A jock just sent me his aircheck, asking for feedback. He’s not new to the business, but it’s obvious he hasn’t had much guidance during his career. From the cover letter that accompanied his CD, I can feel his passion for radio.
But he’s made the mistake common to so many: Because it’s so easy to be a bad or mediocre disc jockey — anyone can achieve those levels — he has assumed that becoming good or great is easy, too. All he has to do is keep practicing at the mediocre level.
But it doesn’t work that way. In addition to talent (a good thing to have), the truly successful radio personalities work at it. They think, they write, they plan, they aircheck themselves, they invest in materials that will help them improve and/or will improve their programs.
That’s obvious? Okay. But it’s also unusual. Most jocks show up for work, do their best, go home, come back the next day and do their best — but never improve because it doesn’t occur to them to treat radio as a craft.
Here’s one simple, “obvious” suggestion I gave him:
The biggest thing you need to add is warmth. As corny as it sounds, you (I mean you, personally; I do not necessarily mean everyone on radio) should smile widely before opening the mic and keep smiling throughout the break.
People who don’t know better might scoff, “Oh, he wants me to be a ‘yuk jock.'” Those people don’t understand that although it might look odd for you to be smiling so much, it won’t sound that way.
“On TV, I look normal.”
There’s something about a radio microphone that saps much of the warmth from most voices. You’re familiar with the TV expression, “The camera adds 15 pounds”? (Hence, all the actresses who in real life resemble scarecrows.)
Well, the radio microphone removes 50% of the natural warmth of your voice, and you need to find a way to compensate for that.
On this aircheck, you sound bored. You sound as though you’re there because it’s your job to be there, not because you’re doing what you want to do.
Suggestion: Concentrate more on sounding as though you want to be there and that you’re talking because you have something you think is worth it for the listener to hear.
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Dan:
The “smile” is a great tool…one which I’ve also found to be invaluable when a client insists on doing their own voicework for a commercial. It’s difficult enough in most cases to get results that sound sincere, spontaneous and capable of motivating the listener when the untrained client gives their delivery, but I always tell them to “smile…you can hear it”. And once they hear the difference, they’re usually more than willing to accept the other coaching I give them.
Smile? Heck yeah! Unless, of course, you’re doing a cranky, non-smiling character. And, added bonus: smile and you don’t pop your P’s.
one of the first pieces of advice my first boss gave me. always try to do it
the first thing i tell a trainee is to SMILE no matter what it really works
Dan- its always been one of my pieces of advice for any air talent, no matter the format. A smile can shine right through the speaker…
when recording clients for prod i always tell them to smile
even “ugly” can be heard on the radio, so if I don’t smile I tend to scare the auidence..so smile…cause ugly is not good 😉
Randall hit it on the head–ditto Tommy— yesthe “Oldtimers” were right–SMILE when your on the radio–UGLY CAN BE HEARD through the air waves. When in doubt and looking for a “role Model”…..have a listen to the great Paul Harvey.–Here in Vancouver…Red Robinson is still on the air..as well as Larry and Willy.
Totally agree. I never used to do this as I thought it wasn’t cool. But it does really make you sound like you’re having fun, helps if you actually are too! Thing is, it can sound corny if you already have a corny voice/act. If you’re not a corny jock though, the smile won’t add extra cheese, you’ll just sound more ‘up’ 😉
One of my bosses says this everyday… SMILE! It works too!
Smile then frown -you will feel better
Best truism I ever learned…that, and the fact that ALL Engineers are weird. ;-P
Lol! 🙂
That’s the single most important thing I was ever told. And simple too 😀
I mostly agree with the age old “smile when you are on the air” advice.. however thanks to Dave Robbins when I was at WNCI in 1990 and had a severe case of “DJ Yuck Mouth”, he asked me during an air check if I was “smiling” while doing a break. Of course I said yes (that was what I’d been taught to do). He said “stop it immediately this weekend when you’re on the air”. I did just that, and Yuck Mouth went away. He even called me at 4am (yes 4am!..he was always listeening to his jocks) and said, “sounds great!”
Such a simple straightforward direction — fixes are Ivory pure.
That’s the single most important thing I was ever told. And simple too 😀
Out in a noisy environment … your delivery is naturally exaggerated. It comes out sounding right.
In a quiet place like a recording studio or radio booth … your emotions are magnified ten-fold.
What do you do? Tend to talk like a robot. Fast, dull and monotonous. And you think you’re saying it right … until you hear yourself.
So smile. it’s a good way to help you conquer being self conscious and ineffective.
Henry Bolo
Radio Guy / Sound Designer
That is great advice.
The listener will love it. However the PD and consultants don’t care much for it.
A few years ago I was working for a station in the San Jose area.
It seemed I was too happy. So I toned it down. “That is better”, said the PD. I sounded to myself like I was bored and pissed off.
I was asked to fill in for a friend latter that week who worked for Metro traffic in the same city.
After a couple reports the boss asked me if I was bored and pissed for some reason. I told him no. “Then why do you sound that way? I told him the reason. He shakes his head, “I know, I know I worked for Mr. no fun a couple of times.”
The next report was much livelier and friendly with praise coming form the boss.
The next day back at sad sack central the PD said, “I listened yesterday to your reports and notice you dropped your professional sound.”
@ Barry Cole: Too bad your PD didn’t know that “professional” =
“connecting to the listener with maximum effectiveness.”
Dan,
I know the listners would call and asked me if I was having a bad day. When I was in please the PD mode.