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THOSE LOVELY 10 SECOND TRAFFIC SPOTS

A

abcdj

Guest
Why is it that almost every time we hear one of those lovely 10 second live read spots from the traffic services, they are blundered, stumbled, or messed up in some way?

Doesn't anyone PROOF the copy before they read it on the air??! Every time I hear one it sounds like they were handed the copy one second before airtime. Come on guys, a little professionalism...

Rant over.
 
> Why is it that almost every time we hear one of those lovely
> 10 second live read spots from the traffic services, they
> are blundered, stumbled, or messed up in some way?
>
> Doesn't anyone PROOF the copy before they read it on the
> air??! Every time I hear one it sounds like they were
> handed the copy one second before airtime. Come on guys, a
> little professionalism...
>
> Rant over.
>
Man...I was gonna bring this up yesterday...every single one on KRLD got killed yesterday. Just bad! At least they stopped saying "right here, right now" going back into the shows after the news.<P ID="signature">______________
WG</P>
 
> > Why is it that almost every time we hear one of those
> lovely
> > 10 second live read spots from the traffic services, they
> > are blundered, stumbled, or messed up in some way?
> >
> > Doesn't anyone PROOF the copy before they read it on the
> > air??! Every time I hear one it sounds like they were
> > handed the copy one second before airtime. Come on guys,
> a
> > little professionalism...
> >
> > Rant over.
> >
> Man...I was gonna bring this up yesterday...every single one
> on KRLD got killed yesterday. Just bad! At least they
> stopped saying "right here, right now" going back into the
> shows after the news.
>
Actually when Kym West does the traffic,she actually puts some personality into reading the spots. So she is an exception to the "gripe".
 
> > > Why is it that almost every time we hear one of those
> > lovely
> > > 10 second live read spots from the traffic services,
> they
> > > are blundered, stumbled, or messed up in some way?
> > >
> > > Doesn't anyone PROOF the copy before they read it on the
>
> > > air??! Every time I hear one it sounds like they were
> > > handed the copy one second before airtime. Come on
> guys,
> > a
> > > little professionalism...
> > >
> > > Rant over.
> > >
> > Man...I was gonna bring this up yesterday...every single
> one
> > on KRLD got killed yesterday. Just bad! At least they
> > stopped saying "right here, right now" going back into the
>
> > shows after the news.
> >
> Actually when Kym West does the traffic,she actually puts
> some personality into reading the spots. So she is an
> exception to the "gripe".
>

Back in the day when Ed Little Jr. owned Traffic Patrol Broadcasting, our :10's were all pre-recorded, no dry reads for the spot, usually fired off from the producer position at the studio! When I worked for Shadow, that was the first time I was exposed to reading the spots live. It can be a challenge, but I agree with the post, that you have to READ your copy before you go on the air, this is not brain surgery (or ROCKET SCIENTIST <For Shadow Exes>) it just takes time.

I would equate that to those who read the traffic reports at KEOM, but lets face it, those are students learning this business, that might be cruel, but its the same for them.... read it and get comfortable with it before you say it on the air!

Its JUST A THOUGHT!
<P ID="signature">______________
Dave Michaels
Davradio Productions
Dallas, Texas</P>
 
Inevitable Mistakes

Dave, I personally appreciate what you have said.

While I agree the students should proof the material before they go live, and I am certain they do, the potential for an occasional blurb is somewhat higher when you consider how many students are in the classroom each school year. Generally the number of student DJ’s in the program ranges anywhere from 30 to 60 in any given year. So an occasional mistake here and there is highly likely. Now if there happens to be a student who makes mistakes all the time, I would expect his / her instructor would work with the student to correct the problem. This is one of the reasons KEOM is so unique, and listeners have said time and time again that they enjoy hearing the occasional goof.

Remember though, we’re all human and we all screw up on the air from time to time, no matter how well prepared we may be. I still screw up traffic / weather reports on occasion, even though I proofed the material before going live. Heck, try announcing a bunch of names on the air during cheerleader tryouts (coming up in March). Since the results of those tryouts are released at night, guess who gets to read all those names on the air? Yes, I go over the names with the sponsors to check pronunciations and I probably proof each list 20 to 40 times before going live with it. But when you have a combined list of 100 something names that have to be announced in a three hour window, all I can say is (bleep) sometimes happens, causing me to stumble...

R

> I would equate that to those who read the traffic reports at
> KEOM, but lets face it, those are students learning this
> business, that might be cruel, but its the same for them....
> read it and get comfortable with it before you say it on the
> air!
 
Re: Inevitable Mistakes

There is no such thing as an inevitable mistake, only an unprepared performer.
 
