Tommy Kramer CCM Tip #2 - Trick or Treat

by Tommy Kramer, www.KramerMedia.net

Many Christian stations avoid talking about Halloween, thinking that it has pagan roots, and it's all about monsters and ghouls. Many scholars poo-poo this and insist that it has solely Christian roots. I'm not going to get into some historical or theological debate, but yes, you definitely should talk about Halloween. It's all around you, leading up to October 31st every year.

So here's a solution that won't have you arguing with your boss: if you have a problem with the word "Halloween", just refer to it as "Trick or Treat".

If you're looking for a "camera angle", here's one. To kids, it's just about getting candy. When I was a little kid, candy was our currency. Kids don't have any money, can't drive, can't reach the top shelf, and have no power. So candy was like gold coins were to Scrooge McDuck—the stuff we loved the most. Discussions abounded over which candy bar or confection was best, leading to strong arguments. For me, the Baby Ruth bar was king because of its perfect balance of peanuts, nougat, and the unique "compound chocolate", miles better than the flatulence-inducing milk chocolate that other kids liked.

Mounds. Not Almond Joy. (And decades later, why is there no Almond Mounds? They're missing a golden opportunity!)

My cousin Ricky was the only one I knew who loved the mayonnaise-colored Zero bar. White chocolate. Tasted like feet. (There was always one in the candy machine, though. Expiration date was November 3rd, 1954, but Ricky would eat it anyway.)

My wife is a Butterfinger freak. #2 on her list is the Reese's peanut butter cup. Tip: always better after being in the refrigerator for a few hours.

And there's the "fun-size" candy, like the tiny Three Musketeers (shouldn't that be a ONE Musketeer?), and the Hershey minis—little Mr. Goodbars and Crackles. Ate them by the ton.

Caramel apples, gummy bears, Heath bars…obviously designed by the American Dental Association.

And then there was that old guy at the end of the block who handed out little boxes of raisins. RAISINS....Sad grapes that just gave up.

Anyway, all of this—and more—can be a great way to talk about Trick or Treat on the air. Which candies you'll give out; which ones you won't. What the kids' costumes are this year (my next door neighbor's boy is wearing a suit and Donald Trump hair). SHARE. We (the listeners) DO want to know your thoughts.