the
channel
|
25
talent along faster than any other tool. Progress
may be painstakingly slow. Talent improves
step by step, day by day. Frustratingly, the
process may sometimes seem to be working
in reverse. There is a period of intense growth,
followed by what sound like patches of
mediocrity, where all coaching seems to have
been in vain. What you may really be hearing
is the talent searching for ways to implement
suggestions and ideas you have discussed.
Have faith and continue the process. If you
are on the right path, positive change will
come. “Try thinking of your show as a garden
and airchecking the show as a weeding
process.”
Basic aircheck rules for programmers
1. Always have a tape of the show you are
discussing on hand. You may wish to
transcribe it word for word to emphasise
specifics. But keep in mind that a transcript
can destroy context, sarcasm, irony and
humour all get left behind with the loss of
vocal inflection. This often happens when a
manager receives a nasty call or complaint
letter with specific quotes included.
Inevitably the context is missing. A
discussion can degenerate quickly if the
actual facts of the case are in dispute. Having
the tape allows you not only to look at the
content, but also the context of an event on
the show.
2. Focus on one thing at a time. Sometimes
an aircheck session turns into a “dump”
session, in which talent unburdens him or
herself of a lot of thoughts that have nothing
to do with the show. It’s acceptable, to a point,
for the host to digress. After all, a programme
director is uniquely able to understand
pressures talent may be under, and even, in
some cases, to do something to alleviate
them. As a manager, however, you are there
to aircheck, not to vent. Listen to the talent.
Don’t let these diversions distract you from
the aircheck session; just move the subject
back to the tape and the show at the most
appropriate moment.
3. Tell the truth. Trained communicators
sense when you are fibbing.
4. Reinforce the positive by starting with the
good stuff. Remember to acknowledge goals
achieved.
5. Be fair. Criticism goes in very deep. No
matter how angry you are, avoid verbalising
your negative reactions to a piece until you
can express yourself calmly and rationally.
6. Let the talent discover along with you what
needs to be improved.
7. Outline strengths. Ask a lot of questions.
Ask: What worked? Why did you want to do
this on the radio? Were you just talking to
ONE listener instead of “all those people out
there? Was it personal? Did it connect? Did
it inform, entertain, inspire or persuade?Was
there powerful storytelling? Did you care
about this topic? Or were you doing it
because you felt you HAD to?Why should a
listener give you his/her precious time to sit
with you on this?Why was this boring?Why
did this part work? What were you trying to
say here? Did this connect? Did this make
you laugh?
8. Have faith. Believe in your talent’s ability
to improve.
9. Always end an aircheck session with one
or two mutually agreed upon “achievable
goals.” Pick at least one thing that can easily
be accomplished by the next scheduled
session. Try to let the talent initiate goal-
setting.
10. Is there anything on the tape that you
could use as a promo?
Excerpted from
The Powerful Radio
Workbook: The Prep, Performance & Post
Production Planning.
This article first
appeared in and is reprinted with permission
from Music & Media magazine.
