I was walking past our breakfast studio this morning and saw one breakfast host doing something out of the ordinary, and it made me think, wonder and question was there something that breakfast hosts should avoid – besides this?
So picture this, it’s 7:45am. I walk past the fishbowl window to the breakfast crew and one is starring at his phone – like really giving it the ‘death stare from hell’ – obviously concentrating on what was on the screen (I will tell you what he was looking at later), while the other breakfast host was sitting no more than 2 arm lengths away, waiving frantically and trying to get the other hosts attention.
AND I DO MEAN FRANTICALLY!
Kermit the Frog would have thought that he was swatting a slightly annoying fly compared to what I saw happening.
I walked back again 20 seconds later and they were still trying to get the other hosts attention, and a pen got thrown at them to finally break that death grip the the screen had on them.
So what was so fascinating that had one host ignoring the other – the latest news? Celebrity gossip? A message from home? What was coming up next? Something unsuitable for family viewing? Nope, it was none of those things – it turns out one host was keeping an eye on their bitcoin, rather than their show.
Seriously!
I have heard of Jocks sending messages to family and doing other things that they shouldn’t in the studio – but watching bitcoin (or their stocks) while doing a live to air breakfast show – that is seriously not on.
Annoying as it is that one host is doing something they shouldn’t in the studio – I have seen other breakfast show hosts totally ignoring the on-air feed, and constantly (and I mean every single morning at 6.20am) going off air because that was when they were both out of the studio and getting a coffee.
Like clockwork.
Sure, it is a show, and someone needs to be keeping an eye on what is going on, but you are in the studio to work. Not socialize, not look at your phone, or use the on-air computer for things you shouldn’t.
An On-Air studio is just that – on-air, and should be treated as such. Always remember that a microphone could always be on (and a globe could be blown) and you might not know it.
Also that your show needs your attention, all of it – otherwise there is someone else out there who would kill for a position that you are in.
Avoid ALL distractions.
Stay focussed. A On-Air Studio is just that, on-air.
Don’t accept visitors, or personal calls.
Leave your bitcoin, stocks, messages and other dramas at the studio door and get on with the show.