Mind Your Language.

Swearing. Cursing. Bad language.
Call it what you want. We accept it on TV, in movies and in print.
What about radio?
I asked radio people online for their views on cursing on air because, depending on how you listen (satellite for example) chances are you're starting to hear 'F Bombs' more frequently.
In Ireland, the first person I heard utter the words 'shit and 'bollox' was the late Gerry Ryan on 2FM. It really took me by surprise and I wasn't sure how I felt about it.
I recall saying 'Damn' on CKLG in Vancouver back in '91 and my PD pointing out that it was a 'no-no'.
Damn!
OK, some stations, formats and markets have zero tolerance for swearing, but if you listen to podcasts or subscribe to the likes of SiriusXM, you will be unable to avoid it. Eventually.

So where do you stand on this?
Is it just done for effect? Is it lazy? Is it real? Is it honest?

Tony Robbins curses during his live seminars because "it snaps you out of your state".
During my live workshops I consciously avoided swearing...at first. Then I realised that by doing that, I was holding back.
I'm Irish. We swear! At first it felt weird...I didn't want to offend anyone. Now when I swear on a public setting like these, it's honest. Therefore I feel my performance is more honest.

Swear words are immensely powerful.
They pack a heavyweight punch.
Due to radio's personal nature, you need to know your relationship with your listener first.
Are you their pal, confidante, uncle, mother, brother, partner...?
No one wants their older uncle throwing four letter hand grenades at them!
Your swear words WILL be heard and you WILL be judged on them.

The secret, as with everything we do, is knowing how/where/why and when to use it.
Also predict and handle the reaction...creatively.
Otherwise, what's the f**king point??

Facebook Live.

I experimented with Facebook Live earlier today...inspired, as I was, by all of the talk of viral videos earlier this week.
Here's what I have decided.
Once a week (Thursdays, to be precise) I will go live on FB for a coaching session. You can join in live or watch later.
Some weeks I will have guests. You will be given lots of advance notice who that guest is so that you can put questions or pointers their way, should you want.
I think it'll  be fun and the reaction I got today leads me to think this may have legs.
Not as many as a centipede...but legs, nonetheless.

Game Changer.

It was one of those moments when you realised the bar had just been raised and everything from now on would be compared to this one event.
For me, social media for radio stations has a new level to aspire to.
Not just me...I received messages from all over claiming this to be "Maybe the best promo video ever".
We've all seen (and probably been part of) in-house videos.
Usually a presenter or someone in the office has an idea, a "wouldn't it be funny if..." idea. Someone grabs a phone and the idea is filmed in the hallways or studio. Five minutes later it's on YouTube and receives 301 views!
No harm done?
Well.....
Depends.
If you want to shoot phone footage and post it online, then keep it for your personal accounts. Stick it on your Instagram, FB or Twitter. Your casual attitude can be endearing.
But for anything appearing on the radio station's platforms, it needs to be amazing.
FB Live is a great example. I monitor an unhealthy amount of radio and the vast majority of FB Live content consists of a person holding a phone, filming the presenter while all audio is picked up by the phone microphone.
Twelve year old kids can do a better job.
Channel 4 in Dubai work studio footage really well. Audio is from the desk feed, video is taken from mounted, automated HD cameras. Simple but effective. They run graphics and text too, in the station colours and fonts.
Their presenters have their own social media accounts but the station ones reflect the brand very well.
Q107 in Toronto is another example of proper use of Live footage. They ony ever go live when they have specific content - studio guests, online-only contests etc.
The Today FM promo is big budget and has the feel of a movie trailer...not all content can do that. However, being professional means a decent camera, decent audio and good editing. Plus a good reason to film in the first place!
Radio station online content produced by office staff on a mobile phone damages the station's image and reputation.

I watched the Today FM promo and it encouraged me to check out their website.
Job done.
By the way, as of my writing this, the only place to view the video is on the station's website and Social Media. They take full control and always bring you back to their brand.

Click here to view on FB.

What's Your Job?

Have you been learning your on-air craft for years?
Do you live in a market where opportunities are rare?
Have you seen one of those opportunities go to a 'non-radio' person?

I get a lot of messages from presenters venting that "the guy from the TV got that gig". How could management dilute the industry by using people with no on air pedigree and little to no experience? They tell me they have dedicated themselves to the industry and feel let down.

A decade ago, I might have sympathised.

But here's the deal - the industry you dedicated yourself to has now changed.
It changed over a decade ago.
Now, you need to be more than an on-air presenter.
You need other skills...like the TV or print people (or now web contributors) have. They see it all as one opportunity. They see radio, TV, print, online as one beast.


Look at this ad for a presenter in Canada - how many jobs are they fitting into one position here?

-  Producing the show five days a week possibly as a co-host to the morning show
-  Build a network of local contacts and sources
-  Write and Post one to two stories to both station website and social media sites
-  Work closely with the Talk Show show for stories and interact on air
with show hosts
-  Ability to swing host and fill in for the news room is an asset
-  Voiceover for commercials, promos, etc.
-  Update Social Media on a regular basis
-  Assist on-air staff with programming requirements when needed
-  On-air board operation required
-  Voice tracking as required
-  Any other duties as assigned 

That's one job.

Maybe it's time to be more and offer more.

Timely Advice.

I stumbled upon an article in Inc. Magazine the other day that I thought could shed a bit of light on what we do in radio.

The article centred on a few very successful businesswomen and it asked them what career advice they wish they received earlier.

I picked a few...and 'radio-ised' them!

1. "Your Differences Will Propel You Forward If You Let Them".

Great place to start. I always say that the station who hired you, hired 'YOU'. Not someone who sounds like you. Find out who you are, what makes you different and USE it. 

