Showing posts with label radio. Show all posts
Showing posts with label radio. Show all posts

radio showprep: why we drop out of weight loss programs, how we avoid human interaction, and is 30 the new 21?


Show Starters Thursday


cuttin' cake



  • Kevin Smith, director-actor, is 42
  • Mary Louise Parker from Weeds is 48
  • From SNL back in the 80's, Victoria Jackson, is 53
  • Creepy director Wes Craven from Scream and Cursed is 73
  • National Ice Cream Sandwich Day



primetime thursday



abc: Wipeout is new at 9pm
cbs: Big Brother is LIVE at 9
nbc: Olympics with gymnastics, swimming, beach volleyball, and rowing
fox: all reruns
cw:  reruns


pop quiz: music history


(play) On this day in 1992, we found out that Jeff Porcaro of the band Toto  died of cardiac arrest... he was only 38 years old.  What triggered the heart attack:

- Hot weather during a safari in Africa
- An allergic reaction to an insecticide he was spraying in his yard
- Strength tests at his doctor's office during a physical

Answer:  He had a severe allergic reaction to the insecticide in his yard which caused heart failure



joke of the day




The world's most incredibly lazy man found a magic lamp. He rubbed it and a genie appeared and granted him three wishes. He wished for a horse, a sumo wrestler and a squirrel. "They're yours, but what are they for?" the genie asked.

"I'm tired of walking everywhere--I want to just ride the horse. The sumo wrestler is so that I won't have to work to get on the horse."

"But the squirrel?" asked the genie.

"I need something to go 'click-click' to start the horse!!!"




Men, Women, and Shiny Objects



When a woman speaks to a man, what part of her face does he focus on?  How about the other way around?  Well thank goodness somebody studied this issue because we now have an answer.  It turns out that when a man speaks to a woman, she will focus on his body language and eyebrow cleavage.  On the other hand, a guy will listen to a woman while staring at her mouth.  This, say experts, is a misguided attempt to visualize her words.

What outside forces distract us during a conversation?  Women tend be distracted by people wandering into sight, while guys were more likely to be distracted by random movement like bikes, bright objects, flying dragons, etc.





Drop Out!



The most challenging part of any weight loss program is actually staying in the program.  Close to half of us drop out of weight loss programs before achieving the desired results.  The main reason is the feeling we've gone as far as we can go with the program.  If we feel we won't lose more weight, we'll give up.  But maybe Dr. Jim Early, a professor at the University of Kansas, has a better explanation:  "People don't want to give up their comfort foods."




Stranger Danger



What's your best technique for avoiding interaction with the public?  That's what a Yale researcher wanted to find out, so she hopped a bus and traveled across the country.  After observing and interviewing dozens of travelers, she discovered that people will go to great lengths to avoid interacting with strangers, including covering the open seat next to them with a jacket, staring out the window, pretending to be asleep, or flashing the "don't bother me face," otherwise known as the 'hate stare.'

The researcher found that plopping down right next to someone while there are rows of open seats makes you look like a 'weirdo.'

And what about if passengers know a bus is going to be full and they're forced to sit next to someone?   Well, instead of avoiding people, we switch strategies and now try and find someone "normal" to share the ride with.

What is defined as "normal" trumps race, class, or gender when it comes to finding a bus buddy.

Facebook/Phones:  What behavior bugs you most when it comes to sitting next to someone you don't know?




Is 30 the new 21 (and is that something to be proud of?)



Interesting survey of adult men and women, all born in 1990, about how they view their place in life at 22 years old...


  • Only 38% feel like they're grown up adults.  The kind of person that pay mortgages, have retirement accounts, and no longer eats Captain Crunch for breakfast
  • 21% insist they are not adults.
  • 49% are not quite sure where they fit in
  • 72% still lived at home


Now, to be fair, only 140 people were involved in the study, so the sample may not be entirely accurate.

Phones/Facebook:  When are you an adult?  How do you measure it -- age, financial independence, college graduate, member of the military?





radio showprep: how to stay married, dating rules of the 90's, sneaking your dog into hotels, and it's tv theme tuesday!


