Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #74

                                                      
Think about how many times you’ve heard each of these comments from an Air Talent:

“But it lit the phones up!” (Even though it was terrible.)

“But nobody called about it.” (Even though it was really compelling.)

Don’t let the phones kid you. Remember the stat: all the phone calls your station gets come from about 2% of your Listeners. Most Listeners NEVER call a radio station for ANY reason in their entire lives.

It’s easy to make the phones light up. Just book an astrology “expert” or a psychic on the show. The phones will go crazy, but most people, who either don’t care about this circus sideshow mumbo-jumbo, or are sick to death of hearing this prattle, will tune out.

And keep in mind that sometimes, when the phones aren’t ringing, it’s because they’re LISTENING, so they can hear what you have to say about the subject before responding. Or it may not be a “window of opportunity” for the Listener to call. He or she may be in the shower, or caught in Traffic. Or because you don’t solicit calls well. (I’m so tired of hearing deejays beg for calls with the lame “What do YOU think? Give us a call…” banter, I want to scream.)

The bottom line is to tell the story in a compelling way, then give an OPINION. If you do it well, and it’s valid (meaning that it has Listener Benefit and Entertainment Value), it’ll hook ‘em--and bring in the phone calls. If you don’t know how, CALL ME. I’ve spent over thirty years doing and coaching dozens of shows that have been intensely phone driven, without EVER soliciting calls in an obvious way.

Contact Tommy Kramer
Voice 972-956-0609
tommy@tommykramer.net

Hear Hear! This man know's his stuff!

So many PDs figure "working the phones" is actually compelling listening. Huh?

A PD or GM who challenges talent to 'hit the phohes' is lazy. End of story. They simply don't want to coach talent. So, tell 'em it's about the phones. Phones haven't meant a thing to radio since, well, you can figure it out.  If you be 'you' and 'honest' on the radio without 'thinking' too long about about that lazy PD's challenge, you will get the odd call that's worth airing. Now how about those jocks who'll air just about anything that comes through the phone?  

Quoted from McWages

A PD or GM who challenges talent to 'hit the phohes' is lazy. End of story. They simply don't want to coach talent. So, tell 'em it's about the phones. Phones haven't meant a thing to radio since, well, you can figure it out.  If you be 'you' and 'honest' on the radio without 'thinking' too long about about that lazy PD's challenge, you will get the odd call that's worth airing. Now how about those jocks who'll air just about anything that comes through the phone?  

So true.  I'll add to that though: how about jocks who'll air just about anything, and you can tell the listener has been told what to say.  For example: thanking the station at the end of a call.

AMEN.

... to all y'all.