The best
radio talent understands how to mix everyday ingredients to create an
exceptional recipe. If you’re not
familiar with Iron Chef America, you should study it. All 4 chefs are given the same five
ingredients and an hour to create a masterpiece. The competition is fierce, fast paced and
brutal. Welcome to radio.
Think about
the content of your show. You have
access to the same “show prep” (ingredients) as your competition. The secret to success (recipe) is what you choose to
use, how you present it and how much of the secret ingredient you share. That secret ingredient is
YOU. No one else can duplicate that
one. Here is one “recipe” that I think
can help you create a better masterpiece each day.
I am a strong
believer in the magic of threes. Let’s
break the content into three main categories:
|
Big
Dumb Fun
Contesting
Prank Calls
War of The Roses
Telemarketer Calls
Parody Songs
Trivia & Other Games
“Are You Kidding Me” News
On & Off-Air Stunts
|
Relationship
Engagement
Between Spouses
With parents
With Friends
Between You & the Listener
Co-Workers
Community
|
Human
Interest
Celebrity interviews
Hollywood & Music News
Overcoming Obstacles
TV Shows
Movies
Books
|
The most
universally relatable category is RELATIONSHIPS! Everyone has them, most people want them and
all of them require nurturing. At least 50%
of your ingredients each day should come from that category. Big Dumb Fun is entertaining and can provide
much needed laughs. However, the appeal
of this category is very subjective and should only comprise 20%. Human interest is necessary so that your
listeners are confident that you relevant and up to date on current events. They rely on you to help them feel
“in the know”. It is the least “unique”
of the three categories and therefore only warrants 30% of the mix. All of this must be mixed with YOU as the bonding element.
I put
relationships at the center of this recipe because it is the core of what we
do. That is where you get the most “bang
for your buck” in terms of listener interaction and emotional connection. If you work a music format, the music is all
about relationships and provides an easy springboard for topics. Your own relationships and human experiences
provide show prep. The possibilities are
endless: dating, marriages, raising kids, taking care of aging parents, building
a business, etc. Finding hot topics
and letting people voice their opinions is extremely powerful.
Once you have
the right recipe, think about your presentation. Every 20 minutes there are new people joining
the show. You need something new for
them to sample that demonstrates your ability to combine all of those
ingredients into a perfect and delicious meal that they just can’t get enough
of. You want them to walk away satisfied but wanting more. Think of yourself as the Iron Chef and accept
the challenge of creating a new masterpiece every day.
