More of this Feature • Chapter 1 • Chapter 2 • Chapter 3 • Chapter 4 • Chapter 5 • Chapter 6 • Chapter 7 • Chapter 8 • Chapter 9 • Chapter 10 • Chapter 11 • Chapter 12 • Chapter 13 • Chapter 14

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Studio Characters

There is another type of listener who feels compelled to contribute to the show. For whatever reasons, these folks are not content with just calling you. Apparently, they are less shy - or have the time - to come and visit you. Assuming they are not stalkers, this can sometimes work to your advantage.

In my last job, we had a listener who was a car mechanic, named Jersey. One day he came by the studio to say “hello”. It turns out he had a great Radio laugh! A few weeks later, he stopped back in again and brought some donuts. He hung with us a little bit and his laugh was infectious - plus it made us sound even funnier. Well, over time, he became a character on the show. Listeners knew him and we enjoyed seeing him.

That's part of the kind of texture a great Radio show needs. (And, although it's off subject, let me just say that texture is exactly what you're looking for when building a Radio show. Texture is the amount of different sounding layers your show has: your voice, phone calls, recorded sound, new voices from real people coming by, live and in-studio interviews, RealAudio - streamed live or recorded - when appropriate. Radio is a medium of just sound and every type of different sound is helpful in keeping the listener's attention.)

So, as you can see: your listeners can be a rich source of showprep and ideas. Nurture this and remember to show them you appreciate their input. People like other real people and the right ones can make your job easier.

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