I know a guy who was originally a stand-up comedian. He traveled the country playing comedy clubs like Zanies. One day, he did a guest shot on a local radio station, and realized his skills in the club were also transferable to morning radio. He's been a very successful morning show host in a number of big markets for 8 years, and as a result, doesn't have to travel as much.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
I know a guy who was originally a stand-up comedian. He traveled the country playing comedy clubs like Zanies. One day, he did a guest shot on a local radio station, and realized his skills in the club were also transferable to morning radio. He's been a very successful morning show host in a number of big markets for 8 years, and as a result, doesn't have to travel as much.
I know a guy who was originally a stand-up comedian. He traveled the country playing comedy clubs like Zanies. One day, he did a guest shot on a local radio station, and realized his skills in the club were also transferable to morning radio. He's been a very successful morning show host in a number of big markets for 8 years, and as a result, doesn't have to travel as much.
That's not what I meant by "radio person". Sure, anyone can do the job if trained to do it. But so many hosts these days put something else before the "good radio" part. Whether it's a political agenda or trying to sell some product, a radio person will always put radio first.
I think it's safe to say that Dick Morris didn't get into radio for the sake of doing good radio.
That's not what I meant by "radio person". Sure, anyone can do the job if trained to do it. But so many hosts these days put something else before the "good radio" part. Whether it's a political agenda or trying to sell some product, a radio person will always put radio first.
When I "hung up the headphones" so to speak, I ventured into a number of different industries. Many 'lines of work' are populated by a few people who have something special they bring to the task. But the most obvious and identifiable example is in automobile retailing. There are a lot of people who sell cars, work at dealerships, etc. But as we discussed people who were effective, people who just seemed to know when to do what, we could usually (every one in the room a the time) agree who was a real "car guy". It didn't necessarily make them likeable. It didn't always make them successful (tell me how to measure successful in any line of work) but you knew they were "car guys". Work with them. Go to lunch with them. Go to a baseball game with them. "Did you see that guy in the tan Dodge beside us at the last stop light?" (No, but I saw the babe with the long blonde hair!) These folks walk, talk, eat, sleep and fantasize about cars. Back when dealerships were actually owned and run buy a human being with the same name as the sign on the front of the building, there was a high probability that human being was a "car guy".
Now we live in an era where the person running the retail outlet likely has an MBA, and may or may not be a "car guy". (Today, may be a "car gal"!)
But my memory of my radio years does not include a similar identifiable human trait being omni-present in the broadcasting business. We recognized that there were people with talent and people short on talent. But to say that good radio people, effective radio people all share some kind of unique DNA... I'm having trouble buying into that.
I think it's safe to say that Dick Morris didn't get into radio for the sake of doing good radio.
Have you listened to him? Have you compared what he does with other lifetime radio people? You're inventing a qualification that doesn't exist.
Of course Rush takes calls - even has "Open Line Friday" each week.
The problem is that after being on the air for a quarter century he's preaching to a choir of dittoheads who essentially agree with him. As a result they tend to offer up their frustrations and seldom offer counterpoint queries that are interesting. The latter dialog is needful for newbies. Liberal hosts such as Rachel Maddow have the same problem.
To put Rush down as just a "former disc jockey" is a bit much. He comes from a multi-generational family that has been involved deeply in Missouri politics. That is where he honed his political philosophy. He was also a successful talk show host in Sacramento before going national. Personally I find him a bit strident and unwilling to concede any validity to opposing views - but he's not a dummy..
The problem is that after being on the air for a quarter century he's preaching to a choir of dittoheads who essentially agree with him. As a result they tend to offer up their frustrations and seldom offer counterpoint queries that are interesting. The latter dialog is needful for newbies. Liberal hosts such as Rachel Maddow have the same problem.
To put Rush down as just a "former disc jockey" is a bit much. He comes from a multi-generational family that has been involved deeply in Missouri politics. That is where he honed his political philosophy. He was also a successful talk show host in Sacramento before going national. Personally I find him a bit strident and unwilling to concede any validity to opposing views - but he's not a dummy..
