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What are the Keys:

The Keys to a great Aircheck.

Ive never made one before and Im looking for some good ideas on what to put in and what not to put in.. Im going for large market and I would like some professional advice.

Thanks

Sway
 
> The Keys to a great Aircheck.
>
> Ive never made one before and Im looking for some good
> ideas on what to put in and what not to put in.. Im going
> for large market and I would like some professional advice.
>
> Thanks
>
> Sway
>

What are you talking about? What do you mean by the "keys"? I don't think it's KEYW 98.3 The Key is it lol? If you are in the St. Louis area, why don't you tape some Y-98 for me since it's obvious that that station is NEVER going to stream online?
 
Yo Icy,
call the station...maybe they will make the aircheck
for you. Leave everyone else alone.

Airchecks (back to the original question) differ with
each PD. Key points would include doing bits that show how
you do the weather, take and use phone calls on air, etc.
Keep it short -- around 5 minutes.

Good Luck.
 
YES - no longer than 5 minutes. Who has time to listen longer than that??? And DON'T do digital magic and edit. A good PD can smell it a mile away. Be real, run a tight board, and showcase what you can do...interact with callers, run a contest, put the station liners into "human" speak. But for the most part, be real. Put Google to gooduse and check out some of the airchecks of big market talent to see how they do it. Nothing fancy in most caes...

Good luck!
 
> > The Keys to a great Aircheck.
> >
> > Ive never made one before and Im looking for some good
> > ideas on what to put in and what not to put in.. Im going
> > for large market and I would like some professional
> advice.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Sway
> >
>
> What are you talking about? What do you mean by the "keys"?
> I don't think it's KEYW 98.3 The Key is it lol? If you are
> in the St. Louis area, why don't you tape some Y-98 for me
> since it's obvious that that station is NEVER going to
> stream online?
>
What the hell are you talking about?!
Does anybody here know what this guy is talking about?
 
> YES - no longer than 5 minutes. Who has time to listen
> longer than that??? And DON'T do digital magic and edit. A
> good PD can smell it a mile away. Be real, run a tight
> board, and showcase what you can do...interact with callers,
> run a contest, put the station liners into "human" speak.
> But for the most part, be real. Put Google to gooduse and
> check out some of the airchecks of big market talent to see
> how they do it. Nothing fancy in most caes...
>
> Good luck!
>
No more than 3:30. Not one PD in major markets will listen longer. Lead strong, the first two breaks are crucial. Never include more than a :55 second bit. Do not include segues or jingles. Do include local content. Put the liners/promos in your own words, do not just read them. As far as editing goes, your prospective employer wants to hear YOU. So, what I have done is edit from where I start talking to end of my break, the last word I say is where I edit direct back into the first word of my next break etc. Be sure you put contact info directly on the CD, and cassette you send in your package. Hope this helps. Good luck.
 
> No more than 3:30. Not one PD in major markets will listen
> longer. Lead strong, the first two breaks are crucial. Never
> include more than a :55 second bit. Do not include segues or
> jingles. Do include local content. Put the liners/promos in
> your own words, do not just read them. As far as editing
> goes, your prospective employer wants to hear YOU. So, what
> I have done is edit from where I start talking to end of my
> break, the last word I say is where I edit direct back into
> the first word of my next break etc. Be sure you put contact
> info directly on the CD, and cassette you send in your
> package. Hope this helps. Good luck.


I always do one minute...OR...A completely un-scoped aircheck. Both seem very effective. If the PD doesn't hear anything he likes in 1 minute, he's not going to like you. On the other hand, with a true, un-cut tape, he can hear mistakes and how you recover and he doesn't have to guess at how you actually sound. He will know, without a doubt that he's hearing the real you.

If you choose to send it un-scoped, I suggest you take the tape straight from the skimmer and drop in in an envelope...Write the date on the tape.

If you go for a more traditional "demo", Your first break should be strong, but not a bit. Your first and last breaks should include your name. Your tape should include at least one phoner. Don't worry about weather, unless it's a big part of the station's programming.

Here's how my short demo is laid out:

1. Strong basic break - Include the full station slug, your name, front-sell a song or two and get out of the break and into a song clean. Short and sweet.

2. Short phoner - Something that will generate more calls. Make the PD want to call your request line.

3. Simple basic break - In and out...You would be surprised at how few jocks actually do this well.

4. Promote something - Deliver a complete message, while using as few words, and as little time as possible.

5. Bit - If you have a GOOD bit, include it here...If not, skip it. Don't waste time trying to sound funny if you're not.