Note:
I'm off to the beach next week... no prep Mon through Friday  



Show Starters Tuesday


cuttin' cake



  • Funny actor B.J. Novak from The Office is 33 (Woof, the office)
  • The woman that thunk up Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling is only 47 (Ron Weasley)
  • Non-taxpayer Wesley Snipes is the big five-oh (Demolition Man )
  • Today is Mutt's Day



new DVD's today



  • LOL with Miley Cyrus
  • Damsels in Distress stars Adam Brody
  • Hatfields and McCoys (TV mini-series on the History Channel) starring Bill Paxton and Kevin Costnar.  



primetime, tuesday



abc: all reruns up until 10pm with a new episode of NY Med
cbs: all reruns
nbc: Olympics with gymnastics, swimming and diving
fox: Master Chef is a rerun
cw:  Hart of Dixie is a rerun followed by The L.A. Complex is new at 9pm


tv theme tuesday


Here's the theme song...name the show!

hint:  It's on tonight!

answer:  Hart of Dixie


joke of the day



A scratch golfer hits his ball three hundred yards straight down the fairway, and it hits a sprinkler and careens off into the woods.

He finds the ball, but trees surround it.

He gets angry, grabs his nine-iron, and hits the ball as hard as he can.

It bounces off a tree back at the golfer’s head and kills him.

He arrives in heaven, and God himself is at the Pearly Gates to greet him. Looking up his records, God sees that the guy golf’s and says, “Are you any good?”

The golfer looks at God and says, “I got here in two, didn’t I?”




Travel Buddy



Have you ever smuggled your pet into a hotel that doesn't allow pets?  25%  of us have... what is your best pet smuggling technique?  We love traveling with our pets.  In fact 51%  of us said we would bring our pets on every trip we take.  85% of pet owners travel with a dog - only 21% bring their cat.

Phones/Facebook:  What is the oddest pet you've had to take on vacation?




Four Steps to a Happy Relationship



Psychology Today has the four things that make your relationship go from good to great...

Expression of Admiration and Affection:  An unexpected text, a small favor, or a note left  by the sink can build up a bank account of positive feelings that help fight the urge to see your partner in a negative light.

Making Room in Your Head for the Other Person:  Daily email, text messages, phone calls, and kids screaming leaves your mind as clogged as a gas station toilet.  Leave a little section of your mind open to your partner.  Remember those little things that make him/her special - like their favorite song, favorite foods, important dates, etc.

Balance of power:  Power in a relationship should not be defined by how much power one has over the other, but how power is balanced.  Help them, and let them help you.

Knowing their inner world:  We live in our head more than we realize, so let your partner express their thoughts and dreams.

More detail on each here 



That is so 90's!



The dating rules of the 90's are so...well, 90's!  The dating scene today has a whole new set of rules.  For example, the three day follow up rule after a date is long gone -- most singles think it's ridiculous.  The 90's told you to turn down a last minute date.  Now it's encouraged.  What else did this eHarmony survey discover about our dating lives?


  • 41% of men admit to playing hard to get
  • 44% of women admit to liking pick up lines
  • Nearly half of both men and women Google potential partners
  • 75% of men and women prefer a real phone conversation over a text message





How to Stay Married



A long-term government study discovered some pretty interesting things about what makes some couple stay married, while others don't.  They studied couple between the ages of 25 and 37 who were in their first year of marriage in 1986.  Where are they today?


  • Divorced: 46%
  • Those divorced in a new relationship: 70%
  • Biggest hurdle in first marriage:  Money.
  • Divorced couples who held a grudge against their ex were less likely to find a new relationship
  • The happiest hubby's reported "that their wives noticed them and made them feel special"
  • Shocker: Wives withdraw sex if the marriage is in trouble, while men are fine with sex even when the relationship is under stress





Radio Rude in 1989/ Radio rude in 2012

Hey guys (and gals)...here's to a great Thursday!

The first story below is a no-brainer for almost all demos -- "Rude behaviors we continually encounter." Of course, #1 on the list is people that let their kids run wild.

It got me to thinking what we might consider rude RADIO behavior in 2012. The standard for rude has changed so much since I got into radio in 1989. Here's how:

Rude in 1989: Not pulling at least an hour worth of commercial carts for the next jock during a shift change
Rude in 2012: Not having the commercial log loaded at 10am on Friday for weekend voice-tracking.

Rude in 1989: Discovering the studio is a complete mess with show prep scattered all over the board.
Rude in 2012: Discovering the last live jock on the air (12 hours ago) didn't log off the computer.

Rude in 1989: Leaving the next jock an empty reel of tape for recording phone calls
Rude in 2012: Leaving the next jock with a full hard drive

Rude in 1989: The overnight jock not making a full, fresh pot of coffee before leaving
Rude in 2012: The one overnight person in the cluster tracked out, ran to Starbucks, and brought you back nothing

Rude in 1989
: Not having enough T-shirts in all sizes for your listeners at a station appearance
Rude in 2012: People that ask for a T-shirt when they know all they're getting is a sticker.

Wow, that was fun! I could go on, but I need my beauty sleep. Have a great show, and as always, please click G+, Facebook, Twitter or email at the bottom of this blog to spread the word! Enjoy the Show Starters...


