This is primarily a team show tip and Talk show tip – but for anyone on the air who has a partner, or interviews a guest.

Whenever another voice overlaps yours… you stop talking.

The worst thing on the listener’s end of the radio is two people (or more) talking at the same time.

So here’s how it works: when the other person interrupts you, STOP … for a moment, then go on. You’ll never talk over each other (or a guest) for more than a word or so, and for a team show, this will lead to getting REALLY well-coordinated – fast.

Note: This is subjective!

It’s said that “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”

But I believe that the way to a woman’s heart is through her children.

Men will talk about their kids, but it seems to me that it’s usually to brag about them in some way. However, it’s my experience that a woman will talk about her kids because she wants to share why they’re unique.

Choose wisely the path you take, because it’s easy to just travel down the wrong road and BANG!… the listener tunes out.

Way too often, I hear an air talent send someone to their Facebook page (or some other social media entity). I have to ask, “Why?”

If you’re doing your show on Facebook Live, for instance, that’s fine. Otherwise, don’t SEND them to whatever social media site you follow.

If someone is listening to you on the radio, chances are that even if they are checking their social site, they’re doing that mindlessly. If they’re really engaged with social media, they’re not actually listening to you.

We’re first. RADIO. Radio is BY FAR the biggest “social media” entity. Over 90% of people in the United States listen to the radio EVERY day.

Trying too hard is something that every good air talent goes through. Getting past it takes a bit of self-realization.

Looking at it in acting terms (because we are all voice actors to a degree), “reaching out” to the camera (the viewer) is the wrong perspective.

Let the camera (or in our case, the Listener) reach out to you. Overperforming is a drag. When you “reach,” it’s exaggerated.

Just settle down. Simply be there and be what you are, and let the Listener reach out to you.

Opinions are easy. Emotions are… more difficult. These two things are related, but they’re not the same.

The revealing of an Opinion is fine, but the revealing of an Emotion tops that.

An Opinion is subjective. An Emotion is clear and undeniable.

So sure, let’s hear what you think. But let’s also hear what you FEEL.

My associate John Frost quoted this recently:

“The essence of branding and being worth consuming is that experience, not the ingredients which make it up.”

Mark Ramsey

If you’ve read any of these coaching tips, you know that I always think about what it’s like on the listener’s end of the radio first. So, here’s the coaching perspective…

Everyone should want to be really good at what they do. Really, really good.

But not everyone knows how to get there. Let me make it simple for you:

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It seems like I’ve had to explain countless times over the years why questions – especially little rhetorical questions, like “Right?” – are ineffective today.

There was a time – about 25 or 30 years ago – when Questions were in vogue. (The “Where’s the meat?” campaign is a good example. You can look up the ads on YouTube.) It was thought then that Questions produced interest in the product.

But in today’s ten-second-attention-span world, they don’t hold water anymore.

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After hearing a couple of overly long breaks the other day on a music station I work with, this came up in the next coaching session:

Use fewer words.

In a recent coaching session, a very good air talent I work with had chosen to do a stunningly uninteresting story about sleeping better with something called “cognitive shuffling.” I’d tell you more, but the story itself was a better cure for insomnia.

This happens a lot nowadays. A posting that you think is “interesting,” or that you can think up a funny line for, makes it through your filters and gets on the air. Continue reading →