Does anyone still do remotes, and are they successful?

[tlyle]

I know some of the stations in ATL do remotes, but are they really successful? Most of the time when I see one, only the interns and promotions people show. Seems that talent is not there like they used to be in the old days.

Also, have you made any real money doing a remote/appearance outside of your regular radio job?

Do you like or dislike doing remotes?

 

[Talk_Dude]

I know some of the stations in ATL do remotes, but are they really successful? Most of the time when I see one, only the interns and promotions people show. Seems that talent is not there like they used to be in the old days.

Also, have you made any real money doing a remote/appearance outside of your regular radio job?

Do you like or dislike doing remotes?

What do you mean by "successful"? Do you mean do they boost ratings, or that they draw customers to an advertiser's location (such as a car dealership or shopping center), or that they increase a "personality's" personal drawing power, or what?

 

[secondchoice]

Most of the time when I see one, only the interns and promotions people show. Seems that talent is not there like they used to be in the old days.

Also, have you made any real money doing a remote/appearance outside of your regular radio job?

Do you like or dislike doing remotes?

There is not that much “on air talent” left to show up at a remote! If you are salary, a remote is just extra work at smaller stations (sometimes free food). I was lucky; my last contract gave me “comp” time off (three day weekends) for remotes. I still had to put together a “best of” show and leave notes for the intern but I was out of the building at 2pm Thursday. The best remote I ever did (sponsor wise) was to help a car dealer have his “biggest” Mr. Goodwrench service day (on a Tuesday). I got a free oil change and tire rotation too. The next week we came back: good foot traffic, but he sold no new cars just used. I hated doing remotes in February in Ohio. Too *&%$# cold!

 

[zillajockey]

if i do one a month these days thats great. use to consider remotes another part time job and take every one that came my way. an extra $300-$1,200 a month not too long ago...

 

[tlyle]

I know some of the stations in ATL do remotes, but are they really successful? Most of the time when I see one, only the interns and promotions people show. Seems that talent is not there like they used to be in the old days.

Also, have you made any real money doing a remote/appearance outside of your regular radio job?

Do you like or dislike doing remotes?

What do you mean by "successful"? Do you mean do they boost ratings, or that they draw customers to an advertiser's location (such as a car dealership or shopping center), or that they increase a "personality's" personal drawing power, or what?

I guess what I wanted to know is really all of them based on everyone's perception. If I am talent, I would want the exposure. If I am management, I would want the increased ratings/revenue. If I am the customer, I would want to see my ad dollars have a successful return.

I was wanting to know what everyone's opinion is in each of these areas. I would also expect that as some have said already, they do not always like remotes or see the downside/plus side to doing them.

 

[rickontheradio]

$350 talent fee for a two hour remote w/or w/out call ins is always a success in my (check)book as far as I'm concerned... sure the morning stars get even more!!!!

 

[trhodes96]

$350 talent fee for a two hour remote w/or w/out call ins is always a success in my (check)book as far as I'm concerned... sure the morning stars get even more!!!!

Ask Southside Steve how remotes have helped him financially and have made him "one" with the people. No one does more remotes than that guy and he makes way more than $350 for a 2 hour remote. God Bless him. He doesn't just sit there for 2 hours. He works his butt off. Remotes are just "added" value in an advertisers "buy." Can't just judge by the remote turnout how successful the buy was...

 

[chas108]

I've worked on both sides of this equation.

Sometimes a client and station can work together to stage an "event" but my experience has been even the best events tend to generate poor immediate traffic.

Tying in a major station promotion - a big contest or must-see concert - can generate immediate traffic but how many real prospects are coming thru the door?

The next week we came back: good foot traffic, but he sold no new cars just used.

It's not the remote's job to sell cars during that two-hour appearance. It's to drive residual traffic while building top-of-mind-awareness thru effective branding. A good Saturday remote should drive traffic 3-4 days after the fact. Therefore I'd call secondchoice's remote a success - having driven "good foot traffic", but closing prospects is up to the client.

IMHO the sales staff should be setting proper expectations. The station and talent are helping to build the client's brand and drive residual traffic, which should pay off in long-term increased sales...which probably requires more than one remote to accomplish. And does the spot buy support the remote and vice versa?

Then if you generate a good deal of traffic during the appearance, you're now exceeding - not just meeting - the expectation. From there a deeper trust can be established between AE and client to drive future buys while building client's business.

IOW if a jock goes on a remote, works their butt off for two hours and doesn't move the needle, it doesn't mean remotes don't work. Rather that faulty expectations were set that no one could meet.

 

[megahertz]

This thread reminds me of the WRKP episode where Dr. Johnny Fever does a remote for "Del's Stereo and Sound" and the only person that comes in all day uses the bathroom and then pulls out a gun. Good stuff!

 

[kilamanjero]

Practically all the Atlanta urban radio stations still does them. I can't really say what is the measure of "successful" for such things.

 

[jabba17]

This thread reminds me of the WRKP episode where Dr. Johnny Fever does a remote for "Del's Stereo and Sound" and the only person that comes in all day uses the bathroom and then pulls out a gun. Good stuff!

I thought WKRP changed their calls to WDPC ;D