Recently a veteran radio personality hired me to critique his show.
Here’s another of his post-critique questions.
He’s Become So Smooth That His Ad Libs Sound Scripted
In the critique, I praised his efforts to have something to say in each break.
But it sounded as though he had scripted each break.
My advice: Jot down a few key words or phrases — or maybe some bullet points — and then open the mic and talk to the audience, rather than reading.
His follow-up:
Honestly, it sounds like I write everything down, actually I don’t write anything down…ever…although I do lots of research and bring that material with me…my breaks are generated as I say them…I think I can make them sound more real/less scripted if I can connect on the “sounding real” challenge.
Again, suggestions?
My Reply:
That means you’re a very accomplished ad libber. Just add some emotion to your delivery, and probably you’ll notice a difference almost immediately.
I’m not saying “fake” an emotion. I’m saying “feel” an emotion:
• Excitement
• Joy
• Amusement
• Nervousness
• Wonder
The emotion will vary from break to break, depending upon what you’re saying.
And:
Stand up.
I’m guessing you sit through your breaks, to which I have no objection.
But standing and focusing on communicating the emotional backdrop against which you’re delivering your message might have a huge impact on your delivery.
Comments on this entry are closed.
In addition to throwing some emotion in, toss in a bunch of “uh”s: “Thee-uh” is one EVERYBODY uses. “It’s-uh”, “and-uh”, not to mention “I’m-uh” are all pretty good too.
Is that the difference between a personality and an announcer?
Announcers announce, they really have limited need to ad lib.
Personalities are just that, personalities. while they read things now and then, a lot of them shows up on the air, and no doubt often scaring the hell out of PD’s who could consider him a “loose cannon”
Commerical radio needs more personalities and less announcers.
It seems this person you critiqued has found his niche that works to keep everyone happy. It’s not impossible, but far more then time and temp. I personally cringe when I hear too many things being read on air, but a lot of that is lack of experience and direction.
I would agree with Dan, you can make people believe pretty much anything if you believe it yourself and are geniunely enthusiastic about it. You also should feel it. You should feel it by putting your mind into it totally by creating your own individual personality. understand your character, your alter ego, what he/she would have to say on any particular subject, and put your mind there and let the stream of consciousness take over and run with it. It’s also used in comedy called improv. It can be fun to do.
Standing up can be a individual thing, but you can really get into the character by standing up because you can project better and have more energy to do so. Take a lesson from carton VO talent. Move your hands, put your hole body into the delivery. You can hear it…in your voice.
I had to script every bit I did. Maybe if I worked at a station long enough to feel comfortable (after I left the small market), it would be easier to rely on just my brain… I scripted to the song posts. I really don’t see how you can think, talk and time and be exact all at once. Props to you if you can.
I always stood at the personality formats too. Learned that from my mentor.