Note: This is subjective!

It’s said that “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”

But I believe that the way to a woman’s heart is through her children.

Men will talk about their kids, but it seems to me that it’s usually to brag about them in some way. However, it’s my experience that a woman will talk about her kids because she wants to share why they’re unique.

Choose wisely the path you take, because it’s easy to just travel down the wrong road and BANG!…the listener tunes out.

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Tommy Kramer
Talent Coach
214-632-3090 (mobile)
e-mail: coachtommykramer@gmail.com
Member, Texas Radio Hall of Fame
© 2025 by Tommy Kramer. All rights reserved.

Way too often, I hear an air talent send someone to their Facebook page (or some other social media entity). I have to ask, “Why?”

If you’re doing your show on Facebook Live, for instance, that’s fine. Otherwise, don’t SEND them to whatever social media site you follow.

If someone is listening to you on the radio, chances are that even if they are checking their social site, they’re doing that mindlessly. If they’re really engaged with social media, they’re not actually listening to you.

We’re first. RADIO. Radio is BY FAR the biggest “social media” entity. Over 90% of people in the United States listen to the radio EVERY day.

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Tommy Kramer
Talent Coach
214-632-3090 (mobile)
e-mail: coachtommykramer@gmail.com
Member, Texas Radio Hall of Fame
© 2025 by Tommy Kramer. All rights reserved.

This is primarily a Talk Radio format tip, but also a tip that I’ve given many times to TV talent.

I keep hearing things like this…

“We’ll be right back, after these commercial messages.” (The worst, and most outdated “go-away” there is.)

“We’ll step aside now, for this commercial break. (Step aside? Where? Why? Do you have to make room for it?)

“More, after this…” (“More” is fine, but there’s still that “after this…”)

“Stay tuned. We’ll be right back.” (First, don’t tell me what to do. And second, where are you going?)

“On the other side…” (Of what? Some railroad tracks?)

All of these silly ways of going to a break only POINT OUT that a bunch of commercials are going to play. Why would anyone want to put the spotlight on the most boring part of the broadcast?

Instead, just say “Next.” As in, “We’ll check out the Sports scores, next…”
Or “Back to the phones, next…”

You get the idea. Everyone knows that they’re going to hear (and/or watch) commercials. Many people just go to the bathroom, or whatever else they need to do, or whatever will kill time – usually with the sound down, if this happens on TV.

So, to borrow from Nancy Reagan’s “Just say ‘no’” slogan, “Just say ‘next’” instead of pointing a big red finger at the biggest negative on the station.

– – – – – – –
Tommy Kramer
Talent Coach
214-632-3090 (mobile)
e-mail: coachtommykramer@gmail.com
Member, Texas Radio Hall of Fame
© 2024 by Tommy Kramer. All rights reserved.

Don’t get so obsessed with what you know you’re going to have to do later. Stay in this moment. Do what you have to do NOW first. Clear your mind to do a good job with it.

More breaks are ruined (or made lackluster) by a lack of clarity than almost anything else.

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Tommy Kramer
Talent Coach
214-632-3090 (mobile)
e-mail: coachtommykramer@gmail.com
Member, Texas Radio Hall of Fame
© 2022 by Tommy Kramer. All rights reserved.

A few weeks ago, I went to Dallas and sat in on guitar at the House of Blues for a couple of songs with my dear friend Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

Kenny is an amazing blues guitarist. I’ve known him since he was five years old, and first started showing him some things about guitar when he was seven.

Kenny talked about that experience as he introduced me, and said “He even showed me the principles, like the real foundation of what’s important about playing.”

Not just “licks” or running scales. Not WHAT to do so much as WHY you do it.
The same as radio. You go from ‘just another voice quacking’ to someone the listener bonds with because of WHY you do what you do. People FEEL more than they hear.

And as Kenny Wayne Shepherd shows his audience every night he plays, expertise is fine (and he’s brilliant), but the emotion behind it is what counts.

– – – – – – –
Tommy Kramer
Talent Coach
214-632-3090 (mobile)
e-mail: coachtommykramer@gmail.com
Member, Texas Radio Hall of Fame
© 2022 by Tommy Kramer. All rights reserved.

Radio is full of people talking to an audience.

This is a mistake, because we say things differently, more casually, when we’re just talking to a good friend. We repeat points unnecessarily, use language that’s a little too “formal”, and sound just a little distant, when we talk to more than one person.

There is very little space between you and the listener. You’re in my car, two feet away.

ALWAYS say things like you’re talking to ME – a friend – instead of a group of people. Radio is at its best when it’s one-on-one.

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Tommy Kramer
Talent Coach
214-632-3090 (iPhone)
e-mail: coachtommykramer@gmail.com
Member, Texas Radio Hall of Fame
© 2021 by Tommy Kramer. All rights reserved.