Tommy Kramer Tip

Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #626: FIRST, Be of Service to the Listener

Sometimes I hear a station that seems to go overboard on trying to be “personality-driven.”

OF COURSE we want to entertain, but the first thought should be about being of service to the listener.

This could simply be in the form of a weather warning, or a traffic update. Keeping people up to date on what matters to them, or what could affect their lives, is our primary responsibility.

Entertain? Sure. Please! But, as much as you can, be of SERVICE to the Listener. If you start there, and keep this simple concept in mind, you’ll be on the right track.

When you MATTER to the Listener, adding other elements to that becomes almost effortless-sounding.

Frost Advisory

Frost Advisory #770 – How Would You Graph The Emotions?

It’s interesting what you can see when you change perspectives. In a recent coaching session with a very talented team show I decided to move away from nuts and bolts, planning and execution and go to a 35,000 foot perspective and discuss the show’s strengths and weaknesses. Clever, don’tcha think? Mrs. Mahan in high school drama would be proud of me.

While this exercise of identifying strengths and weaknesses can be a common one for program directors and big time consultants, this time I heard an answer I’d never heard before.

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Frost Advisory

Frost Advisory #768 – The Power Of A Name

When I heard that Walt had passed away my first reaction was that he always called me by name.

He had been an executive for a major league club that I’ve been involved with for over 25 years. We would see each other every spring when I would occasionally interview him for a season ticket holder event. Walt and I traveled in much different circles so we certainly weren’t buddies; but maybe that is the point.

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Tommy Kramer Tip

Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #623: Whenever Another Voice Overlaps Yours…

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.

Tommy Kramer Tip

Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #622: Zeroing in How to Reach your Target Listener

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.

Frost Advisory

Frost Advisory #766 – A Programming Lesson From The Masters, Part Two

On last week’s show I took to the driving range on what CCM programmers can learn from The Masters.

My co-author Tommy Kramer lofted the first drive reflecting on the name itself, The Masters, asking if your station’s name and imaging are ‘something that defines a different level, an ideal, like the Masters? ONE WORD can stand out among all others.’

In watching this remarkable tournament, I realized that the Masters isn’t about mere golf at all, like your radio station isn’t about the mere songs, artists, tours, deejays, and contests. Each is about something more meaningful.

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