Show Starters

Cuttin' Cake
  • Ann B. Davis (86 PLAY)
  • Franki Valli (78 PLAY)
  • Ron Popeil (77 PLAY)
  • Christopher Cross (61 PLAY)
  • Cheryl Burke from Dancing With the Stars (28)

****Today is Paranormal Day (X-Files Theme)****


Primetime, Baby!

ABC: Missing (NEW), Grey's Anatomy (NEW), Scandal (NEW)
CBS: The Big Bang Theory (NEW), Rules of Engagement (NEW), Person of Interest (NEW), The Mentalist (NEW)
NBC: Community (NEW), 30 Rock (NEW), The Office (NEW), Parks and Recreation (NEW), Awake (NEW)
FOX: American Idol (LIVE), Touch (NEW)
CW: The Vampire Diaries (NEW), The Secret Circle (NEW)


POP QUIZ!

Who is he?

PLAY

He was tired when his old show ended...so he laid low. Who is he?

Answer: James Van Der Beek (who's now on Apartment 23)


Joke of the Day

Q: Why do ducks have webbed feet?
A: To stamp out forest fires.
Q: Why do elephants have flat feet?
A: To stamp out burning ducks.



Rude!

What are the rudest behaviors EVER? A Yahoo! survey discovered the rudest behavior we continually encounter are parents that have no control over their kids in public. Of course, as a parent, I have empathy for a mom trying to grocery shop with four kids. We shouldn't pretend to know her circumstances, but some of us feel "so bothered" by laughing children.

Here's how the survey breaks down:


  1. Parents who don't supervise their children 56%
  2. Talking loudly on their cell phone 19%
  3. Rude waiters 8%
  4. Pet owners that don't clean up their dog's poop 7%
  5. Being late 7%



What? Spitting isn't on this list? Are you kidding me? Have you ever walked right behind someone who clears the deep bowls of his throat and then unloads it right in front of you? Kind of like what this lady did in front of a TV reporter the other day? At least she said "sorry I have a bad cold". Glorious.



Where do we encounter the rudest behavior?


  1. Retail stores
  2. Grocery stores
  3. Airports/airplanes
  4. Restaurants/coffee shops
  5. Gym



Best rule to remember if you encounter a rude waiter: "Never mess with a water until you've gotten your food."

Phones/Facebook: What ranks as the worst of the worst when it comes to rude behavior?

Source



Wild Dream Facts

You may be asleep, but your brain is very much awake, and here are a few things you need to know about your dreams:

1. Violent dreams can be a warning sign (...of Parkinson's disease and dementia)

2. Night owls have more nightmares (the reason is unknown, but one theory says cortisol, which peaks in the morning right before we wake up, triggers vivid dreams if we're still sleeping)

3. Men dream about sex (...and to balance it out, women are more likely to experience nightmares)


4. You can control your dreams (...but only if you're used to playing video games. Video gamers can control their dream worlds, as if they're controlling a video game character. Gamers are better at turning a nightmare into a carefree dream)

5. Why we dream (We dream because we are critical thinkers. Dreaming helps us solve puzzles that have plagued us during daylight hours.)

Facebook/Phones: Can we help you figure out a bizarre dream you've been having?

Source



The Worst Kid Drinks For a Kid

Why are too many kids so fat in 2012? Just look at what they're drinking. The Centers for Disease Control say sweetened beverages are the biggest source of empty carbs in children's diets are do nothing but expand waist lines.

Kids should only get 3 teaspoons of sugar a day, but the average 4 to 8 year old is getting 21 teaspoons per day on average. YIKES!

So Debbie Beauvais, who speaks for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, is pushing for parents to stay away from the worst of the worst drinks -- aimed right at your kids.
  • Hi-C (One little carton has more sugar per ounce than in a regular Coke!)
  • Hawaiian Punch (Not only does a serving have 70 calories and 17 grams of sugar, but it also includes the artificial coloring "Red 40" we've been warned to stay away from)
  • Sunny D (just 5% actual juice, but 11 grams of sugar in a 6.75 ounce bottle)
  • Capri Sun (6 ounces has 60 calories and 16 g's of sugar)
  • Dannon Danimals (70 calories and 14 g's of sugar
Debbie says to replace the above with healthier alternatives like water (4 glasses a day), pure juice (not juice drinks and only 1 cup a day), and low-fat milk (2 to 3 cups each day).

Source


FINALLY!

