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RELENTLESS RADIO |
| Author: | Dave Cruse |
| Published: | June, 2000 |
| I was looking through some material the other day, preparing for my show, when I found an interesting statistic. It seems that the number one item men forget when packing for a trip is their belt. How does a man forget his belt? Is it such an inconsequential piece of clothing that it has no bearing? What if he's in town for an important interview or to make a big presentation? Does not having that belt really make a difference? What happens when he arrives at his destination and has nothing to hold his pants up? Chances are the lack of a belt will play a key role in lessening his success. Being uncomfortable without the security of the belt will only enhance his feelings of insecurity. Without the belt, his pants won't fit properly; he'll be uncomfortable and look uncomfortable. The truth is, if he goes in without that belt he could very well blow the presentation or lose the job, all for the lack of a belt. So how does a man forget his belt? The answer is simple. It's a lack of planning. He may have planned extensively for the presentation or interview, but he didn't plan adequately for the trip. Every time you sit behind the mic, you are taking your listeners on a trip. Your experience and training make you capable of doing the task, but have you packed your belt? Show prep is what holds your pants up. So what is "show prep"? I've heard it said many times, "Life is show prep". There is an element of truth in that statement. Every experience you have is a potential bit. Through the years my audience has heard all about my three sons. Everything from milestones to funny comments made around the dinner table have been related in the form of what I call "Genius Updates". People love to feel like they really know you. Hearing you talk like a proud parent can serve to further endear you in the eyes of all those soccer moms. It's the same principal that made Kathy Lee such a dearly beloved TV host. Originally, the audience loved to hear about cute little Cody. Unfortunately, too much of the same thing becomes tiresome and Kathy Lee was soon perceived as spending too much time talking about her kids. Know what your audience is talking about. Be prepared to talk about the big water cooler topics. What hot buttons are out there? NBA finals? School Choice? Jesus the epic Mini-series? How much do you know about these things? Read the paper, watch the news, scan the AP wire, talk to live people. Find out what people are passionate about and incorporate it into your show. What about Prep services? Prep services are a great tool. In fact, I subscribe to two services. That's in addition to the AP wire stories and kickers as well as local papers and some key websites I check everyday. The key to prep services, though, is in how you use them. Prep sheets can serve as great sources to find interesting things to talk about. They can give you ideas for fun contests and trivia, but they aren't designed to be used to rip and read. You have to use the material in a way that fits the personality of your show. Re-write the material on the prep sheets to fit your style. Establish a preparation routine. There are many ways to prep for a show. Some people tape local news and prime-time shows, then get up at 3:30 to catch up and begin a routine of coffee, newspapers, coffee, prep sheets, coffee, web-sites, coffee, show meeting, coffee, begin the show, make more coffee. I like to begin my prep the night before the show. One of the services I use posts the next day's material by 8pm eastern. That's when I usually sit at the computer and go over the sheet. I'll cull the material, looking for relevant talk topics, stories that are funny or interesting, today in history items that can be turned into interesting trivia questions, etc. After editing down to material I think I could actually use, I start looking for interesting ways to use it. This is where contest planning happens. Bits are formed and sound effects and any music beds that might enhance the bit are noted. The next morning, the routine is much like many others. Up at 4:30, shower, coffee, gather prep material from the night before, scan the news, check the web, load sound effects and pre-recorded bits, meet with my partner and map out the show, determining placement of bits and contests, etc. The key is to establish a routine that works for you and stick to it. Preparing for each show allows you to provide a consistent level of excellence. Without preparation, your show will be erratic at best. Success doesn't happen, it is achieved. You achieve success by planning your work and working your plan. Well, my 3 geniuses have been visiting grandparents for the past two weeks. It's been pretty quiet around the house with them 700 some odd miles away. My wife and I are getting ready to go pick them up. Just in time too, I'm running out of show prep material. Until next time, remember, preparation is key. Now, where is my belt? |
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