Remember that?

A couple of decades ago, all radio air talent did show prep; they prepared content to share on their radio show.

Imagine that.

Now, if any air talent is even asked to do show prep, it’s probably for a morning or afternoon drive show.

Who needs to prepare for reading liners verbatim??

But, if you’d like to increase the impact you personally have on those listening to you, show prep is vital.

And show prep is something that the very best air talent are always doing. 

Every experience, every meeting, everything you do and see and hear in your day has the potential to be shared in a way so that listeners can feel they are connected to you and to each other.

“When people talk, listen completely. Don’t be thinking what you’re going to say. Most people never listen. Nor do they observe. You should be able to go into a room and when you come out, know everything that you saw there and not only that. If that room gave you any feeling you should know exactly what it was that gave you that feeling. Try that for practice.”

That’s Ernest Hemingway and while I don’t think he was ever an air talent, he certainly left his mark, didn’t he?

His advice is as relevant to your job as to any other aspiring writer or actor.

Listen. Listen completely. Observe. Detail matters. Feel, and be able to describe what you feel.

When the music stops, and you appear, say something worth hearing, something memorable and true. Something that makes your listeners feel what you’re feeling.

And watch what happens…