It's all the rage from coast-to-coast. Those testosterone-soaked voices are moving from the sharp and staticky staccato of AM to the lush quadraphonic (and sometimes HD) FM dial. If you're thinking about joining the FM all-sports parade,
All The Excess! has arranged for consultant
Dewey Nowhitt to give you some pro tips before you throw out the first pitch. Remember, this is
free advice from an expert on all-sports FM's, so read carefully!
1. There should be a professional or college team to get excited about within a 200 mile radius. Signing on an all-sports FM in Juneau, Alaska is probably not gonna work.
2. When searching for talent, look for the next Billy Mays (R.I.P.). Your listeners expect sports radio guys to be loud. Loud equals macho equals boxcar numbers! Set the mic gain in the studio really low so they have to shout to be heard. It works!
3. When it comes to play-by-play, avoid slow-moving quiet sports like golf. Likewise highly visual sports like gymnastics and diving do not play well on radio.
4. Motivate your staff so that they feel athletic at all times. Males should always wear jockstraps (You'll want to spot-check them from time to time). Make showers mandatory after each air talent's show. Keep a wet, sweaty towel fermenting in the air studio for that realistic inside-a-gym-locker aroma.
5. Your music bumpers - have you researched them? Are they high-scoring and well-known songs your listeners can sing along with? My patented "Yes/No/Maybe" auditorium music test will make sure your music beds are super familiar and burn-free, and ready for PPM!
Dewey Nowhitt has primarily consulted Smooth Jazz stations, but he dug sports before he liked Kenny G. Reach him at Bandwagon Consulting, 818-555-HELP.
It's all the rage from coast-to-coast. Those testosterone-soaked voices are moving from the sharp and staticky staccato of AM to the lush quadraphonic (and sometimes HD) FM dial. If you're thinking about joining the FM all-sports parade, All The Excess! has arranged for consultant Dewey Nowhitt to give you some pro tips before you throw out the first pitch. Remember, this is free advice from an expert on all-sports FM's, so read carefully!
