Monthly Archives: February 2025

Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #612: There’s Immediate, and then there’s Anytime

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There are really only two categories of Content in terms of when you use it. There’s what’s immediate. Needs to be on NOW. Or at least TODAY.

And then there’s “anytime” Content. I’ve heard it called “Rainy day” Content or “Evergreen” Content. My translation: crap that should be thrown into the trash.

Your show should be as NOW as possible. A friend at a station in the Northwest told me that last year, they had a huge, dangerous ice storm hit – but since the Afternoon show was voice-tracked, there was no one to tell the listeners about it.

Think about that. It’s absolutely stunning. They made themselves not even do what radio was CREATED to do. (But I’ll bet it never happens again. He’s a good guy and a smart person, and this was embarrassing.)

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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.

Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #611: A Different Way to View Social Media’s Place in Content

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The biggest challenge for anyone who’s on the air is the search for Content each day. Often in coaching sessions, I get asked about social media, and what its place is in show prep.

Social media is what it is. There’s an entire generation of people who’ve apparently grown up caring about what complete strangers have to say about them.

I won’t get too deep into the negatives involved in people who see their lives in terms of “likes”, but I ask you to consider a different overview, from a radio standpoint, not a social media standpoint:

Rather than falling into the habit of using social media as a main starting place for Content, see it as a place where your Content goes for feedback and discussion. You’ll get a whole different mindset, and improve your Content selection process when, instead of leaning on social to jumpstart your show, you do your show to jumpstart social.

This creates a feedback loop of its own, but with the important distinction that it starts with the radio.

Reminder: you should always want to avoid having your show sound generic. And to that purpose, show prep should always start in your own living room; then you work outward from there.

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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.

Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #610: The 3rd Camera Angle

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Words are what we do. Crafting what we want to say into a shape that’s relatable and connective is always the challenge. But remember, the words grow from the camera angle.

Example: If my wife and I got into an argument standing in line at the bank, how I see it is one angle, and how she sees it is the most obvious choice for a second camera angle.
But if there’s no “fruit” there, I automatically go one more step — in this scenario, what does it look like to the bank teller overhearing this? (Or to the other people in line?)

That’s the next step – the third camera angle. If #1 or #2 won’t “click” in your mind, arbitrarily put yourself in a different person’s shoes, and the subject will open up like a flower.

You’ll find, in time, that you’ll develop that inner “tuning fork” that knows when the words are right.

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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.

Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #609: The Emotional Void

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In the last tip, I (again) addressed why your Content should tap into an Emotion. This is basic “What’s my motivation?” acting stuff.

But here’s the deal: Over the years, I’ve had a surprising number of air talents tell me that they don’t really HAVE an Emotion about a given subject.

So here’s another tip: If you don’t automatically tap into an Emotion, FIND ONE.

You have to dig into how you feel, then transmit that through your wording, your inflection, even just the general tone of your voice. Trust me, when you do, people can’t help but respond. And you’ll reach a whole different level in how you connect with the Listener.

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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.