Reach Through The Microphone And Grab A Body Part
A Reader Asks:
I’ve been working in radio for two years, and both of those years were in a small market. I’ve since accepted and have started working as a midday personality in a large market. Considering my lack of experience, both as a major market talent and as an on-air personality altogether, I feel like I’m a little out of my league.
I understand that they wouldn’t have hired me if I wasn’t what they were looking for, however I could use some advice on exactly what is expected of a personality in a major market.
I know I can do this, I am confident that I can do this, but I could use your help. Do you have any guidelines, suggestions, or advice?
Dan Replies:
Forget about the market size. Your job in a large market is the same as your job in a small one: to make a personal connection with your listeners, daily. To reach through the microphone, grab them by the throat (or other body part), and gently (or not so gently) shake them.
In middays, to help make their work time (whether in a place of business or at home) go by more quickly. To offer entertainment and a degree of human companionship.
It should not take more than a few months at your new job for you to realize (perhaps with some disappointment) that your large market co-workers offer the same mixture of talented/non-talented, professional/unprofessional, motivated/lazy, creative/imitative that you experienced in your small market station.
What matters is your relationship with your listeners. And small market listeners are no different than large market listeners.
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A lot of guys round here are intimidated by the LAGER market
@ Rob: Intimidated by…or distracted by?
I would say a little bit of both!
Set down your goals ahead-set down what you should focus on. set down what will be a powerful system to achieve your goals and set aside what will not.
Dan is absolutely correct. Market does not matter as far as what your job as a Disc Jockey has you to do. What can matter and what can get difficult but remain confident is,”The Game” that many jobs have…Because you may be new to the area , new one at the station..you should pray who to listen well to…and who maybe not so much.
Also recognize that your attitude with everyone is important..and people can gossip..So make no enemies… I have heard it so many times: If you are a jerk this busness is not too big to know about it. Treat people with respect no matter where they work and no matter who they are.
To me if you get to that point thinking you are really better than everyone else then you have lost because you can no longer relate as your job would have you do. Young Woman- Be a part of the community. Listen more than speak.When you interview someone give them more time talking and be a listener. Ask open ended questions. Be sincere. Be smart. Be humble.Have fun.Thanks for listening. Congratulations-adam
While I’m certainly not an authority on large market radio. I would appear to me that it’s easier to identify with your audience in a small market.
For example: In a small market, you may be able to relate to the audience by simply talking about a school event, or other local event that is generally common to everyone listening.
In the large market, your audience may be SO MUCH more diverse, that the “in common” items begin to become more watered down. “Did you watch American Idol last night?” In my opinion, a satellite jock can do that.
Reaching out and grabbing your listeners by the throat, and shaking them up a little is a little harder when you’re not completely sure who is out there.
Again, my opinion.
What matters is that you are enjoying what you do! No matter the size of the market, remember to smile when the mic is hot and have ideals about what you want to say to the people. You can be local and people relate big or small market! Do your show prep and again have fun! If you are enjoying what you are doing so will the people listening to you! That is what I have learned over the years!
Best wishes!
Like Rob, I’m intimidated by a LAGER market. All that beer scares me!
ONAIR you are taking to that one person..maybe off the air you have pressure or you ceate that pressure that has no place in the control room or in your brain if it detracts from your Show.
Keep learning and keep a desire to get better. Understand if you are an attractive man or woman that when you are dealing with people face to face there could be a distraction. Remain courteous and professional.”
I would LOVE to be intimidated by a larger market. My problem is, I can’t get my intimidating foot in the large market door! For two years, I have applied and interviewed everywhere in this town and I keep losing out to someone who either already works for the company or works for the competition. I have always loved radio, but my opinion is starting to change.
I would LOVE to be intimidated by a larger market. My problem is, I can’t get my intimidating foot in the large market door! For two years, I have applied and interviewed everywhere in this town and I keep losing out to someone who either already works for the company or works for the competition. I have always loved radio, but my opinion is starting to change.
I would LOVE to be intimidated by a larger market. My problem is, I can’t get my intimidating foot in the large market door! For two years, I have applied and interviewed everywhere in this town and I keep losing out to someone who either already works for the company or works for the competition. I have always loved radio, but my opinion is starting to change.
t use to be a “Heard and not seen” business…so it worked for us Ugly guys…lol…But now with the internet “being pretty” does have it’s advantages these days…..I better go eat more pie. I’m feeling sad lol
Is this the young woman in the picture asking this question?
I read the article and I will tell you it is my guess that this is not the first time in her life she has felt secretly “not good enough” while everyone around her thinks she’s great at what she does. She may want to draw on one of those past experiences for confidence.
Like others have said you are talking to “one” person. Make sure you are checking in with people who have been doing this a while for perspective and know that each day you are getting a little better.
It all comes out of the speakers the same exact way in a large market as it does in a small market! So if you can make it sound good in a small market a big on e is noooooooo problemo!
I used to work at KUTE 102 in L.A. back in the late 70’s on the evening shift. The afternoon guy (Who shall remain nameless) used to keep a loaded gun on the board. That was nerve racking!
Congrats on reaching one of your goals. A big market is intimidating at first but, after a while you’ll see that it has the same nuances as small markets. Learn everything you possibly can and become a virtual sponge for radio knowledge. You obviously have a great deal to contribute otherwise they wouldn’t have hired you. Go Git Er Done!
When I finally got to a bigger market I found just how small market minded most really are.
No matter how big the market you will work with someone that started at the station in high school.
Radio is the same large or small. Except for the dick headed egos.
You are talking to one person.
A friendly thought,a little humor to make them smile.
Just today at the coffee shop a woman stopped by my table to tell me that yesterday she had been really pissed at her husband.
She hated him and life in general.
She turned on the radio and heard me taking about something funny that had happened to me two days before.She said,”I started laughing
it made the rest of my day,thank you.”
We get caught up in things that keep us from really giving to the listener the companionship they tune in to get.