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How To Prevent Listeners From Zoning Out
May 5, 2023
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. Topics: radio show, radio personality, radio host, radio, on-air
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Most on-air personalities use a solid bring-in line (aka hook) to grab a listener’s attention. But then thoughts and distractions can quickly make listeners zone out. It’s probably a good idea to do everything in your power to retain their attention. One way to keep them engaged is with descriptive scenes in your storytelling. Here’s an example from someone I coach:
“When you see someone that you love experience joy, you can’t help but be happy for them. Those were the feelings I was experiencing yesterday when my wife and I took our one-year-old to the Children’s Museum. He was super hyper exploring the exhibits and crawling around to the different displays because there were so many cool things for him to look at and do. As a dad, I could see the joy in his eyes; it kind of made me well up a little bit. It’s almost like I was experiencing childhood again through him.”
This was my reaction to that on-air break: “The extra care you’ve put into descriptive scenes retain the listener’s attention.” Also, I always encourage them with, “I saw what you said!”
HERES THE TAKEAWAY
One way to help activate a visual memory is to ask listeners to picture something from their past. This makes you their personal locksmith helping them to unlock colorful and meaningful memories from years ago. Just think of it as helping them access their right-brained imagination, which inserts them emotionally into your story.
Adding descriptive scenes to your storytelling is just another tool for your on-air tool belt.
After spending 25+ years working at some really great radio stations, Todd launched a coaching and consulting business, Beyond615.com, on March 15, 2021. There he strives to help others build confidence so that they can connect on a deeper level. He also serves as the Contemporary Christian Format Editor at AllAccess.com. He and his family live in the (615) area code, aka the heart of the CCM industry.
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