6. Show close - Should include your name, promote the next jock, and give a tease for an upcomming contest or popular new song.

There you have it! You've just put a complete airshift in less than 2 minutes. This is assuming that you're going for a job at a music intensive station. Remember, people listen for the music...Your job is to enhance the music, not upstage it.
 
Aircheck keys

If you're talking about assembling an Aircheck to go after a job, here are a few things you may find helpful:

*** make it your BEST material. Don't believe those who say it's gotta be
representative of consecutive breaks from one show- for the few PDs who
really want that, they'll ask for it. Your aircheck should be a Greatest
Hits collection of YOU as a personality.

*** put your hottest, best break first. All this "I want to build up to the
drama of the best break last" doesn't work. If they don't like the first
few breaks, they'll never make it to the end. Hit 'em right up front.

*** make sure you have a little of everything, including listener/phoner
interaction. Include a break with you plugging a station contest, something
topical/local, etc.

*** VERY LITTLE of you talking dry w/no music under you. Include breaks of
you keeping your station hot and moving (vs. with your foot on the brake).

*** make sure all breaks are focused on THE STATION sounding great, not you
talking about yourself.

*** no more than 2-2:30 long...make an MP3 and put it on CD, then send both.
Cassettes are not preferred anymore (though if you don't have a choice,
it's better than nothing).

Hope this is what you're looking for--lotsa luck.

> The Keys to a great Aircheck.
>
> Ive never made one before and Im looking for some good
> ideas on what to put in and what not to put in.. Im going
> for large market and I would like some professional advice.
>
> Thanks
>
> Sway
>
 
Re: Aircheck keys

...make an MP3 and put it on CD,
> then send both.
> Cassettes are not preferred anymore (though if you don't
> have a choice,
> it's better than nothing).


Make sure you ask BEFORE you send an mp3. NEVER, NEVER send an unsolicited mp3. Better yet, host it on your own webserver and send them a link. Then it doesn't overload the PD's inbox.
 
not really

I get Resume/MP3 packages every day and it is no problem whatsoever.

If your MP3 is only 2-3 minutes long, it is perfectly OK to include it with your Resume. If their servers can't handle an under 3 minute MP3 you probably don't want to work there.


> Make sure you ask BEFORE you send an mp3. NEVER, NEVER send
> an unsolicited mp3. Better yet, host it on your own
> webserver and send them a link. Then it doesn't overload
> the PD's inbox.
>
> ...make an MP3 and put it on CD, then send both.
> Cassettes are not preferred anymore (though if you
> don't have a choice,it's better than nothing).
>
>
 
Re: not really

If their servers get loaded with two-dozen mp3s, you're talking about 80-90 megs. Of course, if you're following an ad that says to send your package to an e-mail address, than it's fine. PD's generally listen while doing something else. An mp3 is less fluid than a CD. It's much easier to open a padded envelope and drop a CD in your car CD player than it is to download an mp3 and burn it to a CD or load it onto your Rio player.

Fantastic for you that you accept e-mail packages...Not all PDs think like you. Which is exactly the reason you should ask before sending (unless you've been asked for it.) What does it hurt to send an e-mail saying "Would it be alright if I sent my package via e-mail?"

> I get Resume/MP3 packages every day and it is no problem
> whatsoever.
>
> If your MP3 is only 2-3 minutes long, it is perfectly OK to
> include it with your Resume. If their servers can't handle
> an under 3 minute MP3 you probably don't want to work there.
>
>
>
> > Make sure you ask BEFORE you send an mp3. NEVER, NEVER
> send
> > an unsolicited mp3. Better yet, host it on your own
> > webserver and send them a link. Then it doesn't overload
> > the PD's inbox.
> >
> > ...make an MP3 and put it on CD, then send both.
> > Cassettes are not preferred anymore (though if you
> > don't have a choice,it's better than nothing).
> >
> >
>
 
airchex

Heck, if the send it via carrier pidgeon I'll check it out. You NEVER know what you might discover.

