Show Prep

A note about show prep.

Show prep is the work you do to ensure your radio show is informative for listeners. Depending on your format you will be doing different types of prep work. For example, 'Top 40' stations you will most likely be talking about entertainment news, celebrity gossip and local events. Most formats try to speak to specific demographics, your show prep should be useful information that your audience wants to hear.

For example:
A 'Top 40' station would not play country music and a hot pop song would not play on a country radio station. You would not talk about country music industry news on the 'Top 40' station and vice versa.

Of course, some songs are cross format lines and are played on country and 'Top 40' stations (thank you, Taylor Swift). Some songs/stories are big enough or relevant to be covered on both stations, knowing your format is the key. Know who your listeners are, know what listeners you want to have and the speak to them when you hit the airwaves.

Personally, I do my own show prep. But, you can pay for subscription and have your work done for you. I do not do this because I like to keep my shows local, I like to talk about what is going on with my listeners. I still throw in news and stories from the outside world, but I think it is important to give people tuning in information that they may not hear anywhere else.

You may be presenting the only local content your listeners hear during the day, let them know what is going on! Is there a foot of snow on the way? Is there an accident backing up traffic during rush hour? Be the local information resource.

Local content is key. With the development of new technologies radio is global. What you are broadcasting from a rural, small town in Montana can be picked up by anyone in the world now with live broadcast streams. When people find a station they like, regardless of where they are in the world they will tune in. I know many people who tune in to their hometown radio stations no matter where they are living, it is a comfort from home where ever they are.

Have a good mixture of prep like important information pertaining to your format (entertainment news, tv programming, music charts, box office results etc.) and local information like public service announcements, news and events.

Keep your bits short and sweet. Know the information, practice delivery and then keep it to the point. When you do the work ensure you have an 'end game'. Are you driving your listeners to your Facebook or Twitter pages, or to the phone for a call in? Are you ending your break with a joke? Keep in mind what you want to happen when you turn off the mic.

Here are some good prep websites
Dan O'Day   http://danoday.com/odayprep1.html  (free)
The Complete Sheet   http://www.wisebrother.com/wbm_products/tcs/  ($$)
The Morning Skoop   http://www.themorningskoop.com/    ($$)
Radio Jock's Prep Directory  http://www.radiojock.com/prep.html
FM Jock's Prep http://www.fmjock.com/en/    ($$)
The Bull Sheet http://www.thebullsheet.com/home.html ($$)