Performing can be daunting. Even if you’re fairly comfortable with giving speeches or working in a group setting – talking in front of a mic can give you chills. We all get nervous performing in front of others. Today I wan to focus on how you can produce a good radio show.
Be prepared. This step has multiple parts to it. Being prepared does not just mean having an idea of what you’re going to say or talk about on air, but also to be prepared mentally.
Have a plan. Winging it will definitely add to your nerves. Having a general idea of what you’re going to say will help ease your fears. Think about a time when you were presenting something and you were prepared. Didn’t you feel more comfortable than when you presented something you weren’t as prepared for? To help you plan your show, think about your radio show almost like an essay:
Introduction. When you write an essay, you don’t just start going into the content without first introducing your topic right? You usually have an introductory paragraph which includes your thesis statement. Similarly, you wouldn’t start your radio show without first introducing yourself right? You don’t have to do your radio show with a thesis statement, but you will want to introduce yourself.
Body. What are you going to talk about? Most radio shows are around 4 to 5 hours in length. You want to have enough material to last you the entire duration. You also don’t want to talk about everything during the first two hours of your show. You want to find the right balance with releasing information and teasing your audience to listen for more. You also don’t want the topic to linger too long where your audience gets bored. Your radio station will give you details on when you have time to talk and when you need to give weather, news, traffic, and possibly station ID.
Conclusion. You don’t want to leave your listener without saying goodbye first. You wouldn’t leave a friend or family member without saying goodbye first – so make sure you let your listener know you’re time is up and what’s/who is coming up next.
Frame of mind. Your frame of mind is everything. If you go in with a bad or negative attitude, your show will probably be not so hot. No one is perfect so making a mistake is not that big of a deal. In fact, most people will not even realize that you made a mistake unless you draw attention to yourself. Think about the times you listen to the radio – it’s rare that you’re just listening to just the radio. We sometimes listen while we’re driving, while we’re at work, 0r doing chores. Our attention is not 100% on the radio station – we’re preoccupied by other things. While it’s important to grasp your listeners, keep in mind that they will be selectively listening to you. If you make a mistake, it’s more than likely going to go unnoticed.
Practice. In the broadcast industry – the first time you read copy, is the time you’ll make the most mistakes. I like having script. It helps me understand my plan and mission. While this is good for planning, it’s also important to keep in mind that you may have to ad-lib. Don’t be “married” to your script where you can not function without it. While I like to have a script to rely on, I also have some backup material to fall back on in case in need to. If you have copy, read it a couple times before you go on air.
Pretend. Radio can be a little impersonal sometimes. It’s just you and that fuzzy microphone. Sometimes it’s hard to realize that somebody is listening on the other end. By pretending you’re talking to someone it’ll make your voice more personable and more conversational. Pretending you’re talking to someone you’re comfortable with can also help ease some of your nerves.
Have fun. Last, have fun. Radio is a place where we can express our views, opinions, current events with a large group of people. It’s also a place for our listeners to offer their opinions and views on a variety of issues. Radio gives the public a voice. A voice to be heard. Radio is just a device that offers communication. In reality, you’re talking to each one of your listeners as a one-on-one conversation.
Good luck, have fun and feel free to let me know ho your radio show goes!
