Show Preparation & Presentation From The Pros

What do top radio personalities say about how they prepare for their radio show?

Scott Shannon

1. Carry a recording device at all times (Smartphone)
2. Read everything.
3. Watch everything.
4. Hang out with normal people.
5. Seize the moment.
6. Create talk.
7. Always remember these three words: preparation, concentration, and moderation.

Ross Brittain

1. Over-prep the day before.
2. Do the things your listeners do.
3. Make things bigger than they really are. Use theater of the mind … produce big or overproduce.
4. Structure your breaks before the mic opens. Use Post-it notes to remind yourself.
5. Remember your audience composition when building in features.
6. Don’t get caught up in “information overload.”
7. Cluster your commercials correctly and clean up your talk breaks to avoid clutter.
8. Speak concisely. Edit copy or write down important items so you won’t get lost. Use a sense of forward motion to move, or not move, your show.
9. Edit your calls and your bits. Leave people wanting more.

Matt Siegel

1. Don’t put women down. It’s easy, it’s cheap, and you are better than that.
2. Be nice. Let the audience see something in you they like, no matter how far you want to go or how wild you act.
3. Keep a tablet handy for observations and ideas. Prep your show every waking moment.

Bob Rivers

1. Meet every listener. Have your morning show visit listeners three times a week.
2. Wake-up calls: this classic bit still works like a charm.
3. Create local characters to champion local causes.
4. Make a “Hot Topic” list every day.

John Lund

1. Devour media – read and view everything you can.
2. Be interesting.
3. Be memorable.
4. Be funny; have fun.
5. Don’t put people down.
6. Be nice – let the audience see something in you they like.

Dan O’Day

1. No air talent has ever lost by leaving the audience wanting more.
2. Although thousands are hearing you, each of your listeners needs to feel you’re talking directly to them.
3. Try to engage your listener in mental conversation.
4. Seek to involve your listeners, to reach them on an emotional level.

Dave Sholin

1. Be personal
2. Origination beats imitation
3. Don’t feel the need to be funny in every break. Forced humor sounds that way.
4. Push the envelope; try different techniques.
5. Music is the star; leave negative opinions at the door.
6. Become an expert on the varied interests of the local community.
7. Less is more. The fewer the words, the greater the impact.

Paul Kaye, Rogers Communications in Canada.

1. Speak visually – so the listener can picture what you’re saying.
2. Do your best material.
3. Tell the truth.
4. Never be boring.
5. Be relevant – Make it matter to the listener.
6. Talk to one listener at a time.
7. Do engaging transitions and handoffs.
8. Promote authentically.
9. Be who you are.

John Lund is President of the Lund Media Group, a radio programming consulting firm with specialists in all mainstream radio formats. Did you find this article useful?  You can leave a comment below or email John at John@Lundradio.com.