Re: Inevitable Mistakes

I don't agree.....In sports, there are tons of prepared teams that take the field, only to lose, good and bad teams. There are performers who have good nights and bad nights, prepared or not. I am not saying that a person shouldn't prepare, but I am saying that people are human, and even the best stumble and mispronounce things. That doesn't mean that we should tolerate continued and repeated mistakes, but an occasional screw up is just that....occasional.


There is no such thing as an inevitable mistake, only an
> unprepared performer.
>
 
> Why is it that almost every time we hear one of those lovely
> 10 second live read spots from the traffic services, they
> are blundered, stumbled, or messed up in some way?
>
> Doesn't anyone PROOF the copy before they read it on the
> air??! Every time I hear one it sounds like they were
> handed the copy one second before airtime. Come on guys, a
> little professionalism...

How 'bout someone records all of them into :10 carts and runs them adjacent to live reports?
 
Re: Inevitable Mistakes

> I don't agree.....In sports, there are tons of prepared
> teams that take the field, only to lose, good and bad teams.
> There are performers who have good nights and bad nights,
> prepared or not. I am not saying that a person shouldn't
> prepare, but I am saying that people are human, and even the
> best stumble and mispronounce things. That doesn't mean that
> we should tolerate continued and repeated mistakes, but an
> occasional screw up is just that....occasional.
>
>
> There is no such thing as an inevitable mistake, only an
> > unprepared performer.
> >
>


I think your on to something. When i'm on the air i have my headphones on a full two minutes before i talk. Going over in my head what i have prepared on my written notes. There are day's i'm just plain brain dead tired. You know those days, timing off, you're thoughts ahead of your tongue. It happens. Then there are times i'm "clicking" on all cylinders. Sometimes i just sail through adlibbing everything. Then there are times i just get lazy and not check all my facts and guess at something, that's when the listener knocks your dick in the dirt. It makes a definate impression and makes you work harder the next time.
<P ID="signature">______________
Lead, follow or get out of the way...

And remember, the early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

</P>
 
> > Why is it that almost every time we hear one of those
> lovely
> > 10 second live read spots from the traffic services, they
> > are blundered, stumbled, or messed up in some way?
> >
> > Doesn't anyone PROOF the copy before they read it on the
> > air??! Every time I hear one it sounds like they were
> > handed the copy one second before airtime. Come on guys,
> a
> > little professionalism...
>
> How 'bout someone records all of them into :10 carts and
> runs them adjacent to live reports?


Foxworthy could start a new series: "You may be a red neck traffic reporter if you report more locations of road kill than traffic snarls."
>
 
Re: Inevitable Mistakes

> There is no such thing as an inevitable mistake, only an
> unprepared performer.
>

If you want a flawless delivery, bring in the Audio Vault. Or Joseph Mengele. As a matter of fact, the occasional goof is what separates what's left of regular radio and XM or Sirius. Listeners don't grasp the difference on a conscious level, but they <u>do</u> perceive a difference. Why do you think shows like ER or Will and Grace going live draw big numbers? Do you think the viewers respond to a perfect delivery of the lines or the occasional flub?
 
Re: Inevitable Mistakes

> > There is no such thing as an inevitable mistake, only an
> > unprepared performer.
> >
>
> If you want a flawless delivery, bring in the Audio Vault.
> Or Joseph Mengele. As a matter of fact, the occasional goof
> is what separates what's left of regular radio and XM or
> Sirius. Listeners don't grasp the difference on a conscious
> level, but they do perceive a difference. Why do you think
> shows like ER or Will and Grace going live draw big numbers?
> Do you think the viewers respond to a perfect delivery of
> the lines or the occasional flub?


I think what ABCDJ is trying to convey is...there's a difference in an occasional "flub" as opposed to stumbling, confused delivery, due to the lack of prepardness. JMHO
>
<P ID="signature">______________
Lead, follow or get out of the way...

And remember, the early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

</P>
 
Re: Inevitable Mistakes

My point on "inevitable mistakes" is that if you ASSUME an occasional error is ACCEPTABLE, you will more than likely GUARANTEE that you WILL make errors.

No one is perfect, and the human element will from time to time let you down, but if you PLAN to be perfect, more times than not, you WILL be! Proof-reading your copy is a PLAN to be perfect. If something throws you and an error occurs, well that's live radio, but grabbing a piece of copy one second before airtime and trying to wing it live on the air...that is NOT acceptable, and anyone who has heard these 10 second live reads on the air in Dallas has heard that over and over again.
 
Re: Inevitable Mistakes

> My point on "inevitable mistakes" is that if you ASSUME an
> occasional error is ACCEPTABLE, you will more than likely
> GUARANTEE that you WILL make errors.

True, but I was never trying to imply errors should be “accepted”. I simply said unfortunately they will more likely happen at a station with numerous student DJ’s. I was basically responding to what Dave had said about the students at KEOM.

