Shows that “fly by the seat of their pants” inevitably sound loose and have ‘dead’ time that needn’t be there.
Now, some 355 stations into this talent coaching stuff, one thing has become abundantly clear to me: people need to plan, not just “wing it.”
Here’s the easiest way to get a simple system in place…
Right after you finish a break, lay out the NEXT break. If you’re in a team show, it’s doubly important. A quick run-through (“Okay, next we’ll do the rodeo thing; I’ll start. Remember your line that we’re going to get out on…”). Now, with that done, you now have several minutes to relax, chat, etc.
The old saying is “if you fail to plan, your plan is to fail,” and by and large, it’s true.
Note: This does NOT kill spontaneity; it just kills uncertainty. And sounding SURE is what creates the “command presence” that all great air talents have.
