Knock knock!
Who’s there?
New listeners!
What do you want?
Well now, that IS the question.
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #339 – The Coaching “Starter Kit”
It’s hard to find time to coach the talent. Program Directors these days are busier than ever. Let me try to help you. Here’s the coaching starter kit, from my perspective…
Frost Advisory #485 – Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
It only takes one person to inspire a world of kindness.
“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” was birthed in the movie theaters Thanksgiving weekend juxtaposed to a world of impeachment hearings and social media blame-gaming. This simple idea of being kind to others triggers an innate emotional truth that reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from C. S. Lewis.
“That we can even ponder the meaning of life means there is a meaning of life.”
A recent blog from Mark Ramsey urged Christian radio stations to consider Mr. Rogers’ desire to have his show be “inclusive and welcoming to all, including those who might be turned off by abject religious references. ‘You don’t need to speak overtly about religion in order to get a message across,’ he [Fred Rogers] said.”
Dwell on that for a moment: “You don’t need to speak overtly about religion in order to get a message across.”
Mark summarizes, “Inclusivity is what magnifies your reach, your cume, and your impact.”
I’d like to drill down into three ways your station can make this happen:
Continue readingTommy Kramer Coaching Tip #338 – It’s Not the Control Room Show
At industry functions or during market visits, I’m often asked “Where do you start?” Especially by young air talents.
Here’s the answer: It’s not the Control Room Show. It’s the CAR show. That’s where the listener is. Picture his or her environment, then place yourself IN it.
Little tiny things can destroy that feeling. Here are just three examples…
Saying “out there” (like “out there in Plano”) or any “there”-type references, like “up in x” or “down in x.” This just tells the Listener that he or she is somewhere ELSE, and you’re in a little room, miles and miles away.
Talking “plural”. This takes away from you and me, in the car. Examples: “For all the listeners,” “if any of you,” “some of you…” etc. Talk to ME. ONE person.
Generic Content. I don’t CARE what happened to someone in Wyoming unless I live in Wyoming. As the great Lee Abrams points out, no station seems to be claiming the city, like “Chicago’s…(name of the station)” anymore.
I can’t understand why anyone would give up the local connection voluntarily. Be from HERE, and be PROUD of that.
And be right here with me, in my car…or not. Your choice.
(Choose wisely.)
– – – – – – –
Tommy Kramer
Talent Coach
214-632-3090 (iPhone)
e-mail: coachtommykramer@gmail.com
Member, Texas Radio Hall of Fame
© 2019 by Tommy Kramer. All rights reserved.
Frost Advisory #484 – ‘Tis The Season To Be Boring
I couldn’t believe what I heard. It was a spot for a Christmas concert and they listed the songs they would be play.
Data. Data. Data.
No other format can touch such a deep place in the heart as ours, and yet we often sound like an IRS tax form as we convey data, data, data about this and that.
There is no promotion so brilliant that it can’t be made utterly ineffective by a laundry list of features.
Our goal shouldn’t be to inform listeners of all the facts; our goal should be to help our listeners care.
Continue reading