If we can do this, how far behind can a cure for cancer be? Jolene Van Vugt, a stunt woman and motocross champion, set a new world record on a motorized toilet! The toilet hit 46 mph, beating the old record by more than 4mph. Picture


Gotta See This

Molly Ringwald would be so proud! Regan Kerr made her own prom dress -- out of 5, 114 soda can tabs. The Denver teen started collecting the tabs, with the help of family and friends, two years ago, which she then sewed together to make a gown. Watch

Radio Prep, Now Gluten Free!

Hope you had a great weekend. It was another crazy one for me full of soccer games and station appearances. The highlight of my weekend was a charity ball I attended for the local children's museum. I had no idea my wife and I sat on the planning board. I don't remember planning a thing, but if I did, I sure did a great job because it was fun.

I had a morning show visit and station tour up for auction, and as I'm sure you can relate, it's hard not to keep checking the latest bid. This ball used electronic bidding devices that you carry around (like an iPhone), so I could obsessively check the latest bid from anywhere. I was half tempted to throw some money at myself, but decided against it after imagining how awkward the tour would be. At the end of the night, I'm proud to report that my show got the highest bid out of all the media options (including TV)! And you'll just have to trust when I say that I wasn't the winning bidder (but it was tempting)!

Two things for tomorrow: No updated prep will occupy this space. Taking tomorrow off for a project I need to work on. BUT! I will have a cool article to read about sleep, and why that word means nothing to radio personalities. I'll have some quick tips to help wake you up, too! Have a great show! Enjoy the prep!




Cuttin' Cake
  • Cloris Leachman (86)
  • Willie Nelson (79)
  • Kirsten Dunst (30 Bring It On)

***Today is National Honest Day (Celebrate and risk being fired)***
***National Oatmeal Cookie Day "COOOOKIE!" (Really? Does the oatmeal cookie deserve it's own day? What's the best cookie? What cookie deserves it's own MONTH rather than just a day?)***


Pop Quiz 1: Movie Monday 1

"Think Like a Man" stayed strong at #1 over the weekend, beating out a bunch of newbies including Jason Segel's "The Five-Year Engagement." Here are the top five:
  1. Think Like a Man
  2. The Pirates! Band of Misfits
  3. The Lucky One
  4. The Hungar Games
  5. The Five Year Engagement

None of this matters next weekend, because the Avengers opens with Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemwsowrth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Samual L Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Paul Bettany.

Can you name the #1 movie 20 years ago today?

HINT

Answer: Basic Instinct (Michael Douglas/Sharon Stone)


Pop Quiz 2: Movie Monday

Robert Downey, Jr, is back in Avengers, opening this weekend, so in his honor, can you name Robert Downey Jr movie that featured this song?

Play

Hint: 1987

Answer: Less Than Zero (Robert Downey, Jr, Andrew McCarthy, Jami Gertz, James Spader)


Primetime, Baby!

ABC: Dancing With the Stars (NEW), Castle (NEW)
CBS: How I Met Your Mother (NEW), 2 Broke Girls (NEW), Two and a Half Men (NEW), Mike and Molly (NEW), Hawaii Five-0 (NEW)
NBC: The Voice (LIVE/ Semi Final Performances), Smash (NEW)
FOX: Bones (NEW), House (NEW)
CW: Gossip Girl (NEW), Hart of Dixie (NEW)


Joke of the Day

A businessman dragged himself home and barely made it to his chair before he dropped exhausted.

His sympathetic wife was right there with a tall cool drink and a comforting word. "My, you look tired," she said. "You must have had a hard day today. What happened to make you so exhausted?"

"It was terrible," her husband said. "The computer broke down and all of us had to do our own thinking." Drop: Laugh




10 Ways To Find Happiness


I thought Bobby McFerrin had the best solution -- "Don't worry...be happy." (PLAY) That's it. Just stop worrying. You may be the kind of person that requires a little more detail, so here are 10 tips to finding happiness from Dr. Barton Goldsmith.


  1. Be with others who make you smile (Studies prove we're happier around those that are also happy)
  2. Hold on to your values (What you find true, what you know is fair, and what you believe in -- never let those go)
  3. Accept the good (take stock of what's working in your life!)
  4. Imagine the best (vision yourself getting what you really want)
  5. Do things you love
  6. Find purpose (find a way of contributing to the well-being of humanity. People tend to find great pride in that)
  7. Listen to your heart (keep your day job for the time being, but follow your passions)
  8. Push yourself, not others (Stop blaming others and you'll find your answers much sooner)
  9. Be open to change (change happens, so emotionally shore yourself up for the experience)
  10. Bask in the simple pleasures (silly jokes, warm days, starry nights)

Source




How to Live to 100


If you're looking to annoy your kids for years and years to come, there is a way, and researchers think they have figured it out. Scientists in Sicily studied people living in five villages in the island's Sicani Mountains region where there are four times as many people living over 100 than the national average. Here's what they all had in common...

