• 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

Why won't people stick with your format?

J

Jets885sports

Guest
I host a ROCK show with stuff form the 70s, 80s, 90s, and today (I know, sounds like a bad active rock station liner) and some occasional nuts call in wanting to hear Billy Joel, Avril Lavigne, and Blondie, which is too soft for my show, some want to hear System of a Down, Disturbed, or Metallica, which is too hard for my show, and some dumb teenage girl calls in thinking we do R&B on our station seven days a week (but we only do it 9 hours on Sunday, plus there are some songs that crossover) and I get calls (on a ROCK show) for Nelly, Jay-Z, and what have you. It's not AC, Pop, R&B, Oldies, or anything else, it's ROCK! Why don't these people get it? I figure after a couple of songs they'd know what's up but NNNOOO! Any of you guys ever run into stuff like this?
 
> I host a ROCK show with stuff form the 70s, 80s, 90s, and
> today (I know, sounds like a bad active rock station liner)
> and some occasional nuts call in wanting to hear Billy Joel,
> Avril Lavigne, and Blondie, which is too soft for my show,
> some want to hear System of a Down, Disturbed, or Metallica,
> which is too hard for my show, and some dumb teenage girl
> calls in thinking we do R&B on our station seven days a week
> (but we only do it 9 hours on Sunday, plus there are some
> songs that crossover) and I get calls (on a ROCK show) for
> Nelly, Jay-Z, and what have you. It's not AC, Pop, R&B,
> Oldies, or anything else, it's ROCK! Why don't these people
> get it? I figure after a couple of songs they'd know what's
> up but NNNOOO! Any of you guys ever run into stuff like
> this?

A lot of people just call stations and make requests without even listening to the radio first, or without paying any attention to what's being played at the time.

How long have you been doing the show? If you only recently started, it may take a while to develop a regular listening audience for your format. Eventually, the amount of people who become familiar with what you play in your time slot and request music that fits your show will outweigh the clueless who just call and request anything anytime. But, you will always continue to get some of them!
 
> I host a ROCK show with stuff form the 70s, 80s, 90s, and
> today (I know, sounds like a bad active rock station liner)
> and some occasional nuts call in wanting to hear Billy Joel,
> Avril Lavigne, and Blondie, which is too soft for my show,
> some want to hear System of a Down, Disturbed, or Metallica,
> which is too hard for my show, and some dumb teenage girl
> calls in thinking we do R&B on our station seven days a week
> (but we only do it 9 hours on Sunday, plus there are some
> songs that crossover) and I get calls (on a ROCK show) for
> Nelly, Jay-Z, and what have you. It's not AC, Pop, R&B,
> Oldies, or anything else, it's ROCK! Why don't these people
> get it? I figure after a couple of songs they'd know what's
> up but NNNOOO! Any of you guys ever run into stuff like
> this?
>
I think it might have something to do with the fact that alot of people, especially those brought up on commercial radio, are not used to college stations that have more than one music format. So if they tuned in at some point and heard hip hop and r&b, they might assume that is what the station plays 24/7.

Many times when I explain to people that I do a show on a station that allows students and volunteers to play many different types of music, they are blown away by this concept. They have been raised to beleive that stations have one format. That when you tune to that station, you will always know what you are going to hear. And we all know with college radio that's just not true.

BTW, which station is your show on? And how diverse is the station's format?
 
> BTW, which station is your show on? And how diverse is the
> station's format?
>

WVCP 88.5 FM Gallatin/Nashville, TN
Volunteer State Community College

note: during basketball season, home doubleheaders (women before men) are played during the week and broadcast on
Monday-Friday at 6pm CT
Saturday/Sunday at 2 pm CT
baseball season is a little different [I know this because I have done play-by-play and color analysis for both sports]

Monday - Friday
6 to 9 am (Oldies)
9 - 9:30 am (Public Affairs)
note: syndicated from WAMC Albany, NY
9:30 am - Noon (AC)
Noon (News-Fall/Spring Semesters Only)
note: 12 min. if solo, 20 min. if duo
After News - 3 pm (AC-Voice Track)
3 - 6 pm (Rock)
6 - 9 pm (Rock/Metal)
note: Hard Rock gets added in by software at 8
9 - Midnight (Metal)

