DAN O’DAY TALKS ABOUT RADIO

During our “station imaging” teleseminar with Dave Foxx, someone asked about “branded intros” — adding specially produced pieces to the beginnings of playlist songs.

Chuck Blore

That made me think back to Chuck Blore‘s wonderful “mini dramas” — including this one, for a song that many of us never liked.

Like many reading Dan’s blog, I’ve been in the business of commercial broadcasting and its inherent behind-the-scenes production for a long enough time to have learned a more than a few tricks and spotted a few patterns.

There’s a rather large inventory and I’ve kept them together in a mental tool bag. And I still keep all the tools sharp (freshened for the times) because these instruments, gadgets and styles of audio production still bring results and satisfaction.

A hobby that goes hand-in-hand with audio manipulation is one that I’m particularly fond of: Human Behavior, or “Why Do People DO That!?!” The answers lead to more effective communication in our production.

What People Do and Why is everyone’s hobby, honestly. Earth’s massive library of films is proof. Humanity has amassed enough stories to keep all its theaters, televisions with all their channels, DVD players and hand-held devices, and yet-to-be-invented, enhanced players busy for the lifespan of any of us.

That said, let’s tune now to The Understatement of the Decade, repeated so many times every day as to be an amazing factoid in itself: Listening to the radio today is an entirely different experience from what is was in, say, “my day.”

I would hope so. Should be. Also way different from what was on the dial in the 70s, 80s, 90s, or the Oldies era, Bob Max or Jack era. Not at all the same today as the Boss Radio era, Color Radio, or Good Guys times. SHOULD be different from what we heard yesterday.

Today’s Hot Talk stations, Young Country stations, Movin’s and Stars and Pulses and Real Oldies radio stations are patently unreal. Why? The ambience has completely transformed. The context within which we operate has changed. Not only are the commercial stations owned and operated by non-broadcasters (usually cutting costs instead of investing in their properties or prioritizing programming for their listeners), but they now sound as if they’re just avoiding dead air by broadcasting “content.” Content they didn’t have to pay for. Makes you wonder how they’re going to show shareholders improvement on that, next meeting.

But with the production tools with which we began this topic, a better understanding of the marketplace(s) and our proven professionalism, we just might consider taking the steering wheel for the rest of this cruise.

There are some who would call this a golden opportunity. Never has there been an easier passage of time in which to woo away and create a loyalty among an audience. And while the old ways don’t fit into the new lifestyles, there are universal principles which will always apply. As an example, Gravity never goes out of vogue.

Within each of your old techniques is a “universal” just waiting to be re-written.

Next time: Leap Of Faith Producing – finding the “sweet spot” in any piece of production

We plan and produce and exhaust ourselves in an effort to do something wonderful on-air…

…and then it’s the casual ad lib that our listeners rave to us about.

Years ago Jeff Kaiser shared with me a wonderfully silly radio idea that his station, KGBI, was doing:

A daily Surf Report.

KGBI is in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Which is at least 1,000 miles from any ocean. Here, see for yourself:

Grand Island, Nebraska

But Jeff would present the Missouri River Surf Report, using information reported in the local newspaper about the river’s daily depth, high water, currents, etc.

Using the theme music from Hawaii 5-0 underneath.

And the report was SPONSORED (by a local bar).

Now that’s radio.

I just rolled into the office to find some lovely “Ask Dave Foxx About Radio Station Imaging” “reviews” in my email inbox. Thought I’d share them with you and also let you know about a “secret sale” I’m having on some of Dave’s audio seminars.

WOW Dan congrats on putting together a truly great call with Dave Foxx. It was informative, it was entertaining, and yes it was long. But it had to be in order for this to be a true no holds barred Q & A event. I was in radio for over 25 years and now I’m a full time voice actor and audio producer so to me this truly was an event. Nice work and again, Thank You both.
– David Brower

As with most – if not all Dan O’Day events – this one lived up to its advance billing. I am in awe of Dan’s commitment to delivering the goods every time. Anytime Dave Foxx is teed up to talk – I’m there.
– Robert Hughes, KPRI

WOW, can’t begin to thank you both for hosting such an informative teleseminar. A crash course in just about anything one would need to know about the Radio Imaging arena, especially those of us fairly new to the RI genre of VO work. To say I got “my money’s worth” out of this training session would be a gross understatement!! Looking forward to the next one and thanks again.
– Bob Tomlin/Long Beach, California

Thank you for the wonderfully informative and insightful seminar on Saturday. The 4 hours you shared with us was so generous. I have some great notes and am armed with new enthusiasm.
– Catherine Sheehan

It’s not too late to get your copy of the entire teleseminar on mp3. (But in a few days, it will be too late.)

Also, in honor of Dave’s marathon performance on Saturday I’ve put these three audio seminars, all by Dave, on sale for just a few days:

DAVE FOXX’s SWISS ARMY KNIFE IMAGING KIT

ANATOMY OF A STATION PROMO

PROGRAM DIRECTOR’S STATION IMAGING SURVIVAL GUIDE