Here’s how most radio program directors critique a show:
“Sounds good, lots of energy. You stepped on the vocal here…. There was some dead air here and here…..You forgot to read the liner card after the :05 stopset, and you’re not saying the call letters enough. Other than that, keep up the good work.”
Anyone can give a radio aircheck critique like that; a high school kid can count the number of call letter mentions or take out a stopwatch to see how long the air talent talks in a given break.
None of that helps the jock improve as a performer.
Many PDs don’t give more detailed and more frequent feedback because they don’t want to criticize their jocks…because they don’t want to hurt their feelings.
The first radio seminar I ever conducted was for a large group owner.
Part of the weekend was set aside for group critiques of the jocks in attendance.
Because I was new at conducting seminars, I hadn’t yet learned how to coax a group of people into giving candid critiques…
…so everyone was very polite when critiquing, because they didn’t want to hurt anyone else’s feelings.
But there was one morning jock — his name was Mike — about whose aircheck everyone decided to give honest feedback.
I don’t know why his was singled out for such treatment; it certainly wasn’t the worst we had heard.
But one person offered a criticism, and someone else threw in another, and someone else chimed in with yet another criticism.
It was brutal.
We tore that aircheck apart.
And everyone (including me) felt sorry for Mike.
At the end of the seminar, Mike came up to me and said, “Of all the people here, I think I got the most out of this weekend. It’s the first time I’ve ever gotten honest feedback on my show.”
It was a big lesson for me.
Ever since then, when giving feedback I try to be diplomatic, to be kind. But even more importantly, to be honest — even if it hurts.
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I find that, at first, a bit of building up works. Then the let down.
“I loved the way you turned the mic.on..after that it went down hill….”
I’ve had a couple of guys in my career who did that. I am grateful.
That’s why I don’t play air checks for friends or family. And the PD’s I’ve worked for are only concerned with repeating the call and keeping the breaks short. The one station I was there almost a year and he only did one aircheck session with me. The best critique i’d had was from this guy I paid $50 and after he gave me some gentle pointers, never heard from him again.
When airchecking I made sure there was a huge do not disturb sign on my office door , that the talent saw me take the phone off the hook and the aircheck had been pre telescoped so your not whizzing backwards and forwards through the recording .Make them feel it is there time.I know it seems I am stating he obvious but I have been on the end of wortless airchecks where my bosses phone kept disturbing the session, sales people just burst into the office etc.Also play the whole aircheck through and agree on no talking until the recording has finished but notes can be taken (obviously you can pre listen and make notes before the session)
The problem I ran into mid way through my career was that the ‘PDs’ ( and their long long long history of 4 shares) were simply not qualified to offer a critique to anyone. Judging by what I hear now on the radio, not much has changed.
with fear of them seeing this, I changed my name. My superiors who aircheck me are very hit and miss in their helpfulness.
I rewrote this 5 times… I just want to say to aircheckers, the bosses, OMs, PDs and Consultants that if you say things like “could have been better/stronger/tighter” then you are not preparing for the aircheck. Listen to the damn thing at home and cherry pick a few breaks. At least one that sounded great AND WHY! And a few that need work and again, specifically, WHY!
An aircheck should not feel like a punishment or a menial task. Aircheck day should be fun. And for so many of us lowly morning guys, it is not. You demand this insane level of prep from us and then fail to even give our aircheck a once over before we get there… Getting “feedback” from people that clearly don’t really care about what you do, feels awful, like punishment and like a menial task that I just have to do before I go home.
I hope I am not alone and I hope this post increases at least one aircheck.
‘Sam’ Radioman, great comments. You sound very similar to my morning guy, what he would have RIGHTLY said about me a couple years ago. Not the ‘not care’ but going in with a do this/ don’t do that. Now, I realize that this is a partnership and how can I HELP provide assistance? A gentle nudge or a simple reminder. Everyone wants to do better than they did last week. Great article and fabulous comments.
I’ve always welcomed critiques and wish I’d had more over the years.
Best aircheck critiques I received in my career were in the early 80’s from Cary Pahigian in Portland, Maine. He taught me a lot about economy of words and not sounding like an “announcer.” These were great lessons I’ve applied all through my career – to this day.
On air at CC in San Diego for 5 years – had a grand total of 1 aircheck session which lasted less than 5 minutes. “Uh….that break was a little long, otherwise soundin’ good.”
On air in Los Angeles both full and part-time on/off for about 6 years and never had a single aircheck critique. Maybe the thinking is that if you’re on in market #2, you know all you need to know – hah hah. I’d have welcomed some input.
I’d like to see aircheck critiques focus less on format specifics and more on relating to and connecting with your listeners as a “real person.” Young air personalities who do get this kind of guidance early in thier careers have a real head start.
Dan..That was very cool. Hope Mike is still around and doing well. You are very kind and tactful…but wanting the best from someone who risks everyday is Right. Thanks.