come from a noisy neighbor. The guitar riff was a dream in the man’s head. The man was a musician. He … Read more

Where Is All the Radio Talent?

In my role of playing matchmaker between radio companies and on-air presenters I get a perspective on what makes that match so elusive. For talent, the available jobs are few. The open jobs are sometimes are in undesirable markets and often overloaded with responsibility for low pay. Some have difficulty with the compromises required in … Read more

More Audience Participation

Viewers, listeners, and social media followers can make powerful contributions to your show. Audience members can bring unique, compelling stories and a strong point of view that reflect the opinions and emotions of your community. Audience interaction transforms a one-host monologue into a conversation, and fan voices are a great pattern disruption for multiple-host shows. … Read more