Isn’t it?

I don’t know if you watched the FX series “Fosse/Verdon.” It was great!

This quote from an early episode really stuck with me:

“That’s what we do though, isn’t it? We take what hurts and turn into into a big gag…and the audience is yucking it up…they’re laughing so hard they don’t realize that…they’re laughing at a person in agony, a person who’s peeled off their own skin.”

I’m not suggesting we all have to be tortured souls to succeed, or even to try to make our listeners laugh, but there is a lot of truth in that line.

The best content, the best material, is always personal. It always comes from a place deep within and with the vulnerability that requires.

We tend to throw the word “genius” around promiscuously. If we hear someone we like, or we hear a station that’s better than average (especially these days when the bar for “average” is so low) we tend to grant the superlative instantly.

There aren’t many geniuses in our business.

But the few I’ve known would’ve all related to that quote above.

Every great comedian I’ve known would’ve related to that quote above.

Today, we don’t have time for genius inside our stations.

Genius, as you will clearly see if you watch the Fosse/Verdon series, is messy and complicated and intense.

Managing genius will definitely make your work day harder, longer and perhaps even less fun.

But, ohhhh, is it ever worth it.

So, today, I’m looking for Radio execs who want to sign up for what managing a genius brings…

Radio sure could use you now.