Coaches Corner
Airwaves Etiquette: Knowing When To Go Off Script …
Sticking to procedures is a constant struggle, not just in radio but everywhere. It’s all about keeping things simple, staying aware, and following the chain of command. An air personality recently came to me with a complaint about an on-air interview.
Air Talent: I have just been reprimanded for doing my job.
Coach: How so?
Air Talent: My co-host and I take a lot of time preparing for our shows. This morning we had an interview that I thought was not relevant. We caught hell because we moved it to where I thought it would be a better fit flow wise for our show. Usually when we get off the air, we unwind for 15 minutes before our daily meeting with the PD. But, before we could even get out of the studio, the PD said he wanted us in his office right away.
Coach: So, what happened?
Air Talent: We got yelled at for moving the interview by 20 minutes. We already had a segment planned and felt the interview was a poor fit, so we moved it. But the PD got upset.
Coach: Was this a last-minute interview?
Air Talent: No. Oh, I forgot to tell you, the promotions manager came to the studio and demanded we put this guy on the air. I told him we were following our script and would make it happen in our next break.
Coach: You did not answer my question. Was this all last minute?
Air Talent: We had seen the e-mail the previous day with some basic information about this guest. It was supposed to be a basic 90-second sort of thing. I’m not sure where promotions gets off trying to make us change our show right in the middle of things, but nevertheless, we did the interview. We’re still not sure why this interview was booked.
Coach: This must have been client related.
Air Talent: The PD told us that we made a major mistake, and it caused problems in other departments. He should have had our backs, but instead he threw us under the bus. He wrote us up and put it in our files. You would think the PD would be on our side and want us to do our best show every day.
Coach: I must be missing something. You said you knew about the interview. Why did you move it?
Air Talent: Here we go, you sound like you’re taking sides.
Coach: No, this is not about taking sides, I want to know the facts and not an interpretation of them. So, tell me about moving the interview.
Air Talent: Apparently, it’s political. The guy we interviewed is also a friend of the Sales Manager. We had planned a bit for 7:20 and we moved the interview to 7:50, no biggie. The guy was drinking coffee back in our lounge area. We let him know when he was going on. We didn’t want to mess with the flow of our show.
Coach: I have a clear understanding of the situation and there are some things you need to realize.
Air Talent: So, you are taking his side.
Coach: Again, this is not about taking sides. This is about more than just the interview. You and your co-host need to start looking at things from a big picture point of view. Did you ever consider that this guest might have had to be somewhere else and that’s why he was scheduled at 7:20a?
Also, radio is a team thing. The promotions department plays a vital part in a lot of areas and it’s not your place to question their authority when it comes to representing management as they did in this case. You need to be objective.
Most important, yes, it’s your show, but it’s the PDs responsibility to run the programming department. You should’ve called or texted him before moving the interview. He found out from another manager—which put him in a tough spot.
Air Talent: What about creative freedom?
Coach: Following procedures isn’t about limiting creativity. It’s about running a smooth operation. Does your PD have a rule in place for him to be notified if anything goes wrong or if a programming directive must be altered?
Air Talent: Yes, he said whenever we need to get a hold of him, just call or text. And if we can’t get in touch with him, let him know what we decide to do.
Coach: You interpreted this interview as something insignificant. Did you stop to think the interview might have been tied to the community, a client, or your company? Part of your job is to follow directions and procedures. You are not an island unto yourself. Sit with your PD and review procedures if you need to. You must get in sync with the business of radio through your PD.
Air Talent: I still think it’s a big deal about nothing, but okay, my co-host and I will get with our PD and figure this stuff out.
Everything Connects…
Teamwork is not cliche, it’s the reality of working with others in any organization. At a radio station, everything is connected at various levels. Stations have procedures in place to meet goals and make money. Air personalities can’t divorce themselves from the responsibilities of meeting the expectations of management.
And if you need some friendly advice, drop me an email; samweaver@samweavermedia.com or text me, (972) 672-4812.