10 Things Great Presenters Do

1. Put the ‘show’ in business. Great presenters know that radio is entertainment. CHR, Talk, Classical...doesn’t matter. The ‘greats’ entertain first and foremost.

2. Be Team Players. Helping up-and-comers, volunteering to work an outside broadcast, voicing a commercial for the production person...all go towards creating a team relationship.

3. Prep. I remember Dean Hill in Vancouver walking into the studios for his morning show with ‘literally’ a trolley full of prep! Having ‘no need’ for prep is not a badge of honour...it’s a fast line to the firing line.

4. Use the word ‘You’.

5. Give a great pay off after a Hook & Tease. The whole ‘Tension & Release’ syndrome coming into play there.

6. Name the station. Not as huge a deal as it used to be with regards “First words out of your mouth needs to be the station name”. In 2022, we’re people on the radio...and people don’t immediately announce themselves every time they walk into a room. But do get the ID in there somewhere ;)

7. Ask ‘Who Cares’? If your listener doesn’t care about what you’re saying, then why are you saying it? For YOU? Nah...might as well pack up and go home. 

8. Paints Pictures. Yes, I know...an obvious one but the obvious is sometimes ignored. Radio’s great strength is that it’s not visual. Allow the listener to create their own pictures using your words. That’s the ‘personal’ side of it.

        9. Work at it. Everyday! When you think you have it all figured out...that’s when things start to go downhill.

       10.Keep learning. Stay curious and strive to be better tomorrow. Learn how radio is changing and how to adapt.