Stumble ... Learn ... Pass It On

Recently, I was asked why I became a Radio Coach. My answer is one of my favorite stories. I was in college at the University of Missouri and fortunate enough to be working part-time at one of only three commercial stations in town, KFRU. At the time it was a privately-owned News Talk/Sports/MOR (father of AC format). My shift was Saturday overnights into Sunday morning, midnight to 8a. One of my duties was ripping and reading a five-minute newscast at the top of every hour until 6a.

I Was The New Kid On The Block ...

Being new to the business, I was struggling with reading copy and wanted to sound as good as the seasoned veterans on staff. It did not help matters that another part-timer, only two years older than me, could read anything on-air without pre-reading a single word; and could do so even if he had one too many.

Practice ... Practice ... Practice

I spent countless hours practicing in the production room and then I came up with the idea of pre-taping my casts and airing them; the intent was to air a flawless presentation and eventually get to the point I could read it live without a hitch. I always consulted some of the veteran jocks for advice and rarely received feedback of any kind; good or bad. A couple of them were even aware I was pre-taping and never offered any guidance.

There Was Blood Everywhere ...

It worked like a charm for a few weeks until one summer night I was filling in on an earlier shift while the full-timers were playing in their weekly softball league. I was in the middle of airing one of my taped newscasts, heard glass breaking and I looked up to see the GM -- who was also the owner's son -- with his arms covered in blood and wearing his softball uniform. Unfortunately for him this was the one time I followed company rules and had locked the back door; he had attempted to shove the door open and his arms went right through the glass. He was screaming at me because he had come back to pick something up and could see from the back door I was not on the air live, reading the news. While still screaming, he told me to be in his office at 9a on Monday morning; he left with bloody arms and I still had two more hours before the shift was over.

Facing The Music ...

It was a long, anxiety-filled weekend and on Monday I headed in as instructed. When I got to the station I found the owner, the GM's father, sitting in his son's office with the son nowhere in sight; apparently junior was too embarrassed on how he handled the situation. I explained what happened and his dad, the owner, said he understood, but explained I should have asked permission to pre-tape the newscasts.

What I Learned ...

The experience taught me that around a station, where directions were not always clearly communicated, not all co-workers had your best interests at heart, and management can say things in the heat of the moment that they later regret. It made me realize there was a lot more to radio than being behind a mic. As my on-air career advanced, other personalities kept asking me for advice; you never know how much you know until someone asks. Eventually, I got into programming and took the time to help others learn the ropes. Here are some of the observations I have made over the years.

Common Traits of Successful Radio Personalities

• They come to work on time
• Adapt easily to new direction
• Have egos but are not egotistical
• Are open to learning
• Word efficient in their on-air presentation
• Have the verbal ability to tie the content of a talk set together and make it one
• They are observational 24/7
• Know how to do show prep
• Can display personality and work within a format
• Are aware of personal limitations
• Are creative
• Participate in community events aside from the ones their stations are involved with
• Attempt to mentor others
• Always leave their supervisor and company in a defendable position
• Might disagree with management off the air, but never on the air
• Get along with others in the work place
• Stay relevant with current culture and trends

Things You Should Do ...

• Listen to your OM/PD and follow directions
• Avoid long wordy talk sets
• Steer clear of long phone bits. Don't extend the time of recorded winners because their excitement level is low
• Back-sell the music played just prior to commercial breaks (Unless instructed not to)
• Do not talk excessively on the phone during your show
• Stay focused during your time On-Air
• Do not confuse vulgarity with being hip or relevant
• Work on not sounding forced or mechanical with your delivery
• Develop a flow and rhythm of speech in your presentation; avoid sounding choppy or too fast
• Remember personality does not mean talking endlessly
• Strive for consistent energy levels within a talk set
• When you open the mic don't verbally rush through the station's call letters or frequency
• Learn basic editing and production skills
• You will need a sense of timing; it comes with practice either in the production room or on your home computer with editing software

Prolong Employment & Personal Work Growth

• Do not gossip about colleagues
• Stay away from cliques at work
• Realize you are nurturing your special gift, but do not become egotistical and self-absorbed
• Keep to yourself and avoid involvement with things that are not your concern
• Take responsibility for your actions. If you make a mistake, be the first to say so
• Do not allow others to use you to spread unsubstantiated rumors
• Learn the importance of each department within the station or cluster
• Have a life away from radio; it will keep you balanced
• Complete assignments on time
• Depending on your time slot, come in before your shift or stay after and let folks see your face around the office
• Never complain unless you have a suggestion for improvement; only suggest if asked

Conclusion ...

This business is big and small at the same time; it's amazing how many people you run into that know some of the same folks you do; "six degrees of separation." Share those early stumbling moments of your career with those needing a handle on a better way to do something.