Wednesday, June 18, 2003
I got an interesting call today from a local...someone who wants to be a talk radio host. Now, I'm not an elitist, but most people have no idea how hard talk radio is to do. Not EVERYONE with an opinion can be a talk radio host...but something about this guy leads me to believe he might actually have "the passion." Normally when Program Directors get these calls they shuffle them through massive amounts of paperwork to shoo them away....I don't. I listen to them, explain how hard it is, tell them what you need to be a successful host, and give them the inside skinny on the business. Here's a great list of the things it takes to be a successful radio host and some comments of my own:
1. An understanding of the audience. Who they are, what they're interested in, what kind of lifestyle the AUDIENCE is...not THE CALLERS!
2. Likeable...the audience may not like what the host has to say, but the host MUST be likeable.
3. Have an opinion about everything.
4. Willing to talk about their personal life and experiences...often to a degree they don't with their close friends and spouses.
5. Demonstrate a range of personality...serious, to humorous, outrageous, and back again...all within a span of 10 minutes.
6. Keep control of callers and direction of the show. Contrary to popular belief, talk radio is NOT topic oriented or CALLER oriented. Don't let callers steer the show in their direction...use CALLERS to steer the show in YOUR direction. YOU are the professional, the callers are useful only for your purposes.
7. Have passion and fun.
So I told the guy to do some stuff on a tape and send it to me...then, be willing to sit in the studio to see how it's done...then to be willing to do a show for free...then be able to prep for a different show each time (at least an hour of prep for every hour you're on)...then be willing to do a show without phone calls...then be able to take rejection and abuse...
I'll be waiting for the tape...IF he still has the passion. Lesson over.
1. An understanding of the audience. Who they are, what they're interested in, what kind of lifestyle the AUDIENCE is...not THE CALLERS!
2. Likeable...the audience may not like what the host has to say, but the host MUST be likeable.
3. Have an opinion about everything.
4. Willing to talk about their personal life and experiences...often to a degree they don't with their close friends and spouses.
5. Demonstrate a range of personality...serious, to humorous, outrageous, and back again...all within a span of 10 minutes.
6. Keep control of callers and direction of the show. Contrary to popular belief, talk radio is NOT topic oriented or CALLER oriented. Don't let callers steer the show in their direction...use CALLERS to steer the show in YOUR direction. YOU are the professional, the callers are useful only for your purposes.
7. Have passion and fun.
So I told the guy to do some stuff on a tape and send it to me...then, be willing to sit in the studio to see how it's done...then to be willing to do a show for free...then be able to prep for a different show each time (at least an hour of prep for every hour you're on)...then be willing to do a show without phone calls...then be able to take rejection and abuse...
I'll be waiting for the tape...IF he still has the passion. Lesson over.
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