This blog still is quite young. In fact, I’m still in the stage where when I’ve written a day’s posting, my work has just begun. Then it’s an hour of two of tweaking the formatting in an effort to make it look good on a variety of browsers.
(Blogger.com generously gives me a “preview” mode — which shows me precisely what any particular posting would look like if I happened to live in a parallel universe. In this universe, the “preview” version is to the published version as my passport photo is to my actual face. Except my actual face doesn’t suddenly change formatting between, say, my lower lip and my chin.)
So far, I’ve pretty much been writing whatever the heck I want to — and to a large extent, that won’t change. It is, after all, my damn blog.
A friend of mine has a blog that attracts many thousands of visitors each day, and he has learned that whenever he writes about AMERICAN IDOL, his traffic for that day increases. Apparently “AMERICAN IDOL” is a popular search engine term. So he writes about AMERICAN IDOL oh, maybe 5 days a week.
I, however, never would pander to my audience like that. For one thing, I’ve never watched even a single episode of AMERICAN IDOL. If I’m not interested enough to watch AMERICAN IDOL, I’m certainly not going to spend any of my severely limited time finding ways to weave AMERICAN IDOL into my writing.
If I lose out on search engine traffic by not mentioning AMERICAN IDOL, so be it. I’ll have the satisfaction of knowing I stuck to my principles, and by golly that’s enough for me.
When I ask “What do you want from this blog?” I mean in terms of making it as valuable as possible to you as:
• A radio programming person
• A radio production person
• A radio station manager, sales manager, promotion director or account executive
• A radio advertising person
• A voiceover guy (“voiceover guy” automatically includes women, but I’d no sooner say “voiceover gal” than I’d refer in writing to a “deejay”).
I am not, however, pretending this is a democracy. This isn’t like AMERICAN IDOL, where people get to vote. But if I can write about things you care about and/or will help you without sacrificing my principles or requiring much work on my part, that would be nice.
So please tell me what you’ve enjoyed most about this blog so far and what you’d like to see in it in the future. Whether your name is Paula, Abdul or Ryan, your opinion matters to me. This blog is like clay, akin’ to be molded to your needs.
As Superman’s adoptive father said in one of my favorite episodes, “Clark, son — “ Well, no need to go off on a tangent.
So please — politely, if possible — tell me what you like in and/or want more of from this blog. I’ll consider all serious suggestions, but none that would compromise my principles.
I’d write a bit more about this right now, but I’m really thirsty. So I’m going to have a cold, refreshing drink and I’ll see you tomorrow.
Comments on this entry are closed.
That was hilarious, you crafty ol’ link-baiter, you! I hope some of your commenters work in AMERICAN IDOL as well, because gosh, it could only help, right?
Reading this blog has become one of my favorite things to do–at least until the new season of AMERICAN IDOL begins. Sometimes I read it on my laptop while sitting by the Brooke–Winters are hard in Wisconsin so I spend as much time outdoors as possible.
Anyway, if it’s possible to have more features like the Monday Commercial Smackdown, bring it on! Hearing actual audio from a spot along with Dan’s point-by-point analysis has helped sharpen my own skills at critiquing production.
Dan: I think the best insights come in unexpected ways. We all have our “pet” issues…the ones that daily give us grief – issues that we might think only we experience. Like some “therapy group”, though, I believe we can all find value in seeing others handle those same issues in ways that might’ve eluded us.
Besides, against a stubborn, even rebellious sales staff, I can always use “ammo” to bolster my pursuit of commercial excellence – not contractual expedience – on behalf of our clients.
I attend as many of your seminars as I can, and when I try to apply those lessons, working with a sales staff that is geared to produce revenue – not radio commercials, a blog such as this can provide a bit of sorely-needed credibility.
Then, assuring myself that I taught them a concept that will improve their client’s ROI, I see them retreat to their comfort zone. I guess some things just never change.
For me, the value of this blog is that here, we keep company with others that “get it”.
Reading your blog is now on my checklist of “things to do” when I get to work in the morning. Although I am not in the “radio business” anymore, I enjoy reading what you have to say and the fact that it seems to always make sense. And then it makes me wonder how come the radio stations where I live (Balt./Wash DC) continually do the dumb things you consistently mention.
I also enjoy your Monday Commercial Smackdown, but for me, I like it when you take any piece of audio and then break it down into its good and bad parts. Also, your website critique was very valuable.
Keep up the great work and PLEASE, don’t ever mention American Idol again. It is only just a matter of time before that inane show becomes the fodder of every drive time show across the country.
I, like one of the other commenters mentioned, “get it.”
Rather than respond to each of these comments individually, I’ll see if I can do so in a posting tomorrow. But thanks for the feedback, and I’ll be grateful to anyone else who wants to jump in.
I appreciate your e-newsletters and get a little antsy (yes, Antsy Nancy) waiting for new editions to arrive. The blog is a great way to keep learning in between the newsletters, they’re good reminders of a lot of the things I’ve learned from the seminars and products I’ve purchased from you and I enjoy the interaction with you and other commenters. Oh, and the special weekend video and audio treats are a kick.
special weekend video and audio treats are a kick.
Very happy to hear that. Wasn’t sure anyone noticed.
Of course, now that you’ve drawn everyone’s attention to it, they’ll all come looking this weekend — and not find anything, because I’ll be at the Summit.
But I’ll see if I can figure out a way to upload some video from the event itself.
special weekend video and audio treats are a kick.
Very happy to hear that. Wasn’t sure anyone noticed.
Of course, now that you’ve drawn everyone’s attention to it, they’ll all come looking this weekend — and not find anything, because I’ll be at the Summit.
But I’ll see if I can figure out a way to upload some video from the event itself.
special weekend video and audio treats are a kick.
Very happy to hear that. Wasn’t sure anyone noticed.
Of course, now that you’ve drawn everyone’s attention to it, they’ll all come looking this weekend — and not find anything, because I’ll be at the Summit.
But I’ll see if I can figure out a way to upload some video from the event itself.
But I’ll see if I can figure out a way to upload some video from the event itself.
Oooh. Maybe some Pat Fraley? Thanks Dan. Wish I could be there.
I also like canadian idol, which is on now….ben mulroney as host…well, he isn’t no ryan seacrest, but ben is well…so canadian…..and ryan is well, so american…(is ryan the new dick clark by the way?…amazing how in a few years, he has bumped dick clark, casey kasem and rick dees out of work)
It’s almost too fun to play armchair simon cowell/zack warner (for cdn idol)
We get the best of both up here….sometimes they overlap….Tom Jones was tutoring last week…and “That Bitch” Anne Murray (with apologies to south park) will take her turn in a few weeks