Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #679: Amnesia is a Skill

Posted on June 10, 2026 by tommykramer

The great baseball pitcher and now broadcaster David Cone really caught my ear the other night as I was watching a New York Yankees game.

The day before, the Yankees had led by three runs with two outs in the 9th inning, but ended up losing the game 7-6 in extra innings.
Cone commented, “Amnesia is a skill,” and then went on to explain that no matter how much it hurts to lose a game like that, you have to just put it behind you and move on.

So, if you make a mistake on the air (and you will), just own it, then move forward. People can always tell when you’re flustered or trying to weasel out of an awkward moment. Always.

So just let it go, right the ship, and sail on. Many times in my own on-air career, I flubbed something. It actually got funnier to admit the failure.

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Tommy Kramer
Talent Coach
214-632-3090 (mobile)
e-mail: coachtommykramer@gmail.com
Member, Texas Radio Hall of Fame
© 2026 by Tommy Kramer. All rights reserved.

Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #678: Talk Less, Mean More

Posted on June 3, 2026 by tommykramer

It seems like everybody’s “stretching” out conversations to an alarming level these days.

And yet, it’s the shortest statements that have the most meaning. Examples:

“And in the end…the love you take is equal to the love you make.” The Beatles. Add anything else to it, and it becomes watered down.

“Walk softly and carry a big stick.” Theodore Roosevelt. He certainly didn’t need any additions to that statement.

“Jesus wept.” The Bible. The saddest passage, to me. No more words necessary.

The lesson: Try to resist that “one more thought” impulse. You’ll find that talking less equals meaning more.

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Tommy Kramer
Talent Coach
214-632-3090 (mobile)
e-mail: coachtommykramer@gmail.com
Member, Texas Radio Hall of Fame
© 2026 by Tommy Kramer. All rights reserved.

Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #677: Something Worth Listening To

Posted on May 27, 2026 by tommykramer

The one Constant that any great air talent or station needs to have:

Every day, every single day, your primary goal is to deliver something that’s worth listening to.

“Memorable Moments” (a Mark Ramsey term) are what put you on the map, and the more of them you consistently have puts the station on the map more prominently.

I hear so much “social media post that I thought up a punch line for” stuff lately that it makes me want to scream.

WORK at it. Try to get better and more consistent each day. All I’m looking for is something worth listening to. If I hear it, I’ll stick with you.

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Tommy Kramer
Talent Coach
214-632-3090 (mobile)
e-mail: coachtommykramer@gmail.com
Member, Texas Radio Hall of Fame
© 2026 by Tommy Kramer. All rights reserved.

Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #676: Crayons

Posted on May 20, 2026 by tommykramer

A radio career is like crayons.
You start with the little 8-pack, and boy, is that fun. All the primary colors at your service. Now to find a surface to draw on….

Your handling improves. You work on writing or drawing things. You need more crayons, so you move to the 16-pack. Lots more colors and variations. Can’t WAIT to put that strange turquoise/green/blue one. That’ll look great on the wall. (And you find out that on paper is better, then the paper goes on the wall – or the fridge.)

Your imagination bursts with ideas; things you want to try. Then, true crayon citizenship comes with the 32-box. Oh lord, such colors. Need a bigger backpack for that baby.

And don’t even talk about the 64-box with the sharpener built into the side. You can rule the world with that gigantic assortment. Are trees really fuchsia? They are if you want them to be!

Just like radio. You learn a little bit at a time, you “play” with each “color” that comes to you, and each thing you learn adds another crayon to your performance “box”.

Listen to great air talent. Ask questions. Understand what the backbone of the station is, then color it your way.

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Tommy Kramer
Talent Coach
214-632-3090 (mobile)
e-mail: coachtommykramer@gmail.com
Member, Texas Radio Hall of Fame
© 2026 by Tommy Kramer. All rights reserved.

Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #675: You Need to Know Them

Posted on May 13, 2026 by tommykramer

This is the starting place – especially when you’re new to a station:

People don’t need to know you. You need to know them.

Streets have names that are pronounced differently than you would have thought.
Food tastes are different. (I once went to a corporate meeting in York, Pennsylvania. EVERY store and every restaurant I went into had candy machines in the entrance. Dentists must love that place.)

The point is, the culture of the market is your guide to meaningful Content, so observe, listen, experience, and soak in the little things that make up the fabric of your market. Then, connect the dots TO the listener.

You learn about them. THEN they learn about you.

That’s how it works. You’re either going to be a new neighbor, or just another voice saying words.