I'm also probably really wierd in that anybody applying to work at my stations who call me I talk to them. And, if they're not going to make the cut, I'll tell 'em up front and be honest way- not in a critical spirit but just being frank and at the same time give them something they can maybe use to improve and try to get better. It's just the right way to do things if we ever hope to continue grooming future talent and it only takes a few minutes.
>
> Fantastic for you that you accept e-mail packages...Not all
> PDs think like you. Which is exactly the reason you should
> ask before sending (unless you've been asked for it.) What
> does it hurt to send an e-mail saying "Would it be alright
> if I sent my package via e-mail?"
>
> > I get Resume/MP3 packages every day and it is no problem
> > whatsoever.
> >
> > If your MP3 is only 2-3 minutes long, it is perfectly OK
> to
> > include it with your Resume. If their servers can't
> handle
> > an under 3 minute MP3 you probably don't want to work
> there.
> >
> >
> >
> > > Make sure you ask BEFORE you send an mp3. NEVER, NEVER
> > send
> > > an unsolicited mp3. Better yet, host it on your own
> > > webserver and send them a link. Then it doesn't
> overload
> > > the PD's inbox.
> > >
> > > ...make an MP3 and put it on CD, then send both.
> > > Cassettes are not preferred anymore (though if you
> > > don't have a choice,it's better than nothing).
> > >
> > >
> >
>
 
Re: airchex

That IS the right way to do it. I wish more PDs would think that way. Every job I've ever applied for, I've said something like "If I'm not right for the job, please take a minute to critique me and give me some advice for next time." In eight years, not a single person has done it.

> Heck, if the send it via carrier pidgeon I'll check it out.
> You NEVER know what you might discover.
>
> I'm also probably really wierd in that anybody applying to
> work at my stations who call me I talk to them. And, if
> they're not going to make the cut, I'll tell 'em up front
> and be honest way- not in a critical spirit but just being
> frank and at the same time give them something they can
> maybe use to improve and try to get better. It's just the
> right way to do things if we ever hope to continue grooming
> future talent and it only takes a few minutes.
> >
> > Fantastic for you that you accept e-mail packages...Not
> all
> > PDs think like you. Which is exactly the reason you
> should
> > ask before sending (unless you've been asked for it.)
> What
> > does it hurt to send an e-mail saying "Would it be alright
>
> > if I sent my package via e-mail?"
> >
> > > I get Resume/MP3 packages every day and it is no problem
>
> > > whatsoever.
> > >
> > > If your MP3 is only 2-3 minutes long, it is perfectly OK
>
> > to
> > > include it with your Resume. If their servers can't
> > handle
> > > an under 3 minute MP3 you probably don't want to work
> > there.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > Make sure you ask BEFORE you send an mp3. NEVER,
> NEVER
> > > send
> > > > an unsolicited mp3. Better yet, host it on your own
> > > > webserver and send them a link. Then it doesn't
> > overload
> > > > the PD's inbox.
> > > >
> > > > ...make an MP3 and put it on CD, then send both.
> > > > Cassettes are not preferred anymore (though if you
> > > > don't have a choice,it's better than nothing).
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
 
Need more proof why "The Lou" is the meth capitol of the US? Smoke up, Johnny!

> > The Keys to a great Aircheck.
> >
> > Ive never made one before and Im looking for some good
> > ideas on what to put in and what not to put in.. Im going
> > for large market and I would like some professional
> advice.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Sway
> >
>
> What are you talking about? What do you mean by the "keys"?
> I don't think it's KEYW 98.3 The Key is it lol? If you are
> in the St. Louis area, why don't you tape some Y-98 for me
> since it's obvious that that station is NEVER going to
> stream online?
>
 
> Need more proof why "The Lou" is the meth capitol of the US?
> Smoke up, Johnny!
>

Actually, I would take what you just said one step further and I would add that virtually all of Missouri is "the meth capital of the US"!! I read somewhere recently that Missouri leads the nation in.....get this....."meth mouth" cases. (I am not making this up!) Now, "meth mouth", for those of you out there who don't know, is a physical/dental condition where a serious/big-time meth user develops a persistant case of exceedingly dry mouth and gums, which over time leads to tooth decay and eventually tooth loss. Now, I have to say, I have been through Missouri many times in my life, and come to think of it, I have seen many, many, many people of various ages, skin colors, and from all walks of life with one or more (usual more) missing/discolored teeth. Yes, my friend, I would have to say that the state of Missouri has a serious meth crisis on its hands! Yes, indeed!


> > > The Keys to a great Aircheck.
> > >
> > > Ive never made one before and Im looking for some good
> > > ideas on what to put in and what not to put in.. Im
> going
> > > for large market and I would like some professional
> > advice.
> > >
> > > Thanks
> > >
> > > Sway
> > >
> >
> > What are you talking about? What do you mean by the
> "keys"?
> > I don't think it's KEYW 98.3 The Key is it lol? If you are
>
> > in the St. Louis area, why don't you tape some Y-98 for me
>
> > since it's obvious that that station is NEVER going to
> > stream online?
> >
>
 
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