Listening to Cool FM Belfast yesterday and their version of the Cash Call. I say 'version' because they run it a little differently to the way it has been run by others in the past (listeners apply to take part via text).
The Cash Call is a great contest for a radio station but can be a bloody nightmare for the person on air!
I can give you two examples from my past.
First, at 98FM in Dublin. After news at :06, the presenter announced the total for the hour "£700 and 25 pence. If we call you and you know the exact amount, you will win the whole lot" (that type of deal).
The Cash Call was scheduled to air just before the :55 ad break...which in theory meant you had about 45 minutes to call, record and edit. If all went according to plan, that sounds ideal. BUT...in radio, things don't always work out as you expect!
First of all, from my point of view, I was running a very busy PM Drive show with callers, other co-presenters, news headlines, traffic and features. Getting the time to record a random Cash Call was difficult. Usually, I would start to record at around :25. Here's where the fun began...NO answer!! Then, the 'Hang Up'. Now it's :30 and live news Headlines, Sport and Traffic. Out at :35 and into a song. No answer! Contest Sell with co-host and into another song at :40. Try again. Hang up! Aaaaargh!!! Traffic at :45 into ad break. Out at :50 and into song. Finally!! An answer and a guess. Finish call at :52. Edit finished by :54. Air call at :55 with one minute to spare!!
Phew!
You can see how in a bad hour, a Cash Call can take up almost all of your time.
The problem, from a presenter's point of view, is that all other items take a back seat because you are constantly thinking about getting that "bloody call" on air. Cash Calls can be stressful. Except on those lovely occasions when the first call made in the hour is a beauty and you're finished by :25. Bliss!
The other occasion was at Atlantic 252, the UK CHR station. The problem here was, Atlantic was national and new...so not everyone knew about the station. "Who...? What is it...? How did you get this number...? I'm not interested..." were the most popular responses. We were just short of screaming "Just say a number between 1 and 99...anything!!!"
If you have a Cash Call active in your market...appreciate the work that may have gone into getting that little call on air...and picture a frazzled presenter sitting in the studio...ready to announce "Another Cash Call Total"!
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