|
|
|
|
Radio And Production
July 2009
July 2009 Highlights
Interview:
Sheldon Hovde, 100.3 The Q / The Zone,
Victoria, B.C. Canada
by Jerry Vigil
Each year, we like to shine the spotlight on at least one of our
RAP Awards first-place winners, especially our first-time
winners. Sheldon Hovde picked up the trophy for Best Commercial
– Small Markets this past April, his first, with a spot he did
for a local fishing derby in Victoria. This may be less of a
surprise when you notice the station Sheldon works for – 100.3
The Q. Yes, the home of the RAP Awards second most winningest
individual, Ross McIntyre, who has recently repositioned himself
in an effort to further his freelance business. In the meantime,
Sheldon shares writing duties at the 2-station cluster, produces
all the commercials, and handles the imaging for the other Jim
Pattison Group station, The Zone. Though Victoria is a small
market of six stations and some 300,000 people, the competition
is tough, with radio stations from neighboring Vancouver and
Seattle clearly penetrating the Victoria market. Perhaps one
reason why the caliber of writers and producers at The Q and The
Zone is anything but “small market.” Be sure to check out this
month’s RAP CD for more awesome audio from Sheldon.
Production 212:
Trick or Treat
by Dave Foxx
I know, it’s not even close to Halloween, but I like that
title better than "Tricks of the Trade." Yeah, I know… finally,
some actual hints at how to do stuff! Well gang, the last
several columns have been very non-technical. I guess I’ve had a
lot to get off my chest about USPs and clarifying your message.
This month, we’ll just assume you got the message and delve into
some more meaty questions of style and presentation from a
technical point of view, a sort of “how-to-do” what I do in my
work. Just remember, as I have often said here, my method is not
THE method. It works well for me and delivers the kind of sound
I like. There ARE other ways to do it. Your results may vary.
Test Drive:
Zoom H4n Handy Recorder
by Steve Cunningham
I’ve done a great deal more location recording lately,
including a number of interviews that are destined for podcasts.
My go-to recorder has been the Compact-Flash-based Fostex FR-2LE
(see the November 2007 issue of RAP), and it’s served me quite
well connected to nothing fancier than a Heil dynamic mic.
During the past Winter NAMM show, I found myself tempted by the
all-in-one Flash recorders that come with built-in mics; after
all, using one of those would eliminate the need for carrying a
loose mic and cable along with the necessary spare batteries.
One less item in the carryon bag is always a good thing. Just
prior to NAMM at the last CES show, Zoom introduced an updated
version of their H4 Handy Recorder, cleverly dubbed the H4n
Handy Recorder. This is not a replacement for the H4, which is
still available, but rather a revised version that corrects some
of the flaws in the original H4 that made it a less-than-pro
product. Chief among these were the noisy external preamps, and
the preamps in the H4n are noticeably quieter. And while at $350
on the street, its price slightly higher than its predecessor,
the total number of features make it a good value nevertheless.
Let’s look at the entire package.
Q It Up:
The RAP Network Speaks - HEADPHONE
CHECK: What headphones do you use in the studio?
Q It Up: What headphones do
you use in the studio? What do you like about this pair? Do you
use headphones to mix? Do you think mixing with headphones is a
good or bad idea, and why?
If you have a question for the RAP Network, email it to
editor@rapmag.com!
Feature: Speeding on the Two Way Street
by Craig Jackman
Part of what I need to do as a manager is to get my direct
reports to do the tasks that are assigned to them. You need to
do the same for your direct reports. Sure, as a manager you may
feel it’s just faster if you do it yourself first, particularly
with some of the junior members of your team, but it’s best in
the long run to delegate the task and get someone else to do it.
First, it frees you up to use your advanced skills for something
more important, but secondly it will also grow your report’s
skills to be able to handle more and more difficult tasks and
grow up the responsibility ladder. You have to communicate to
your employees to assign the task to them, and get them to do it
with a reasonable chance of success. How do you do that? KUBA.
Not Cuba... that’s the land of great cigars, cheap beach
vacations, and a generation of questionable international
politics. KUBA is Know Understand Believe Act (or Action). It’s
the four phases that let someone receive a task, understand
what’s being asked of them, and to then act positively on that
task.
Radio Hed:
The Power of the Guarantee
by Jeffrey Hedquist
A key question to ask our clients is: “Why should I buy from
you, instead of anyone and everyone else?” One reason a prospect
doesn’t buy is their perceived risk. They’re afraid they won’t
get what they paid for, or that they won’t be happy with their
purchase, that the advertiser won’t deliver on their promises,
that they made a wrong choice (wrong color, size, application,
paid too much, don’t need the service, etc.).
Feature: A Quick Guide to Radio Creativity Number Two: Know
What Language You’re Talking... And How to Talk to Your Listener
by Dan McCurdy
“You’re not listening to me” is one of the most useless
phrases in the English language. I’d put it up there next to
that other phrase I often hear in meetings and presentations to
groups. A question I always want to ignore and one usually said
in a markedly higher volume than normal public presentation
speak from the speaker at the front. “Can everyone hear me?” Or
even more outrageous, likewise “Can you hear me at the back?”
The answers are equally as useless. “NO” would obviously signify
you just heard the question. “ Yes” is the generally mumbled
reply, with no guarantee that what’s going to follow is
something you really want to strain to hear. A guy I knew always
answered quietly to me “half past two.” The oldest joke in the
room, but if it doesn’t hurt you and makes you laugh like
schoolboys, what’s the harm. You get my drift. I was always told
“don’t labour the point.” Some advice is well worth listening to
if you can hear and understand it. Let’s talk about radio.
...And Make
It Real Creative
by Trent Rentsch
I realized how important being Creatively fit was long ago.
During my first stint as a Production Director, the workload was
intense (which, of course, turned out to be the norm). The
wide-eyed optimism that I had an endless supply of brilliant
ideas was soon crushed by the reality of providing Creativity on
tap, and I soon found the well not only had a bottom, but could
also go dry. Luckily, that was also about the same time that I
discovered a book which became one of my Creative bibles, “A
Whack on the Side of the Head,” by Roger Von Oech. It was filled
with all sorts of ways to push, pull, and stretch those hard to
reach places where ideas come from. When I saw the results such
exercises gave me, I began to make them a habit... and also
searched out other Creative Fitness Gurus.
Monday Morning Memo: Customer Profiles
by Roy H. Williams
I’ve never seen a business fail due to
reaching the wrong people. But if you listen to advertising
sales reps, “reaching the right people” will solve all your
problems. And guess who has exactly the right people for you?
The conversation usually goes something like this: the sales rep
says, “Tell me, who is your customer?” “Blah, blah, blah.”
“Really? That’s exactly who we reach! What a fit! It’s like a
hand in glove, a marriage made in heaven! We reach your exact
customer profile!”
|
|
|