Any good announcer needs to prep for his or her shift. But there is no need for it take hours, as some have suggested. Here are 6 steps you can take prepare an entire shift in as little as 15 minutes to half an hour.
1) Keep a PREP folder on the station computer and USB thumb drive that you carry with you. A USB thumb drive is portable . So you can take it home. Then when you run across ideas on the web at home, you can drag them onto your thumb drive and take it to the station.
2) Have a PREP TRACK SHEET.When I prep, I have several categories listed that I try to squeeze in every hour.
A human interest story or story of interest to my audience (5 cool fantastic weight loss foods!)
One spiritual type of thought every other hour. (A bible verse, a quote or even a quick comment on a song.) One station promo and or PSA. News/ Info about an artist (for a link to some up to date artist info an news: Filling in my PREP TRACK SHEET is MUCH easier than going into a shift without a "skeleton" of what you are planning. (That's a sure way to set yourself up for a dull show.)
3) Consider getting a prep service.
Ask the station manager to pay for a prep service. If they don't, it's worth it even if you pay for it out of your own pocket. Don't use it as your sole source of prep. But it's a huge start. (I've used interprep.com for over 10 years and love it!)
4) Have handy links to USA TODAY- and Fox News.
Their links at the top of their sites have plenty of articles in categories such as: tech, money, healthy and other human interest info.
5) Also- keep a little log of things that happen in your life during the day and during the week.
You can talk about them and relate with the listeners. What movies did you see? What T.V shows did you watch? What goofy thing happened to you last weekend.
Remember: in general, the more "prepped" you are going on the air, the more confident you will feel and the better you will sound!
6) Your spiritual life. Mention it.
Don't forget, the #1 reason people listen to Christian radio is not because it's family oriented, or clean, or positive. (Though those are fantastic reasons- and true.) The #1 reason they listen is because your station inspires them in their walk with God.
So be sure to mention some of your church activities, spiritual books you are reading and a bible verse you ran across.
-Rick McConnell
(Articles provided by Rick McConnell. Starting in Christian Radio in 1978, he has been doing voice overs since 1986 through his company, Monumental Studios in Denver Colorado. Find out more about the Imaging Package called "Airshow", Voice and Production Depot and more, by CLICKING HERE)
(Articles provided by Rick McConnell. Starting in Christian Radio in 1978, he has been doing voice overs since 1986 through his company, Monumental Studios in Denver Colorado. Find out more about the Imaging Package called "Airshow", Voice and Production Depot and more, by CLICKING HERE)