Overnights (Monday - Sunday)
Midnight - 6 am (either AC or Rock)

Saturday
6 - 8 am (AC)
8 - 10 am (Bluegrass)
10 am - 2 pm (Anything goes depending on who's there)
2 - 6 pm (Christian Rock/R&B)
6 - 9 pm (Rock/Metal-Same as M-F)
9 - Midnight (Metal-Same as M-F)

Sunday
6 - 9 am (Christian AC)
9 - 9:30 am (On Track)
note: syndicated show from FamilyNet Radio
9:30 am - Noon (Christian AC)
Noon - 3 pm (Christian Metal)
3 pm - Midnight (R&B)
 
I DJ at an alternative rock formatted college station. Alt. rock 7 days a week and we still get crazy calls for stuff outside the format.

Good point that LOTS of people call who aren't even listening. I love the occasions when people will call to request a song that I'm actually playing at that time. Or the people who try and make multiple requests or the people who keep calling up and give different names. Sometimes its just better to put the phone on "busy all" for a little while. <P ID="signature">______________
Ben Toplek
DJ/Program Consultant WBWC/The Sting</P>
 
We have a weirdo who lives just north of Boston who constantly calls many Boston area stations repeatedly all day requesting Jethro Tull, no matter what kind of show is on. He speaks in a weird squeaky high-pitched voice, but it's not a woman or little kid. We call him the "Jethro Tull guy".

I don't know if he calls the commercial stations, but I've been involved with (or know people at) most of the Boston area non-comm and college stations, and he calls them all. He's been doing this most every day for at least few years now.

I used to do a 60's/70's album rock show on the MIT college station, and I used to play Jethro Tull sometimes, but I stopped playing them for him when he called. It got so that I just hung up whenever I heard his voice, as with any crank caller. He crossed the line from someone just frequently requesting his favorite artist to phone harrassment of DJ's and staff at a number of stations.


> I DJ at an alternative rock formatted college station. Alt.
> rock 7 days a week and we still get crazy calls for stuff
> outside the format.
>
> Good point that LOTS of people call who aren't even
> listening. I love the occasions when people will call to
> request a song that I'm actually playing at that time. Or
> the people who try and make multiple requests or the people
> who keep calling up and give different names. Sometimes its
> just better to put the phone on "busy all" for a little
> while.
 
Weirdo Callers

Yup, I think basically any station out there has the regular wierdo(s) who call up day in and day out. We've got two of them we call the giveaway guys. They like to call up and ask if they were our winner....even though we hadn't done a giveaway. Then they ask when the next time is we are giving something away. I've often wondered how frequently the commercial stations get these types of calls. During one of my internship experiences the sports director at the news station in town would recieve regular calls from a listener while he was off the air. While the director was very polite it was clear that the caller was very lonely and the director was very annoyed.

The one positive thing is though that I have encountered far more really cool people calling up and praising the job that we do or who call up and make intelligent requests/remarks about the music. They far out number the wierdos and truly do make the DJing experience worthwhile.

> We have a weirdo who lives just north of Boston who
> constantly calls many Boston area stations repeatedly all
> day requesting Jethro Tull, no matter what kind of show is
> on. He speaks in a weird squeaky high-pitched voice, but
> it's not a woman or little kid. We call him the "Jethro Tull
> guy".
>
> I don't know if he calls the commercial stations, but I've
> been involved with (or know people at) most of the Boston
> area non-comm and college stations, and he calls them all.
> He's been doing this most every day for at least few years
> now.
>
> I used to do a 60's/70's album rock show on the MIT college
> station, and I used to play Jethro Tull sometimes, but I
> stopped playing them for him when he called. It got so that
> I just hung up whenever I heard his voice, as with any crank
> caller. He crossed the line from someone just frequently
> requesting his favorite artist to phone harrassment of DJ's
> and staff at a number of stations.
>
> <P ID="signature">______________
Ben Toplek
DJ/Program Consultant WBWC/The Sting</P>
 
