Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Available in January.

Wow ! I can NOT wait for 2012 to kick off. This blog will be at full steam. I have Radio Presenter Workshops lined up, Voice Over work to do, a Radio Instruction book to finish and this little baby to launch in January :-)






Monday, December 12, 2011

While the new Blog waits for it's New Year re-launch, I thought I might as well share my new Video Ezine Series with you here.
This is Video number One :-)

Radio Is Simple !!


Thursday, December 8, 2011

Monday, December 5, 2011

What is the 'Thinking Behind The Talking'?


I was asked the other day, "Can you give an example of the Thinking Behind the Talking" Workshop.
Happy to.
Here's the type of thinking we do...



I was trying to think what would be a good way to begin the New year. Continue as before, or set the next twelve months up in a 'looking forward' sort of way?
Then it struck me.
Trawling through some notes in, what I laughingly call, my office - I came cross a piece I wrote for an industry magazine ages ago but never shared with you here.
I've adapted it a little bit , but the same message stands.
They are The Three Principles of Communication (Tah-Dah)!!
Well, we are communicators, so it makes sense to know a bit bout the thinking behind how we speak.
So, here goes:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.       <!--[endif]-->The Bonding Principle. People need people. That's a given. On the radio, knowing how to bond with your listener is essential to building up your relationship with your listener.
           There are a few easy ways you can do this:
a)  Enter their world.    Put yourself in their shoes and try to see things from their point of view. Use the word 'you' instead of 'I'."You might have seen...", instead of "I saw...".
b) Mirroring. Using words and phrases that your listener can relate to. The classical music presenter won't use the terms spoken by an Urban CHR presenter and vice versa. Know who you are speaking to. We do this in life anyway with the different people we come in contact with each day. No doubt you speak differently to your doctor and your best friend!
c) What’s in it for them? In our Workshops we call this the 'Who Cares' angle. If your listener doesn't care about what you have to say, then what's the point in saying it?

Bonding builds an emotional connection between you and your listener...essential to any successful relationship.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.       <!--[endif]-->Consistency Principle: When you know and understand your radio 'voice', then you will automatically know how to maintain it. Consistency doesn't mean saying or doing the same thing each day. It means your 'personality' is consistent. Your overall beliefs, values and thoughts develop into a particular pattern.
The brilliant thing about this is that you can then change your style when you need to. This might sound like a bit of a contradiction, but the thing is - when you are consistent it allows you to break out of your familiar pattern when you want to. Then return to the usual 'you'. Consistency actually frees you up so that your listener can accept the surprises more easily.
The principle says that you will be consistent and 'will change to ensure this is so' !
So, if you're the crazy, funny on air guy - it's OK to become serious or sad.
If you're the serious presenter, then being goofy sometimes is cool.
Consistency allows you to be free.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.       <!--[endif]-->Understanding Principle: Understanding other people is one of the basic keys to successful life relationships. Radio is no different. It works two ways - understand yourself (your radio 'voice') and understand your listener.
Understanding can come from past experiences together, shared moments or feelings, or habit. As Valerie Geller says "A great radio host is one I would be willing to share a five hour car journey with". Imagine your listener is in their car for the duration of your show - the ultimately successful relationship will mean that she is happy to spend that time listening to you.
That comes from a mutual understanding. It's a form of mental association.

Now, you don't get competent at these principles by time-checking and saying 'Coming up next'.
You achieve by planning and captivating.
I've often been told by presenters "But I work on a CHR with 20 second links...how can I do that"?
Doesn't matter. Work at it, plan it, captivate your audience. 
Twenty seconds or twenty minutes - the length of your link is irrelevant.
What IS relevant is what you do with your time. YOU. No one else.
Ultimately you are responsible for your gig.

Try these before your next show:

* Is the purpose of your link to entertain/connect/inform?

* Does each link have a 'Who Cares' payoff?

* Is the link relevant/inclusive/interesting?

* Are you talking (not reading)?

* Do YOU sound compelling and convincing?

* Does your link contain visuals for your listener? Can they 'see' your words?

One of the best books you can read on this is by the above mentioned Valerie Geller, called 'Beyond Powerful Radio'.


Let's make 2012 the year that brings the magic back onto radio.
You're part of this industry. You have the chance to be great and make your show great. Why not do this every time you go into the studio?
Be real, be you and try the three principles.
Build that relationship. You do it the real world already !
Adapt the three principles to your way of thinking because only YOU know how to get the most out of your show.


Next Workshop, Dublin Feb. 1st.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

What Makes a Radio Star !

Is it having a great radio voice?
Is it being a 'solid jock'?
Is it the ability to 'hit the post'?

Nah.You know it isn't.
It's the connection you make with your listener. Through the words you use.

Listeners 'recognise' you through your words.
They also recognise themselves through you.
You are their mirror.
They either like what they see...or they don't.
They either stay with you...or they don't.

Have you ever made a connection with a particular radio presenter?
Is there one on air person you love listening to?

Ask yourself why?

Then ask yourself, are you creating that relationship with your listener?

Radio Stars know how to connect.
They allow their listener 'recognise' themselves through the words they choose.

http://www.bmacmedia.com/category/workshops/

Monday, November 21, 2011

Is It Time, I Wonder...?

It seems to me that a lot of radio blogs have closed down over the past year or so.
That's a pity, isn't it?
Well, I think so.

Is it time for this one to come back to life? I am giving it some serious thought. 
If you're reading this post it means the RSS feed is still active, so that's a start :-)

Let's see if the video stream still works :


Yup. That looks OK from here.

The more I think abouit this, the more fun it seems.
Maybe we could do contributions too...fancy writing stuff about radio?
Let me know.
The email is bmacaudio@googlemail.com

See you in a bit,
Brian.