He comes from a multi-generational family that has been involved deeply in Missouri politics. That is where he honed his political philosophy...
I don't think I was "putting Rush down." We're talking about radio people. Imus is another. A former shock jock who became a talk host when his station flipped formats. What makes him qualified to be guiding discussions on politics? There are lots of them. Compare them to the previous generation of talk hosts: Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Dr. Toni Grant, and Bruce Williams. These were people who were both entertaining and informative. Were they "radio people?" No. They had successful careers outside of radio that gave them credibility on the air. I think that's missing in a lot of today's talk radio.
Have you listened to him? Have you compared what he does with other lifetime radio people? You're inventing a qualification that doesn't exist.
Haven't heard him on the radio. I moved away from Philly around the time he started. But having seen him in other forums, I can pretty much guess what his deal is.
Someone thought David Lee Roth would be a good radio host. And he was an actual student of radio growing up. See how that turned out. Running a good and coherent talk show takes a certain amount of detachment that people who put agenda first don't usually master. Rush has the radio chops because he did radio before he developed his political gimmick.
Someone thought David Lee Roth would be a good radio host. And he was an actual student of radio growing up. See how that turned out.
Roth's only problem was that he was hosting a TALK show. He's a musician. He should have hosted a MUSIC show. Nikki Stixx and Alice Cooper host music shows, and they've done much better. Force Dick Morris to host a music show, and he'll do as well as Roth did in political talk. But Morris knows what he's talking about in political strategy, and he isn't burdened by strict party politics like some other less experienced radio hosts. Morris is a good listener, which is an important trait in a talk host. Also not to common in talk radio today. As I said in my previous post, there was a time when talk hosts were hired for their knowledge, not their radio experience. Those examples were pretty successful.
U
Unregistered
Guest
Those types of hosts were successful, but would they be as successful today? Asked another way, is it the audience that has, for the most part, changed?
General interest talk has for the most part been cast aside for strident political views. Would there be a viable audience for what Bruce Williams or Dr. Ruth did so well at the pinnacle of their success? Even what isn't political in nature (or primarily political) needs to resort to sensationalism and shock value to break through. Thoughtful, measured conversation...well, it's in rather short supply overall, no?
Does that tell us the issue, if one wants to call it that, is the audience, not the talent? And thus, comparisons to days of old are essentially useless?
General interest talk has for the most part been cast aside for strident political views. Would there be a viable audience for what Bruce Williams or Dr. Ruth did so well at the pinnacle of their success? Even what isn't political in nature (or primarily political) needs to resort to sensationalism and shock value to break through. Thoughtful, measured conversation...well, it's in rather short supply overall, no?
Does that tell us the issue, if one wants to call it that, is the audience, not the talent? And thus, comparisons to days of old are essentially useless?
Roth's only problem was that he was hosting a TALK show. He's a musician. He should have hosted a MUSIC show. Nikki Stixx and Alice Cooper host music shows, and they've done much better. Force Dick Morris to host a music show, and he'll do as well as Roth did in political talk. But Morris knows what he's talking about in political strategy, and he isn't burdened by strict party politics like some other less experienced radio hosts. Morris is a good listener, which is an important trait in a talk host. Also not to common in talk radio today. As I said in my previous post, there was a time when talk hosts were hired for their knowledge, not their radio experience. Those examples were pretty successful.
He may "know" what he is talking about (that is very debatable after the 2012 election, but that is a whole different topic for another day), but his voice is really irritating. Probably much better suited as a writer.
U
Unregistered
Guest
Hannity will be back soon
I'm sure that as soon as Dick Morris's contract is over that Hannity will return to 3 to 6, where he belongs
I'm sure that as soon as Dick Morris's contract is over that Hannity will return to 3 to 6, where he belongs
- Status
- This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.