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Radio And Production
June 2010
June 2010 Highlights
The R.A.P. Interview: "Sideshow"
Mike Andersen, Network Image Producer, Triple M, Sydney,
Australia
by Jerry Vigil
Each year we try to shine the spotlight on at least one
individual who stood out in that year’s Radio And Production
Awards competition. This year, that person was “Sideshow”
Mike Andersen, imaging producer at Austereo’s Triple M in
Sydney, Australia. Mike picked up the winner’s trophy and a
runner-up prize in the Feature Productions category, and a
winner’s trophy in the Large Market Promo category. This month’s
RAP Interview introduces you to this awesome talent
down under as we get the inside story on his winning entries and
take a close look at his amazing run of fifteen years at Triple
M. What you’ll probably find most amazing is Mike’s daily task
list for imaging the station, which doesn’t come from
programmers down the hall or in some corporate programming
office. He creates it himself. Check out this month’s RAP CD
for an encore presentation of Mike’s winning entries along with
Mike’s latest production demo.
Production 212:
What REALLY Makes Your Work…Work!
by Dave Foxx
I had a rather long and detailed discussion a couple of weeks
ago about what we all do for a living. As you might guess, it
was with someone totally unfamiliar with the broadcast and
advertising businesses, except as a consumer. The odd thing was,
I think I came away learning more about our business than she
did. Very often, I feel the same way about this column; I
probably learn more from writing than you do from reading it.
(At this pace, I might end up being the genius I think I am… or
not.) What I learned from this particular encounter is that our
audience doesn’t have a clue about how it influences them.
Whether it’s to buy a specific item or brand, use a service or
just continue to listen to the same radio station, the
motivation to do so is pretty much unrecognized. They seldom, if
ever, know that they’re being sold or encouraged to do anything
at all. Oh, they recognize a commercial for what it is and
understand the overall purpose of such a message, but never
realize what it is that actually nudges them in the direction we
want them to go. The question for this column is, do you?
Technology:
The Year Of The Penguin - Part Two
by Andrew Frame
Last issue, I presented some background on myself (the
non-audio-guy side), and did a quick poke at Microsoft’s Windows
and Apple’s OSX. And, I hope I made it clear that this isn’t an
“Us versus Them” thing. The one thing that has to be kept in
mind is that you use the computer system that works best for
you. As a businessman, my first interest is keeping my customers
happy. Happy customers mean cash flow. What I do with the cash
flow is my second business interest. As a sole proprietor, I
don’t have to worry too much about licensing issues with
software. I buy the computer; it comes with Windows or OSX and
the license fee is included in the price. If I buy software, I
buy the license to use it along with the physical media, like a
disk or a download, also for the purchase price. But, say I want
to equip everyone in my production guild with the same piece of
software so we all have exact compatibility. I may only need to
buy the physical media once, and install it across the network –
but I have to buy a license for every machine. That can get
hugely expensive.
...And Make
It Real Creative - The Creative Tap Room: First Round
by Trent Rentsch
It’s probably been 20 years ago now, and although I can’t
remember a word I said, I still see that cold, disinterested
look in her eyes. Frankly, it was her fault. We were having
one of those drunken “WOW, what a great book” parties for
the station at some local watering hole, when this Sales Rep
staggered over to me and asked THEE question… “Wherez all
thozzzeh GRRRRRREAT Creative kinda idea’zzzz yerz come frum?”
I, being nearer to under the table than she was, began to
tell her. As I rambled on, her smile slowly faded, her head
began to tilt, and then came that glazed look in her eyes… I
went cold turkey after that night. No, not from drinking,
God forbid! What I gave up was answering any questions about
where my Creativity comes from, because I realized that the
average person really doesn’t want to know. On the other
hand, fellow Creatives never tire of hearing where others
think their Creativity comes from. Personally, I have a lot
of friends all over the world that I’d love to get together
around one big bar and pose the question. So, why not...
Radio Hed:
Artificial Deadlines
by Jeffrey Hedquist
I’ve put off writing this article long enough.
Procrastination: no matter how far into the future a deadline
looms, I seem to always wait until the last possible day, hour,
minute, second. Even if I try to plan ahead, other projects with
more urgency always seem to get in the way until time runs out,
then I kick into action and it gets done. In an attempt to
preserve my adrenal glands, I’m trying a new approach. I lie to
myself.
Q It Up:
The RAP Network Speaks - How are
you dealing with the challenge of being creative in 10 or 15
seconds?
Q It Up: Have you
noticed the flood of 10 and 15 second spots coming through
your department lately? As a writer and/or producer, how are
you dealing with the challenge of being creative in 10 or 15
seconds? Is it possible with any regularity? What tricks
have you learned about the “quickie creative”? Ten seconds
may work on TV, but are we serving the client well with
these short spots on radio? Feel free to add any other
thoughts you may have on the subject.
If you have a question for the RAP Network, email it to
editor@rapmag.com!
Feature:
What a Difference a Decade Makes
by Ed Thompson
There once was a little Production Director in Quincy,
Illinois who wrote a letter to Radio And Production Magazine in
January of 2000. It was titled “Spec Spots Suck”. It was a
little ditty that broke down the cost of creating a spec spot
and how it cost a radio station more money than it made. Bold
statement then. Bold statement still. Yet, something about that
letter prompted Jerry Vigil, the proprietor of this extremely
informative and well written magazine to do something strange.
He offered me a chance at being a contributor to this
publication. So it is not without out a lot of thought, not
without a lot of prayer, and not without some regret that I am
going to make this my last contribution to a magazine that I
believe is so very important to our industry and to those of us
who do what we do.
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