2. "Never Feel Hemmed In By Your Job Description".

PDs...look away now!

Jessica Verrilli of Twitter says "take initiatve and follow your instincts". Can you do that on air...in format...while pleasing the boss...? Of Course you can. With a bit of belief and planning. Which leads us to...

3. "Don't Overplan Because You Can't".

I'll take this in realtion to show prep, to mean - plan and prepare but be ready for the unexpected and figure out how to cope with it when it arrives.

4. "Don't Get Distracted by What You're Supposed To Do".

There's always something you need to do, or not do - play the ads, don't mess with the music, do a client read...The key here is to honour what is being asked of you (whatever it is) but recognise when it's time to try something. Anything. Doing only what you are supposed to do is the best way to stop your growth. Surprise yourself. 

5. "Always Know Your Value And Never Settle For Less".

Not just financially, but as a communicator. Be aware of what you bring to the radio station - when you bring in ratings, you are bringing in MONEY. Radio is a business (for the most part). What is your worth to the station?

But also, what is your personal worth to those you work with. What are you addng to their day? Keep doing it. 

Have fun :)

http://Inc.com

Risky Business.

What happens when you take a risk and it doesn’t work?

It’s not meant to…at first.

Do you remember Cherry Coke?

Not many people do. 

Coke took a risk and played around with their brand – it didn’t work. What did they learn? Keep it as it was, that’s what people wanted from their fizzy drinks.

What about Starbucks? Who would have thought that a small coffee shop in Seattle would take 

over the world? Go back twenty years and a cup of coffee was just a cup of coffee. The Starbucks people took the risk of branding ‘designer’ coffees and a giant was born. 

They took the risk and even now in Starbucks you will see flavours appear and disappear as the company tries to formulate the next great seller. They’re still taking risks.

Failure is necessary.

Are you still taking risks?

Can you bring that passion into the studio with you?

Anyone can learn rules and formats.

The greats take risks and move further.

What Can YOU Do?

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to reform (or pause and reflect).” 
― Mark Twain

You might have seen a radio group format guide leaked online yesterday. It caused outrage and a lot of discussion about the state of radio.
Iain Lee and Danny Baker both adressed it as well as lots of industry veterans on Facebook and Twitter.
I read comments from people on the lines of "This is what's wrong with radio", "These people are destroying the industry" etc.

At first I agreed. I love radio and I love the people that create great radio. It's in my bones. I've spent twenty five years travelling and learning radio from amazing radio people. To see it marginaised and turned into a product that loses all sense of intimacy is incredibly frustrating...because we all know what radio CAN be.

Then, I thought of the Mark Twain quote (above).
It's quite easy to moan and gripe and point out what's wrong. It's easy to be that majority because we all agree with eachother. But let's look at it in a different way and try to find out what's going on here. We can't learn by agreeing!

The general line since the first person tapped in a 'www' to listen to music is that 'radio is dying'. You've heard this so many times. If we believe the hype, then we believe we are part of an industry that has no future. I have not met one presenter who believes that.

So where is this mindset coming from and why?
For me, it's driven by fear.
If radio listenership is down and radio is how we make a living, then the natural reaction is to protect what we have and try not lose any more. The management behind this form guide are driven by that desire - that desire to 'fix' it before it gets worse.
Do they 'know' radio? I don't know.
Are they 'radio people'? I don't know.
What I DO know is that they are scared. When you are scared of something, you react in one of two ways: stand still or move.
By implementing these rules, are they standing still or moving? And if they are moving, is it towards something or away from something?

Maybe they decided to react to falling numbers by going back to basics? These rules really ARE the basics.
When a footballer is off form, the coach will say 'Do the basics well'. That means, get the ball and pass it. Do that well. Nothing more.
Is this the equivalent of a radio group getting the ball and passing it?
Is there a bigger plan? Do they have a 'Phase 2'?

But to be honest - I don't care about them. They're not the bad guys (they ARE not bad guys)...they're just doing what they know. No more.
What I care about is YOU. The Radio Presenter.
What do you do when faced with this?

I always tell presenters 'Learn the rules so you know how to break them'.
That's not a flippant, throwaway piece of advice - I take that seriously.
Know the rules.
This form guide represents the rules.
Know how to break them.

"But if I break the rules I'll be fired".
Yes you will...if you don't know HOW to break them.
Creatively!
Look at Broadway Bill on CBS-FM in New York.
His links last 15 to 20 seconds...in and around the length stipulated on this form guide. Have you heard what he can do in that time? He has created an on air persona unique to him. Only he does what he does. And he does it IN FORMAT!
He creates, he innovates, he entertains and he works the rules to his needs.
You want to be creative? Here's an opportunity to create in a very tightly regulated environment.
Show what you can do!!!

Instead of being part of the 'majority' and bitchng and moaning about management techniques, ask yourself one question: "How can I make this work for me?"
Chances are you will move stations eventually. This is not your 'forever'.
Whatever is thrown at you, ask how you can learn and grow from this and use it in the future?
This management team will leave, new people will come in...maybe one of them will be you!
 
It's a challenge - guess what? Life has more coming your way.
You can either stand still or move towards.
Your choice.

By the way, last week on Facebook I asked: 'What One Thing Would Improve Radio?'
The answers (from radio people) ranged from
"Verbal Freedom", "Leave the presenting to the radio presenters", "Cut out the inane nonsense masquerading as banter", "DJs stop talking shite", "Personalities being allowed out".
Both sides of the argument on display there.
Where do you stand?

Before you automatically join the majority, think for yourself.
Then do what feels right for you.
Just remember, moaning and griping is easy - you will not be challenged for that. Everyone will be on your side. That feels nice.
Will it move you forward?
Will it help you grow?
Or will it turn you into that which you challenge?