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Favorite On Air Cliche's

E

EarlThePearlShow

Guest
Just like everyone else, I've been guilty of using these gems from time to time. Here are my some of favorites in no particular order.

Stick around...
...degrees OUTSIDE.
Top of the hour....
....with ya!
Before that..And before that..ANNNND before that.
Here's one of MY favorites....
 
Using your name more than 1x in a break.
And the hits just keep on coming.
Another long set of uninterupted music with less talk
More music by request (yeah sure).
Playing YOUR favorites.
 
"Another 50 minute music hour"

'' Your at work station"

Calling a station "New" for ten years without a format change
 
MsMusicRadio said:
Calling a station "New" for ten years without a format change
Click to expand...
Or calling it "new" the whole time it exists under a given format. After all, we can't really expect a station to stay with the same format for 10 years (unless they're successful), now can we?
 
I'd say the worst is the "Degrees On The Outside"
I had a PD explain to me MANY years ago how ridiculous it was to say that.
(His explanation included things like-"You think they will believe you're talking about the temperature INSIDE the studio if you don't say "Outside", and.."Degrees!? Degrees!?...I guess you say that because you think listeners will think you're talking about toasters or pizzas in downtown! You DO NOT need to tell them it's 68 DEGREES downtown! Just tell 'em it's 68 Downtown!"
Never said it after about 1979! haha.
 
These aren't cliches, they're crutches. They are things that uninspired, unprepared air people use to help them get to the next element. As someone once said about us: "You radio people have it made...all you have to do is keep talking until you think of something to say". Sad, but true.

My favorite cliche: "That's my opinion, it oughta be yours"...which is also a statement of fact! ;D
 
Bat Fastard said:
These aren't cliches, they're crutches. They are things that uninspired, unprepared air people use to help them get to the next element.
Click to expand...

Step outside the confining little box called "radio" and just monitor the human race. Phone calls from your kin folks... listen to WHAT they say (sometimes over and over!) "I just wanted to touch base with you."

Car salesmen. In some dealerships you may find an available seating to read a magazine or book up near the front door and the reception desk. Listen in as sales people "make a pass" at people coming through the front door.

The Waffle House. (That's what we have in the South. You may have Huddle House or other little simple greasy spoon places.) Go eat an extended breakfast and just listen in to the conversation.

Maybe the trick in radio is not to get rid of the "cheap speech" but tyo make it cook, make it smooth. Make it into the souil-food of conversation.

I don't remember the really great announcers and entertainers sounding like they had a doctorate in Classic English Literature. ;)

"Shop Smith's today. You'll be glad you did."
 
I always loved "a little" when talking about the music...

Coming up a little Led Zep & Pink Floyd plus you just heard a little ZZ Top. Why is everyone so little? ::)
 
karsonwithak said:
I always loved "a little" when talking about the music...

Coming up a little Led Zep & Pink Floyd plus you just heard a little ZZ Top. Why is everyone so little? ::)
Click to expand...
This one is especially bad when referring to one-hit wonders or anyone on their first hit. If they promise "a little Zager & Evans," wonder what song they will play? "2525," maybe?
 
It'd HAVE to be "2525" I know of no other. But...teasing with just the artist and letting them think of the song themselves DURING the break...might help 'em stay around to find out. If it's a multi-hit artist maybe a little tease about WHICH song works the same way.
We all like to "know" the answer and guess right.
 
"After this break."

"Right after this."

"Up next."

Telegraphing spot breaks. My favorite.

Or, "The weather calls for."

Or, "On your Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc."

"Takin' your requests."

"Takin' you back to ______"

"That's such a great song."
 
When the talent "thanks" another staff member on-air for a bit, such as a remote break. TV does this all the time, especially in an exchange between weather and the anchor.

No need to thank; it's his job. Thanking is just lazy.

I also had a jock working for me who called snow, "the white stuff." He also once gave a weather as showing a "50% chance of your getting wet...." "What if I stay inside?" I asked.

I avoid cliches like the plague.

DE
 
"coming back with"

and during football and basketball broadcasts "(insert team name) is to the left end of the radio dial "

often heard in MS. "dropped on you" used to refer to a song being dropped on the listeners of the station.
 
And how about empty cliche' bragging rights:

The (your city or town's) BEST Variety.
The (your city or town's) #1 for (fill in the format)
 
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