> No one is perfect, and the human element will from time to
> time let you down, but if you PLAN to be perfect, more times
> than not, you WILL be! Proof-reading your copy is a PLAN to
> be perfect. If something throws you and an error occurs,
> well that's live radio, but grabbing a piece of copy one
> second before airtime and trying to wing it live on the
> air...that is NOT acceptable...

Agreed

R
 
Re: Inevitable Mistakes

> > I don't agree.....In sports, there are tons of prepared
> > teams that take the field, only to lose, good and bad
> teams.
> > There are performers who have good nights and bad nights,
> > prepared or not. I am not saying that a person shouldn't
> > prepare, but I am saying that people are human, and even
> the
> > best stumble and mispronounce things. That doesn't mean
> that
> > we should tolerate continued and repeated mistakes, but an
>
> > occasional screw up is just that....occasional.
> >
> >
> > There is no such thing as an inevitable mistake, only an
> > > unprepared performer.
> > >
> >
>
>

First to Robert Bass and every Student DJ on the air at KEOM... PLEASE DO NOT THINK FOR ONE INSTANT I would place blame or fault with a student learning this biz... they have enough on their plate when they walk into that controll room and have to turn that mic on and expound words on the population.. but when you are a "Veteran" of this biz... and are doing traffic reports and having to read the :10 second spot at the end that you have probably read just moments before on another station-- there is no excuse for stumbling through consistantly... When Metro Traffic and Traffic Patrol were flying in town... METRO READ their spots where Traffic Patrol had them pre-recorded... I had a friend who said that when you are flying in a helicopter... the wind is blowing sometimes and papers are flying around-- and occassionally you lost your copy--but because they had read it so many times before-- it usually is memorized-- and if not totally enough to get them by for ten seconds...

KEOM I applaude what you do there--- and truly I wish I could help out in anyway-- have always liked what I have heard-- but I was just trying to make a comparison to a Veteran who SHOULD know better to a student is LOOKING TO TAKE THEIR JOB if they aren't careful!!LOL~

Just a thought!
<P ID="signature">______________
Dave Michaels
Davradio Productions
Dallas, Texas</P>
 
Re: Inevitable Mistakes

Live copy papers flying around...one word: B I N D E R

Once again, PREPARATION.

These are all examples of how some (not all) who do this seem to go through their job like "whatever" and do the minimum. Interestingly, we also probably see them B&M about not being able to get a PD to call them back, never get their tape listened to, and can't seem to land that perfect high paying gig.

The whole point of all of this discussion is TAKE CONTROL, BE PREPARED, DON'T LET "STUFF" HAPPEN - MAKE IT HAPPEN, be a PRO and more times than not you will be treated that way.
 
Re: Inevitable Mistakes

> Live copy papers flying around...one word: B I N D E R
>
> Once again, PREPARATION.

You sound like an obsessed perfectionist.
 
Re: Inevitable Mistakes

> Live copy papers flying around...one word: B I N D E R
>
> Once again, PREPARATION.

> The whole point of all of this discussion is TAKE CONTROL,
> BE PREPARED, DON'T LET "STUFF" HAPPEN


Well, you sound as if you're perfect and never make
mistakes. Must be nice being a robot....

Don't knock airborne traffic reporting unless you
have actually done it, and have the experience to
back it up. Try "preparing" when you have ATC, your
radio station, and your producer on the two-way radio
blaring in your ear when you're in the middle of a
report, and trying to concentrate on giving details of
a collision or fire to the listener. It ain't easy my
friend. A lot of it has to do with the morons at the
agencies that write the commercials. They don't write for
radio (experienced folks that do this thing will know what
I mean). A spot that is supposed to be a :10 turns into
almost a :30 because the advertiser wants to get all
the details in about their business. They don't understand
you can't go into a life story about your business with a :10.
With a ten it's basically "Go see Joe's Tire Service on
I-35 at Royal. Call 972-XXX-XXXX." That's all. That's it.
Nothing more. But they don't understand that. Then....they
want you to pronounce some stupid new dish they have at
their restaurant, but don't give you a pronounce guide.
It's pathetic. Then they tell you don't change any details
of the copy to make it shorter to fit your time slot.
Stumbling is inevitable.

Thing is, my dear colleague, perfection is in the eye of
the beholder. What is YOUR perfect on-air presentation
may suck to those that listen to you.

Never let your ego get so out of control you think you
are better than others. There is always someone who is
better...or the LISTENER or TV VIEWER thinks is better
and does a better job....

Plus...an occasional mistake shows you're a human being,
just like the rest of us.
 
Re: Inevitable Mistakes

I didn't say you had to BE perfect, I said you need to TRY TO BE perfect.
When you do prepare, click the little button on your headset to turn off ATC and the producer and everything except your radio station,proof all your spots before you walk out to the aircraft, look at it again before your break, you will improve your performance.
Yeah, I've done it, and I wasn't perfect, but I didn't blow every live spot I read either!
 
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