Tommy Kramer Coaching Tip #668: The 3-Break Litmus Test

People often ask me what I listen for as the coaching process begins. There are many facets to an air talent, but I can learn where we need to start by hearing three breaks.

[1] A straight “station business” break. Does this person sound like he/she actually gives a cr*p?

[2] (For music radio) A short break, say, over a brief song intro. Does that person attempt to do anything, or does he/she just do a basic intro?

[3] Whatever “bit” (feature) is in the show. Is it creative? Is it too wordy, or trying too hard? These often sound either oblivious of the listener’s life, or sort of needy.

Those three segments tell me everything I need to know about the work effort, the timing and sensitivity to know what a good break is, and whether the air talent is trying to “link up” with the listener.

Example: Today, I heard a morning show do “What was the worst tattoo you ever got?” My, how totally not compelling. We’ve all heard this kind of thing way too many times, with the same callers from the day before phoning in the same kinds of responses. “WHY you got a tattoo in the first place” would work better, but really, is this about today? Why did it come up?

If I heard you do three breaks today, what do you think I’d have to say?