DJs: Ideas To Activate A Listener’s Imagination

Imagine someone listening to their favorite song ending on your radio station right before you crack open the mic to talk. The obvious goal is to transition them from the song to your conversation. That’s sometimes easier said than done.

Life is busy and filled with distractions at any given moment. You can’t begin to know all of the things weighing on someone’s mind. For that reason many people are consuming you passively.

STOP ASKING A QUESTION

You may have been taught to ask a question to begin on-air breaks. Or maybe you’ve heard others do it and you’ve simply mimicked them. In my opinion, it’s better to make a statement than to ask a question. Here’s why. Asking a question may activate the left-side, logical part of their brain. Plus, when you ask a question a certain percentage of listeners can say, “no” and disengage.

IMAGINATION FOR THE WIN

Putting the listener into your bring-in/hook line will not only capture their attention, but it can jump start their imagination. Here are three examples that can activate the right-side, imagination part of the brain.

“Imagine this.”

“Picture this.”

Lastly, “If you were a” …is very powerful! For instance, “If you were an Eskimo you might live in an igloo and wear a fluffy parka.” I bet you saw yourself in an over-sized coat standing in the snow next to an ice house.

HERE’S THE TAKEAWAY

Every time you turn the mic on your goal should be to activate as many passive listeners as possible. You’ll feel amazing when you become consistently great at turning someone’s passive listening into active engagement.

After spending 25+ years in radio, Todd launched a coaching and consulting business, Beyond615.com, on March 15, 2021. There he strives to help others build confidence so that they can connect on a deeper level. He also serves as the Contemporary Christian Format Editor at AllAccess.com. He and his family live in the (615) area code, aka the heart of the CCM industry.