I have been listening to a lot of radio recently from around the world (love the Sound Garden website), and listening specifically to the start of show and end of show banter and it is interesting.
How?
Because 80% of all radio shows I have listened to this past week, from countries all around the world all seem to start with the same style of boring intro that could be done on any day of the week…
“This is <JOCKS NAME> and you are listening to <STATION NAME> coming up we will be talking about the <TOPIC OF THE DAY> and catching up with <STATION PERSONALITY>, coming up in the next half hour we have <LIST OF ARTISTS> and you could win <COMPETITION DETAILS>”
YAWN!
So boring, so, so predictable and OMG so frustrating to hear to as a listener.
But the thing is – it doesn’t need to be like this! Seriously.
I have heard some amazing show intros, from produced intros with highlights from previous shows, or what is coming up built into them – they sound amazing; to not even introducing the shows, or the personalities, just coming straight out of the top of hour into a conversation that is already happening between hosts (that was a truly inspired intro from the team at GOLD 905 in Singapore!) and shows that have pre produced intro packages for each jock – those rock – but become old very quickly.
What I am saying is that you don’t have to be so beige with your show intros – be creative, try something different – see if anyone says anything – if they don’t – try it again, or do something even more different.
Why? Because people like different – the unusual and by standing out like this – your listeners will keep on listening to you, and more importantly – what you have to say. They will do so when they are engaged – do it by introducing yourself and your show in a unique way.
The response you will get will amaze you.
Now as far as outros for shows – there is only so many ways you can say goodbye to your listener – but do you really have to sign off with “well, I am off now, catch you tomorrow at the same time” or something worse?
No. I was told a long time ago that you should always say that you are signing off, but you will still be listening to the next jock, show, segment (or one coming up) and that you are looking forward to hearing it. You could even tease you will be listening to the breakfast show tomorrow morning because they will be doing something specific.
This tells listeners that you (like them), are a listener and a fan of the station – and you should NEVER sign off saying you are going home to watch TV or catch a movie.
You could be funny, with a weird sign off tag line “I’ve been <YOUR NAME>, say hello to your mum for me!”; or “You’ve been listening to <YOUR NAME>, and remember to always swim between the flags!”
But try to be original with yours – the first one was Rove McManus’ one that he used for his stand-up shows, on radio, and on TV, the second was used by a friend of mine who worked at a radio station in the middle of the desert in Australia.
Perhaps the best thing you can do is to listen to other show intros and outros like I have – get inspired, listen in to how other people do it and discover something that might work for you – when you give it your twist.
Try it and see what you discover – and how your show becomes more polished as a result.
