Dear Radio Fanatic,

I'm grateful for the great response from you to all the ways we're helping air talent get better.

• We have a growing number of music jocks, talk personalities and voiceover artists who are investing in regular coaching sessions.
• Our teleseminars are getting rave reviews. Our most recent, held last week, featured three top program directors in a fascinating discussion of what they look for in, and how they work with, talent. Audio of the session is available; contact me to get a copy.
• We have added to the ePorts we're offering ... and coming soon, Nine Steps to a Better Voice by speech language pathologist Dawn McKay.

To get more information about how I can help you, visit www.killerjock.com.

Thanks for reading, 

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AIRCHECK REVIEWS THAT WORK!

We've conducted scores of coaching sessions, and the results have been dramatic. The air talent has been able to hear and feel a difference almost immediately.

One client told me, "I started implementing the changes we discussed the next day, and I have had great success - not only with my show, but my attitude is so much better, too. I love what I do again!"

I'll give you a free session, no strings attached. If you think it's helpful, additional sessions are just $30. You can use your National Voice Exchange Credits instead of cash: each session is one credit.

Let's give it a try! You have nothing to lose, and a lot to gain. Contact me today via e-mail, or call 949-533-4912.

Doing a break is kind of like pilots describe flying an airplane: the most dangerous times are the take-off and landing. The most "dangerous" times of a break - when things can get most off track - are going in and coming out.

The Take-Off

One performer told me recently that sometimes, after he's done the format stuff out of the record, he feels like he's jumping off a cliff. (Maybe jocking has more in common with piloting than I thought.)

My answer was ... well, if you guessed "break prep," you get a gold star for your Star Wars lunchbox.

While the record, spots or news is playing, take a minute to go over - in your head or in writing, whatever works best for you - the subject matter you're going to cover in your upcoming break. Restrict yourself to two subjects plus formatics; jocks get branded "too wordy" more from switching topics than from how long they talk. Go over the first line of your break, almost word for word, so you can do it effortlessly and focus on your listener.

Now, about seven seconds before you open the mike, develop a routine:

• Check your posture. Make sure you're sitting or standing straight. (This gives you a fuller voice and better breath control.)
• Check your mike position. Chances are, you've got it too low; you're probably talking down into it. This causes you to hunch over - not good for your voice or breathing. Try positioning the mike at a 45-degree downward angle, at nose level (when you're sitting or standing straight). This will reinforce your posture; it will also make your voice sound better (for all kinds of technical reasons that would just get in way if I described them here). You set your mike when you first go into the studio for your show, of course ... use these guidelines for doing so ... but always take a moment before each break to check it.
• Form a clear mental picture of your listener. Get ready to talk to her or him.
• Take a deep breath, hold it for a second, then exhale fully.
• Take another deep breath ... open the mike ... take a mental downbeat ... and launch your break.

The Landing

As important as how you get into a break is how you get out of it. You need to know ahead of time when the break is over, and where you're going next.

As I listen to your airchecks, often I hear you stalling ... slowing down ... taking your attention away from your listener. This is a result of not knowing how your break will end.

What you'll do at the end of the break should be thought through in the pre-break review described above. Go over in detail what you'll do at the end of the break; physically perform the motion of hitting the button or key that will start the next event. (Do this two or three times, after rehearsing your closing words, to produce muscle memory; that way the motion will be smooth and automatic ... and you'll end your break when it's over.)

Many seasoned radio people write everything down; you may not do it forever, but it'll help you develop stronger habits and smoother, more economical breaks. [TOP]

NEXT TELESEMINAR THURSDAY 3/6/08

Mark your calendar ... if you have suggestions for guests or subject matter, e-mail me ... and keep checking www.killerjock.com for details and to register.

Hiding Behind the Format

Does this sound familiar?

Day after day, your show boils down to the same-old same-old: calls, slogan, liner, teaser, calls. Next break, same as the last. After a while, you feel like you could do it in your sleep.

It gets worse when you listen to a 'scoped aircheck; there it is, an unending stream of the same elements, over and over.

The problem is, you basically are doing it in your sleep. You've let your format sap your personality; you're not bringing much of you to your show.

But take heart. First, it's not as bad as you think. Second, you can fix it.

When you listen to an aircheck, remember that it differs from your listeners' experience in two ways:

1. They're listening to what's between your breaks. They only hear you every three minutes or 15 or 30, depending on your format.
2. They're not listening all that intently anyway.

The basic principle is this: BE THERE. We've talked about the connection between you and your listener; but you need to be equally connected to your content as well. [TOP]

WE'RE NOT JUST FOR JOCKS

Are you in news? Sports? Talk radio? I've worked with lots of air personalities who have never jocked, and I'd love to work with you. I hope you'll take advantage of my free aircheck review offer to see how I can help you take the next step up.

To find out more, visit www.killerjock.com and click on the "Free Airchecks" link.

Heavy Breathing

Working with another performer, I noticed that his voice sounded tight when he was on the air, and he had trouble controlling his breath. Breath control is a common problem; here's what you can do about it:

1. Take deep breaths in your "Seven-Second Setup" as described above.
2. Mark your copy to indicate where to pause, where to breathe, what words to keep together and what to emphasize.

Marking up copy may be a new concept for you, but it dates back to the beginning of radio - and before. You can use any marks you want, but here are a few to give you some ideas:

[TOP]

Well, that's it for now. If you have any thoughts or questions, let me know!

RADIO VOICES is a free monthly service of Jay Mitchell & KillerJock.com, dedicated to the betterment of radio air talent. Copyright © 2008 Jay Mitchell Associates, Inc. Permission to redistribute all or part of this document, with credit to "Jay Mitchell, www.killerjock.com," is hereby granted.