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No Such Thing As Too Much Show Prep ...
August 9, 2022
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Being ready is a 24-hour observational process. You want to be fully prepared for whatever comes your way during your show. Prep at the very least an hour before going on the air. Get a look at the music log, social media, and do a Google search for relatable items. Don't get lazy and do all your prep during your show. I'm not saying that between songs you shouldn't do a wellness check on the entertainment and music world. There may be something that will fit in during your show. This advice is for local and daily syndicated shows.
Ongoing ...
Do your homework. Read up on and stay on top of what's happening with the artists and their music. Keep this information handy on your tablet, computer, smartphone, and an early invention called pen and paper. Create folders in your Office 365 or do it the old school way and keep a written file. No matter how you store it, make sure you never leave for work without it. When it comes to being connecting to your audience, "It's ready set go, not, ready, set, wait a minute."You Have To Want It ...
For me being on the air was like a drug. Every day I couldn't get enough and couldn't wait to get back behind the mic. I would get lost in the process of juggling liners, music, short form interviews, and bursts of planned ad-libs to reinforce artists and songs. The air talent's job is to enhance that one moment in time over a 10-second intro, or in less than 20 seconds going into a commercial break. All that preparation for a few talk-sets on a music-formatted station? Yep. Look at it this way, a stage actor goes to rehearsal every day and only has four lines in a play. But every night they nail it and the audience bought into what they said. It's about doing your homework (Show Prep) and keeping the listener engaged with whatever it is you've got to say.You're In Charge Of You ...
If you can't put a legitimate part of yourself into your work, the audience will never buy into you. It's important that you over prepare for the few moments you have on the air. Every word counts, not just what you think is important. The mental preparation for working within a repetitious creative process such as radio takes dedication and focus. I remember early on in my career asking a veteran personality how he was able keep saying the same things over and over and not get bored. He told me, "It's not about me, it's about the listener. If I can't pull myself together for a few seconds to sell what I say, then I need to find another job that’s not in radio.More Prepping Sources Than Ever ...
There's too much revisionist history with everything. Radio is no different, It’s the actual past versus documented history. Many of us still hear things like, “ We used to do this or that and it was better.” The fact is that the goal for show prep has never changed. However, there are many more sources to read, listen, or watch to stay on top of artist and music information. The past and the present are still the same when it comes to finding a way to present what you say concisely and a bit different than anyone else. The good news is that you’re only competing with yourself. What I was told years ago holds true, "The listener is only listening to you in the moment, so convince them you're the only source they’ll ever need." -
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