As radio presenters, we are always told how important it is to relate to our listeners. How it is essential to reach out to them and be just like them.
We do this in lots of different ways – some consciously, some unconsciously.
For instance, we will relate stories to their lives. We will Hook and Tease them using references they are familiar with.
Basically we want to get on their ‘good side’. We want them to like us.
One way we unconsciously do this is through laughter.
When we laugh we are basically saying to our listener that we are good fun to be around and that we are happy. That is when we laugh genuinely. Maybe a co-host has brought on a spontaneous laugh, maybe something you have ad libbed has made you laugh genuinely.
However, there is another laugh that we sometimes use. This laugh actually ends up doing us more harm than good. It is a crutch and a ‘turn off’.
This laugh is the Nervous Laugh.
You’ve heard this laugh used by presenters everywhere.
The presenter says something that they’re not sure about or is nervous about saying or has made a slight formatic error and loses their way and to show that they are just fooling around will follow the comment up with ‘The Nervous Laugh’.
Example: “I see Paris Hilton is in the news again today…….I tell you what, I’m sick of her whining……heh heh heh”.
Or: “Looks like that song doesn’t want to start. Oh the joys of live radio…..heh heh heh”.
You might cringe when you see these sentences written down. That’s because they are cringe worthy. That’s because they have happened and we all know that using the laugh as our crutch is our automatic response.
So what’s so bad about that?
Well, in order to figure this out, let’s take a look at why people laugh, in general. What is it that a laugh does and why do we feel the need to force one?
Here’s the Science Bit!
The reason we, as human beings, laugh is Social Interaction.
When we laugh, we release a chemical in our brain called Oxytocin. Oxytocin helps us to feel calm, serene, loved, happy, relieved. All wonderful sensations.
We laugh for lots of different reasons.
One being, Relief.
What is the first thing most people do after a fright? They laugh.
You’re watching a horror movie. The main character is looking in the mirror in their bathroom when suddenly a face appears in the background. You get a fright. Then you laugh with relief when you realise it is just a movie and they ’got you’. The laugh releases Oxytocin into the brain and you feel better.
That’s what laughing does.
It’s why the punchline of a joke works so well. We are brought on a little journey during a joke, when suddenly the punchline arrives and surprises us with a twist we didn’t see coming.
Surprise. Laugh.
So how is this a Social Interaction?
Well, studies show that people are more likely to laugh out loud when in a group as opposed to being alone.
A great example of this is when you read/hear a joke.
I could write a joke here for you now. If you find it funny, chances are you might smile or chuckle a little to yourself.
If I was to tell that same joke to you in a room full of other people, you are more likely to laugh out loud. It’s a social thing. In the group setting you are attempting to share a feeling with others. You are trying to be similar to them.
It’s why people feel very left out when they are the only ones in a group not to get the joke. We have all felt a little left out of things when everyone else is laughing except us. They all got the joke, you didn’t. It actually can be quite upsetting. Why? Because you are the only one not socially interacting. You are not part of the group.
Jokes work in a group setting because laughter is contagious.
The reason laughter is contagious is because we are all releasing this mood altering drug (Oxytocin) into our brain. We are all on a High. We are all sharing this high and are all interacting on the same level. We are sharing and bonding.
The radio presenter that can make their listener laugh is using this feeling.
Humour works on the radio because when we make our listener laugh, we are literally affecting them physically. You have influenced a chemical reaction in their brain.
What trait do single people say is most important to them when looking for a partner?
Sense of humour.
It’s that important to our social outlook that it is regularly number one in attractive attributes. We actively seek out people that can make us laugh.
Making another person laugh helps to develop deep pathways in the brain that help keep you both together.
It’s why we have a favourite comedian. They make us feel good. The affect us physically.
On air, you can develop this type of relationship with your listener.
I’m not suggesting that you change your style and start firing off one-liners and rim shot jokes in every link.
Maybe you don’t think of yourself as a funny presenter. That’s OK. Not everyone is a comedian. But everyone is human and as a human you have the ability to laugh (genuinely).
When your listener laughs at something you say you have just:
a) Socially interacted with them,
b) Created a chemical reaction, and
c) Developed a bond with them.
(By the way, women create more Oxytcin than men. Handy to know if you are trying to attract more female listeners).
Verbal humour also works best. Which is one reason why being on the radio is great. It’s like the joke read or the joke heard. The heard version will always create a stronger reaction.
Verbal humour works so well that people in day-to-day life attempt to re-create it when using the written word for communication.
Have you ever sent a funny Text message and ended it with a Smiley face? Of course, who hasn’t?
Or sent an e-mail with ‘LOL’ at the end?
The person reading your message might not know that the message you sent was meant to be funny……but you make sure they do by placing a ‘humour symbol’ at the end.
That’s you socially interacting with the other person.
The same way a presenter tries to socially interact with the listener.
Let’s get back to the guy in the studio. He has just made a little error on air and covers it up with a quick “heh heh heh”.
What does this say to the listener?
It says that the presenter is trying too hard to be part of the group.
Human beings have the ability to tell the difference between a fake laugh and a real laugh. And the difference is enormous.
The real laugh is a genuine thing. It is a basic thing. It shows that we are all part of the one feeling.
Part of the one group.
We are all similar and belong together.
We are all sharing this feeling and bonding and creating a relationship.
The fake laugh shows that you are trying to get into the group. You are outside the group. You don’t belong. You are not like me.
Fake laughing can be quite detrimental to your on air persona.
In my opinion (and it’s just my opinion) it is one of the most damaging crutches a radio presenter can have.
At it’s most basic level, it is saying to the listener “I am desperate for you to like me. Please like me. Please”.
A genuine laugh will help forge a deeper relationship with your listener.
Have a great show!
Brian.
To find out more about ‘Laughing on the radio’, contact:
brian@bmacmedia.com
http://www.bmacmedia.com
Passionate About Radio.
Radio thoughts and bits from Brian McColl. www.bmacmedia.com