– – – – – – –
Tommy Kramer
Talent Coach
214-632-3090 (mobile)
e-mail: coachtommykramer@gmail.com
Member, Texas Radio Hall of Fame
© 2026 by Tommy Kramer. All rights reserved.

Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #674: The Aircheck Swap Meet

Posted on May 6, 2026 by tommykramer

Here’s something you can do to both improve your on-air performance and bond the station together a bit.

Years ago, my friend and fellow Texas Radio Hall of Fame member Bruce Gilbert each Programmed a station in the same cluster – mine was a Talk station, Bruce’s was a Sports-talk station.

We went to a hotel in downtown Dallas – away from the constant interruptions of the office environment, and listened to each other’s station. In separate rooms. For several hours. Taking notes about what we heard that we liked, and what might need a little help.

Then we went to lunch, and just chatted about normal stuff.
Following that, we went back to the hotel and shared our notes with each other. SO healthy. Truly eye-opening at times.

When you see your work through someone else’s eyes (or ears, in our case), you get a fresh perspective. Try it with a friend on the staff. It doesn’t have to be “formal”. Just “you listen to me, and I’ll listen to you,” then share with each other honestly, with no offense taken.

Ideas always seem to erupt spontaneously on something to DO. (Which is the first mandate: Do something.)

– – – – – – –
Tommy Kramer
Talent Coach
214-632-3090 (mobile)
e-mail: coachtommykramer@gmail.com
Member, Texas Radio Hall of Fame
© 2026 by Tommy Kramer. All rights reserved.

Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #673: How Long is Your Show Prep Time?

Posted on April 29, 2026 by tommykramer

Often, I’ve asked air talent how long their show prep time is. The responses are varied. Some claim hours are spent sifting through websites and social media, local news, etc.
Others say they don’t really need much prep. They pretty much just wing it each day.

Both of these responses show a certain lack of truly productive prep.

Money (your wallet), the Entertainment world (as it applies to your format), whatever “the Buzz” is today, Relationships, and things that are unique to you are the only things you really need.

The prep starts in your living room, and works outward from there, including what you’ve observed as you’ve gone through your day.

There. Solved it for you. 🙂

Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #672: A Voice-Tracking Lesson — inspired by Clint Eastwood

Posted on April 22, 2026 by tommykramer

Actor and film Director Clint Eastwood is famous for doing as few “takes” as possible. There’s an interesting story about that.

Once, an actor who was dissatisfied with his first effort asked Eastwood is he could have another try.

Clint then asked, “Was there film in the camera?”
The actor, a bit puzzled, got a nod from the cameraman, who answered, “Yes.”
Eastwood then said, “Print it. Let’s move along.”

Lesson: when you’re voice tracking, don’t try to make it perfect or flawless. If it’s a good take, move along. WAY too many voice trackers sound “canned” because of too many takes. We want to sound real and in the moment.

Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #671: A Picture of the Listener

Posted on April 15, 2026 by tommykramer

Some questions for you:
Who is your target listener?
What does that person look like?
What do you actually know about her or him?

The simplest way to maintain focus and stay in your lane as an air talent is to have a clear-eyed view of who your listener is, and what that person’s life is probably like.

Your Sales staff might be able to help you. Sales people seem to know who to approach.

Suggestion: Find a picture of someone who personifies your target listener and put it in the Control Room where you can’t miss it. (Taping it to the back of an empty chair facing you, for instance.)

When I worked in a female-targeted format, I put a picture of my wife in the Control Room. When I worked in a male-targeted format, I put a picture of my cousin Rick, who was like a brother to me.

Just open the mic and talk to the picture. Easy.

Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #670: The End of a Legend

Posted on April 6, 2026 by tommykramer

If you’ve followed these tips, you know that I’ve frequently referred to a morning guy in my hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana. His name is Larry Ryan, my first mentor, and he’s as good at connecting with an audience as anyone I’ve ever heard in any size market.

“Lovable Larry” did his show with his sidekick “Mr. Weather” for well over 50 years, with consistently fine ratings.

Just recently, Larry Ryan retired.

And – of course – the cookie cutter, “play-the-same-300-songs-over-and-over-again” Oldies station he was on made the typical stupid move of putting in a mindless team show that has no substance, and doesn’t sound like they know anything about the Shreveport/Bossier market at all.

Radio isn’t dead, but it is strangling itself.

To station owners and managers:
We don’t need or want generic shows. We want to listen to people who understand what our lives are about, and share what they have in common with us.