Never mind how you get one; just assume you can. The question is: Can you handle it?
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Never mind how you get one; just assume you can. The question is: Can you handle it?
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Janet, Sharon, Mary . . . I can tell by your answers, that you have actually hosted a radio talk show, and we all agree that it is not as easy as it appears. It is much easier to be a guest. However, the original question presented by Jeff was: "Are you capable of having your own radio talk show?" That's the question that I responded to below. Capable includes--do you possess the talent to keep the show moving, the time management skills, the ability to sell the sponsors or get hired by the station . . . if you don't have these skills, then you are not capable of hosting your own talk radio show.
Example: I would finish with patients or clients @ 11:30 am, which means I had to re-arrange two appointments. Then, I would jump in my convertible and fly as fast as I could during the lunch hour traffic, to get to the radio station on time. I'd arrive at the station, just in time as my engineer was counting-down 3-2-1-. After the show was over, I again rushed out the door and flew back to the gym for my afternoon appointments. Time management can be tough, yet necessary.
Asking intelligent questions is only part of the talk show game, the questions should be set-up to flow, build the intensity and tell a story. Then open the phone lines. In radio, dead time is an amateur cardinal sin. In BlogTalk Radio where you only have 2 or 3 people listening, you can getaway with making big mistakes, as no one is listening. But when you have a large listening audience on a major station, you better be professional or they'll kick you off the show.
I would love my own talk show. In my experience, I've found that one never feels quite ready for a new experience like that - you dare to believe you can and jump right in! It's worked for me, and considering that I always want to give something of value to people, I'd make sure I was extra prepared.
Haseena, I'm absolutely sure that you would be extra prepared, as you're a winner!
I had a radio show, Healthy Alternatives, and it was great. It was a lot of work, and obviously, I did not continue it due to time management, but I recommend authors give it a waft. It was fun and a good experience.
I do better answering questions than coming up with them on the spur of the moment. I come up with them thinking of the conversation later. Makes the editing hard! :-)
Hey Jeff. As a former talk radio host, I can speak from experience . . . hosting a "professional" talk show is not as easy as everyone may think. First of all, you need to be experienced enough so you don't embarrass yourself, and good enough to get hired by the executive producer. If you are a known professional who can sell a sponsor that will pay for the production of your show and pay your salary, then you could get hired. For instance, MetRx Nutrition coughed-up a lot of money to sponsor my Radio Talk Show on Clear Channel.
Next, You need to fill 60 or more minutes of radio air-time with interesting subject matter, and/or invite a guest on your show. Dead air-time, means a dead show. You also have to find an interesting guest, talk to them before you book them and prepare intelligent questions. Then, if your show is set-up for listener call-ins--that's another ball of wax.
I don't count BlogTalkRadio or internet radio. I was lucky to be a guest on 3 or 4 shows with good hosts; but most of the shows are not professional, and have a listening audience of as little as 4 or 5 people.
Television is much harder as it incorporates video and audio.
My point is: hire a media coach to prepare you for hosting any media, teach you how to speak in soundbites, how to look on video and teach you to be a professional. You never get a second chance, to make a first impression.
Absolutely I could handle it. I'm a good talker and I do excellent interviews. However, a talk show is time-consuming and so whoever does one should have the wherewithal to handle all the behind-the-scenes preparations--recruiting guests, crafting questions, making sure the technology works, doing the PR to get the word out about the show, etc.
I do love radio...it is my favorite of all the media because it's one of the only "traditional" media that by its nature has always been interactive and has always striven to create community. I am not so fond of TV talk shows, because those tend to become more about image than about the actual message, whereas radio has the potential to totally focus on the message.
Probably could handle it...because I believe I can handle anything I put my mind to........ Would I want to handle it? Upon deep consideration.....No.....I'd rather be a guest on a gazillion talk shows that others are hosting than have my own.
By the way Jeff, judging from your discussion topics and input on WAEnet, I think you'd make a good talk show host. I might even TIVO it while I'm in India....Let me know.
In a heartbeat!