ENDING YOUR RADIO SHOW – NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE?

Were you ever told something like, “You should never say goodbye at the end of your show, because that tells people you’re leaving”?

You were told wrong.

As a radio DJ, it’s a good bet that you believe in the value of “one-to-one communication” between air talent and listener.

You talk to your audience; you don’t shout at them.

You’re creative and compelling — yet conversational.

You’re a genuine “personality,” not “just an announcer.”

You create a personal connection with your listeners. You share your wit, your humor, even your life.

But at the end of your show, you just…disappear??

Imagine This:

You’re at a party, engaged in an enjoyable conversation with someone you’ve just met.

You glance away for just a moment, but when you look back…the other person has disappeared.

How would you feel?

Mystified, certainly. Off-balance. Maybe slightly offended.

The person just vanished without even a “see ’ya later”?

That’s what it’s like when the last song of your show ends, the next program begins…and you never even bothered to say “see ’ya.”

Sure, you want your audience to stick around for the program that follows yours. But you also want to maintain that bond you’ve established with your listeners.

The Standard, Dumb Way

Of course, many jocks do say goodbye at the end of their shows. But most of them do it so weakly, so ineffectually, so….so lamely that it’s almost embarrassing:

“Well, uh, I see we’re out of time, so, uh, thanks for being here with us today….”

Good grief. You didn’t put in all that “show prep” to end the day’s program with a wasteful, weak whimper like that.

Next Installment: Smart ways to “say goodbye” without sending your audience away.