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DO PUBLIC APPEARANCES REALLY BRING MORE BUSINESS?

In 1950 a remote broadcast was a big deal. It was like my god Ethel, WZZZ is broadcasting live from the P&G let's go and see.

In 2010, you see a guy or gal under a tent broadcasting prerecorded breaks..
Giving away bumper stickers and tee shirts.. Hey I can always use another free tee shirt.
and who doesn't love free crap?

The broadcast and spots adds to the event and creates awareness. It's the event stupid!

But broadcasting live from a parking lot and expecting the masses to show up just to see your morning crew is so 1950. It's like this, if the morning crew is giving away $100.00 to the first 100 people, you'd
have a crowd. But broadcasting live because it's the morning crew, so come and see us is stupid and who cares?
 
Tent-check
Card table-check
Prize Wheel-check
Crappy prizes-check
Old sound system-check
Lap top for breaks-check
Worn out staff polo shirts-check
Usual prize pigs-check
 
So, to summarize:

Setting up in the parking lot of the P&G (whatever that is) just for the sake of doing a remote- NO

Setting up at the local Crab Fest and participating in the overall event- YES

I see the logic in this and do agree. Especially if people wanted to see our automation computer since that is who/what they are listening to most of the day anyway. ::)
 
You could have Dave Scott (of Scott Systems fame) come out to your appearance :D
 
12 in a row I see you been looking at my check list. Setting at a festivel or event is always a good idea and even better if it hits the demograghics that your format plays for but setting up at the local Piggly Wiggly parking lot when nothing is going on would be a super waste of time. The only people who would stop by would be some of the listeners you already have, hay they already listen and will see you at local events anyway. The idea is not just to keep in touch but bring in new listeners and the only way you can do that is by having something they want to listen to and would be willing to tune for, if you have that kind of programming then local events will help people see and hear what you offer.
 
You know, back in the day...when radio remotes really worked...

They weren't jocks showing up with a sound system (or boom box), a card table and crappy "get 5 dollars off an oil change" type prizes. ("Brother, can you spare a bumper sticker?")

No...the jock did his show...live...for 3 hours or so at the customer's store. Maybe, occasionally the store owner got on the air with the jock for a minute or two here and there. And, perhaps the store offered specials (which were promoted on the air), free hotdogs and/or popcorn...

Stations back then used "the magic of radio"...seeing the DJ do a show. And frankly, where I do still see it done today, there is still a "curiosity" on the part of people to come in and see how a radio show works.

Perhaps this is the type of program that should be reconsidered. If a sponsor is willing to pay for it, I mean, pay for the engineering and talent and the buy...why not?

It sure as hell is different than dragging that card table and prize wheel out.
 
2010, nothing new and exciting watching a d.j. broadcasting "live."
Emceeing events, getting involved in the community, those are good things.
Look and act professional. My pet peeve.
 
This could be a whole new thread. What is a Proper Dress Code?
TV-men show up suit or sport jacket & tie. Ladies show up professionally dressed.
RADIO-mostly in a crappy station polo shirt & jacket with a cluster of station logos and (hopefully) clean jeans.
 
Then how 'bout this:

At least some radio stations still offer tours of facilities...have you watched the faces of people who
watch a DJ doing their show live? I have. That "curiosity" that you say doesn't exist in 2010...does.
I've seen it. I've watched it. I've answered the questions of the people coming through on the tour. I've even let young kids say "hi" on the air (gasp!!!!), and been asked days later to make a CD of that so the kids can hear it. Sorry, but I contend there is still a mystique of doing live radio or television, and I contend that can still be exploited for the benefit of the station and the sponsor.

The problem is: some jocks don't like to have people watching them while they're on the air. To that I ask,
why did you get in radio in first place? You're a performer on a much larger stage. Get over it...entertain on the air...but if you have people watching, allow it to make you perform better.

You're right about one thing. The card table remote is cheesy, and done because many stations want to do a remote spending as little money as they can, while they charge for airtime, engineering charges (whatever that is these days when the jock can do everything on a Comrex Access in 20 to 30 minutes set up time), and talent.

That's why I say: make it a show. Make it bigger than life. That's what we used to do that drew people to a sponsor location. But also offer incentive to encourage people to show up.

The "value added" (i.e.: free) remote needs to be banned from radio sales, except in certain specific situations. Sponsors and stations have created an atmosphere where remotes have no value...and are something that some clients expect for free. Then, stations treat them that way...so it's a "no win" all around. That needs to change.

Deck out a "remote trailer" (or modify a station van to be a "mobile studio")...make it look like one with a
microphone on a stand, a laptop for the jock...let them control the studio computer via Skype or a secure wireless line using a "virtual" mixer (there's a station in Illinois doing something like this right now). You make it a show...people will check it out. Have the business owner offer free hot dogs, let the station make a deal for free sodas. Oh yeah...how about build an amount of money equaling your frequency into the cost of the remote and do a drawing at the end for $104 dollars and 30 cents (104.3)? People can sign up online, by mail or at the remote site.

Card table remotes don't have to be.

Oh yeah...dress code? We have one. Station wear, dockers or slacks, dress shoes (unless it's 88 degrees or so outside, then clean "walking shorts" and tennis shoes are allowed.)
 
I'm a little fried after spending yesterday at a local food and music festival. 8)

We did live remotes via wireless internet, and it worked great. I must have shaken several hundred hands that belonged to enthusiastic listeners. I think we may have picked up four new advertisers in the process too. We'll see if they come through or not, but if even one does, then it was very positive.

So to answer the original question, yes they can, if you choose them well. I'll reserve judgment on the ones done from car dealerships hawking free hot dogs and balloons...
 
Chuck said:
I'm a little fried after spending yesterday at a local food and music festival. 8)

We did live remotes via wireless internet, and it worked great. I must have shaken several hundred hands that belonged to enthusiastic listeners. I think we may have picked up four new advertisers in the process too. We'll see if they come through or not, but if even one does, then it was very positive.

So to answer the original question, yes they can, if you choose them well. I'll reserve judgment on the ones done from car dealerships hawking free hot dogs and balloons...
Click to expand...

Good deal Chuck! See any bear poo on the street or maybe they do do-it in the woods? ;)
 
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