> I host a ROCK show with stuff form the 70s, 80s, 90s, and
> today (I know, sounds like a bad active rock station liner)
> and some occasional nuts call in wanting to hear Billy Joel,
> Avril Lavigne, and Blondie, which is too soft for my show,
> some want to hear System of a Down, Disturbed, or Metallica,
> which is too hard for my show, and some dumb teenage girl
> calls in thinking we do R&B on our station seven days a week
> (but we only do it 9 hours on Sunday, plus there are some
> songs that crossover) and I get calls (on a ROCK show) for
> Nelly, Jay-Z, and what have you. It's not AC, Pop, R&B,
> Oldies, or anything else, it's ROCK! Why don't these people
> get it? I figure after a couple of songs they'd know what's
> up but NNNOOO! Any of you guys ever run into stuff like
> this?
>
Unfortunitly you will not be able to avoid this problem. Most commercial stations have one format. In college radio (Unless NPR)we have multi format structures. The average listener expects to turn on the radio and hear the same music or one programm structure all the time. They don't understand how it works on the inside. They just turn the radio on and out pop's music. My suggestion would be to cross promote like hell. Also make sure that your show times are consistant during the week. If a listener calls, that is a good thing! That means they enjoy the station as a whole. Don't get upset over it. This is your chance to promote the station and promote your show. You never know if they might like what you play as well. Every Jock should know what programs the station does. It is good PR for everyone. I hope this helps.
 
Re: Weirdo Callers

People will also call the wrong station. This is especially an issue where:
1, Two stations with similar formats are near each other on the dial.
2, One station has translaters all across the dial.
3, Pirates like to rebroadcast your station.
4, The listener exists in that limbo area between two stations on the same frequency.
5, The CATV or SMATV company relocates your station or someone else's station across their cable FM dial or on a scrolling data channel or on someone's SAP channel.
6, Some NYC stations share the same frequency but at different times.
7, Sunspots or cold weather is causing your station or another station to be received waaay outside the normal service area (yes, even low power stations).
8, Your station name, frequency, or something reminds the listener of a station from whence they came.<P ID="signature">______________
Proud 2 B a pioneering satellite radio subs¢riber
Ai4i is always on the trailing edge of technology
______________</P>
 
>Most of the repiles, summed it up best, but as a fan of
broadcasting, *Currently * not working any where..
I will say, i call WBNY alot - just to say "hey, station
sounds awesome" ( and use that to see who is on) at the
time i chime in. As stated earlier, most people, wont listen
or even know what you are playing, esp. on the "true" college airwaves,
and..the one thing: i dont think was said, on the other
replies, most of the time, the college station will pick
up the phone, as if you are calling some one at home - versus
a commercial radio station(say a "kiss-fm" .. ..ring,ring,ring...)
Use this to your advantage: Ask them, if they want to be on the aire..
and, mix it into your show (ring,ring.. "kiss-fm" is still not
picking up)..Using a Pre-Recorded caller on your show will
keep you sharp at your prod.skills, and tune them into the dial..
how you use it will also show your "on-aire" ability, to
take a non-request and work it into the show..most likely
setting it up as what is the ONE THING YOU DONT WANT TO HEAR ????
[caller]: "kelly clarkson's american idol song that made her a star"
[talent]: "Done and Done..would u mind, if i played [xxxxxxxx]...hmm ?"
[caller]: "Oh my gosh, that would be awesome"
hit a quick id...and nail the post !!!

oh, lets go back to the phones..(ring,ring...all circuits are busy...)

<>
The things that were stated..are always "bad" at college stations..
-diff. times for shows, weekly. THere are a few juniors/seniors,
that will have 'set' times...at least for the semester, if not,
the year, but it is TERRIBLE when "your friend" or a show you
enjoy, is on fri @ 3pm this week, and then next sat at 2pm..etc,etc.
Not when they fill in..a tues 10am show, but when this happens
alot..either the talent isnt dedicated/cant be serious enough
(due to school or work)..or, the GM doesn't run a tight ship..

Either way, it is frustrating, hearing some thing *AWESOME*
thursday.11am - then next week, hearing the opposite end
of the spectrum (say..classical,or talk) when you are
expecting a fave. genre of music during that time.

*Understandable* iF it is different times, each semester.
There are most certainly changes to be made, for seniority
or new talent to be welcomed in/graduating talent leaving...
And, of course, availability of the students...but that
is ACCEPTABLE for each semester, not "every soo often"
(that is frustrating)....

(ring, ring...wow, they *NEVER* Pick up )....
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom