Is there any particular reason behind why some people stand and others sit when doing their show? Station choice or individual choice? I was just watching a video on youtube from WAAF. The two morning guys are standing there doing their show while interviewing Jon Lovitz who was also standing. My first thought was that they all sure look like idiots just standing there. Sit down people. You are in that room for four hours. Relax. It seems to me that would be the best way to interview a person as well. Have them sit down and feel relaxed. The more comfortable the guest is, the better they will come across during an interview. Can you imagine inviting someone into your house and not even offering them a chair? That is just my opinion. Would love to hear some thoughts on this.
-
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
Standing vs. Sitting on air
- Thread starter Skynet74
- Start date
Many experts claim breathing is easier when standing than when sitting. Others claim that the supposedly longer column of a standing airway makes the voice deeper and richer.
I've worked both ways and observed no difference.
Old timers who had an engineer opening and closing their microphones had their mics on tall metal floor stands but kept a chair adjacent in the otherwise barren studio...standing to speak; sitting in between announcements. I have observed that, after standing in a limited space for a shift of several hours makes one tired and irritable which becomes apparent to the listeners.
The original WLKW (990) studio and production room in what was then Lowe's State Theater (4th floor) were both stand-up and it was frowned upon to bring in a chair or stool though, on weekends, you could count on the brass (Not the PD - the then eighty-year old GM) staying home, asleep in his soil-filled coffin.
The station for which I do occasional volunteer engineering has a stand-up main studio but with a very expensive roll-around chair (a new one about every six months). The room was designed by a former CE who stood nearly 7 feet tall, so the "desk" is inordinately high. He seems also have been the first in his family to have come down out of the trees with arms so long his knuckles dragged on the floor when he walked. Why else would anyone put the side-panels of the desk a good six feet apart, making it impossible to work without dashing from side-to-side? True, it's easier now that it's all computerized but, in the day of cart machines and turntables you ran a marathon every shift! I may get to rebuild that room before I'm so old I have to wear a bib to catch my drool....mayhap that thought is what's keeping me alive!
I've worked both ways and observed no difference.
Old timers who had an engineer opening and closing their microphones had their mics on tall metal floor stands but kept a chair adjacent in the otherwise barren studio...standing to speak; sitting in between announcements. I have observed that, after standing in a limited space for a shift of several hours makes one tired and irritable which becomes apparent to the listeners.
The original WLKW (990) studio and production room in what was then Lowe's State Theater (4th floor) were both stand-up and it was frowned upon to bring in a chair or stool though, on weekends, you could count on the brass (Not the PD - the then eighty-year old GM) staying home, asleep in his soil-filled coffin.
The station for which I do occasional volunteer engineering has a stand-up main studio but with a very expensive roll-around chair (a new one about every six months). The room was designed by a former CE who stood nearly 7 feet tall, so the "desk" is inordinately high. He seems also have been the first in his family to have come down out of the trees with arms so long his knuckles dragged on the floor when he walked. Why else would anyone put the side-panels of the desk a good six feet apart, making it impossible to work without dashing from side-to-side? True, it's easier now that it's all computerized but, in the day of cart machines and turntables you ran a marathon every shift! I may get to rebuild that room before I'm so old I have to wear a bib to catch my drool....mayhap that thought is what's keeping me alive!
Skynet74 said:
I'd love for you to tell LB he looks like an idiot to his face!! But I'm sure those guys who've been doing mornings in market #10 will take your advice to heart. BTW, I've sat and stood...I prefer to stand.
mistermicrophone said:
Oh boy... here we go. I guess I'm not allowed to have an opinion around here without people taking it as a personal threat. I don't care WHO it is. My opinion is that ANYONE who stands for their whole air shift looks silly. MY opinion. Can you tell when listening to someone on the air whether or not they are sitting or standing? Guess what? Nobdy else can either. So sit down and relax. If you want to stand for four hours, more power to you. I was just wondering if there is any particular reason for it. Rush Limbaugh sits and so does Howard Stern. They are in Market # 1. So maybe your guys in market # 10 can learn something from them. Geeez
I've worked both ways. At PRO..(AM & FM)..you stood....rational was....you spoke from the diaphram (sp?) and it was better, clearer and more excitable when standing, rather than sitting where you might slutch. It was tough on the legs initially especially during a six hour shift, and after 2 weeks vacation you had to go thru the whole process all over again. In fact after standing for years I had bulging veins, which medically could present a problem if you walked into a metal waste basket and they were cut. Hence, I had to have the veins in my leg stripped to avoid that. (was out 2 weeks) However, once you get used to it....I would totally prefer to stand. And I NEVER thought I'd say that. The chair was only for WKRP.
even when I was on air, I sat down, now that I never ever ever open a mic, I still sit down
MissAM said:
That seems to be the concensus. I'm not buying it though. I don't think it makes a difference. Certainly not a big enough difference for the listener to hear.
Try this test. During your next 10 telephone conversations ask the person if they can tell if you are sitting or standing while you are speaking with them. Ask them if they can tell a difference in your voice? I'm betting that most of the time they will say that you sound no different. The other half of the time they will just be wrong..... BECAUSE THEY WILL BE GUESSING!
Bottom line: No one can tell.
That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.
I realize this debate could go on until I'm too old to stand, but aside from the breathing I do think a lot of it is psychological & although your voice may sound no different, your performance will be different. If you move your arms or hands around while speaking, your performance will be different. If you make exaggerated facial expressions, your performance will be different. If you have photos of your family in front of you while on the air, your performance may be different than what it would be if you had a picture of the 7 dwarves. There are any number of devices people use that do affect their performance.
Skynet74 said:
You're allowed to call someone an "idiot"...but get called out...you go on a tirade. Pot, kettle, black...
Interesting thread...
I had a PD a few years ago that stood, but it was because of chronic back injuries, which eventually led to him retiring via a medical disability from a non-radio job.
When hosting an outdoor event, I almost always stand...when on air, I always sit...when doing pro work, usually sitting.
I had a PD a few years ago that stood, but it was because of chronic back injuries, which eventually led to him retiring via a medical disability from a non-radio job.
When hosting an outdoor event, I almost always stand...when on air, I always sit...when doing pro work, usually sitting.
- Status