Monthly Archives: April 2026

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

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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. 🙂

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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 #672: A Voice-Tracking Lesson — inspired by Clint Eastwood

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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.

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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 #671: A Picture of the Listener

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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.

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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 #670: The End of a Legend

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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.

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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 #699: What is there to come back for?

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Years ago, I traveled to Indiana to work with a morning show there. It didn’t take long to spot the fundamental weakness of the show – the guy was basically just allowing his female partner to be his live “laugh track.” And the Content was weak to begin with, some lame ‘prep sheet’ type of stuff and what he thought were jokes.

The problem was, she was much better than he was. She had a great voice that pulled you in, she could sound any age, was very smart, and could make you laugh with real stories and comments, not just jokey lines. The guy was pretty lazy, which showed as we met for the first time after they got off the air. He literally leaned back in his chair, plopped his feet up on his desk, and asked me, “Why should I listen to you?” Hmmm…

So, we then started to work. As always, the first step was to point out something that they did well. Then we went over the first one or two things I wanted them to work on. The female partner paid attention. The guy didn’t.

After two days of coaching and listening, their boss asked me over lunch for my initial assessment. I told him the girl was a terrific talent, but that he would probably end up replacing the guy. He asked why, and I boiled it down by asking him, “If a new listener heard them for the first time today, what is there to come back for?”

I only cite this example because if the morning guy had actually wanted to listen, he would have realized that it’s SO EASY to sound good…

5 steps:
Learn what you do well.
Learn what you don’t do well.
Learn what valid Content is.
Root for your teammates.
And resist letting your ego take over the show.

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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.