  • A healthy "Mediterranean-style" diet with high amounts of fruits and veggies, and low levels of saturated fat.
  • They eat a lot of seasonal plant food
  • They eat low levels of meat
  • They consume low levels of refined carbohydrates, meaning white bread and pasta.
  • They say no to sweeteners and sweet beverages, canned food, frozen ready-prepared veggies, biscuits, cakes, and snacks.

What it boils down to is this: Follow a diet with low levels of saturated fat and high levels of fruits and veggies rich in phytochemicals. These are cancer killers and heart protectors.

Source




Parking Excuses


A British study found that, like Americans, we'll do anything to get out of a parking ticket, even though we don't really think parking violations count as breaking the law. 1 in 12 drivers have talked themselves out of a parking ticket, even though a full 15% regularly park illegally because it's easier to pay the fine than to park elsewhere.

Here are the top 5 excuses given for avoiding a parking fine:

1. The regulations were not clear (9%)
2. I was only gone briefly (6%)
3. I was looking for a place to buy a ticket (5%)
4. I had a personal emergency (4%)
5. My ticket went missing (3%)




8 Things That Will Tick Off the Bride!


We all have a wedding on our calendar over the next three months, right? So these rules are for us. From DivineCaroline.com, here are 8 sure-fire ways to awaken a bridezilla -- translation: Make the bride lose her sanity:
  1. RSVP late, or not at all. Especially don't RSVP the day before then decide not to come. If you do, avoid contact with her for the rest of your life.
  2. Mess with the seating chart. Keep your mouth shut and deal with the jerk you're sitting next to.
  3. Invite another person. Unless you're given a plus-one, don't bring someone
  4. Complain about something
  5. Dine and ditch. If you only have 30 minutes for the reception, just skip it.
  6. Forgo a gift. Keep in mind that the average wedding spends about $80 on each guest.
  7. Forget to check the gift registry. If you go off the gift radar, make sure it is truely a one-of-a-kind.  Getting them a toaster or blender when they've already registered for one is just annoying.
  8. Cause a scene. She'll notice if you get drunk. 'Nuff said.

Phones/Facebook: C'mon former brides, they're surely missing something from this list... what?

To Spam or Not to Spam, That Is the Question!

I just read the most interesting survey about Facebook's ability to separate us from our money. Here's a quick break down (from Monday's prep, by the way):
"A survey from online marketing experts Sociable Labs discovered that we are heavily influenced into buying products that our Facebook friends "like" or recommend. It's called 'social proofing', and three-quarters of us have clicked on product links shared or "liked" by friends on the site. After clicking, more than half of us ended up buying the product."
Let's not pretend that social proofing is a new concept. It's been around since the beginning of time when Phil the caveman recommended using a club made of oak to Hank the caveman for more effective bashing.

Social proofing exists on our shows every day, too, with live endorsements. Your listeners trust you, so when you tell them you lost 50 pounds by taking a pill (that gave you incredible gas, by the way, but we'll leave that part out), they'll give it a shot. This is radio 101.

Facebook just puts it on a massive scale. The study found that when brands have fan pages...
"every fan offers brand exposure to a further 34 Facebook friends of that fan - a multiplier effect with massive potential."
It's mind boggling because, let's face it, it's free advertising, and this is our challenge, right? How many times in the last year have you been asked to promote a product on your radio station's or personality Facebook page? It's getting more frequent for me, because retailers know how important social proofing has become for their survival.

What has been your reaction to the request? I get instantly defensive. I'm so afraid of spamming my fans. I'm afraid they'll recognize the "paid status update" as an advertisement and either report it as spam, or just unfollow me.

I've been told by a sales rep that more and more businesses will only spend money with stations that include product placement on fan pages. This, my friend,  is the great debate we've been having around the station -- should we use our fan page to blatantly promote a sponsor?

I say no, unless they fall into these categories:
  1. It's something I believe in, use, and would recommend to my mom
  2. I'm there, at the business, and can leave a map marker or photo on my post to prove it
  3. I've promoted other products I use that have no investment in me or my station
Those are my rules...for now. I see a future, though, where clients pay a premium for not only a broadcast schedule, but a social networking schedule, as well. It's an interesting debate, and I'd love to hear how you're handling it. Is it a fight to stay spam-free at your station? Or are you all in on promoting clients using your Twitter and Facebook platforms? Send me an email.

This and That

The Houston Chronicle and E! News are reporting that Beyonce had a baby girl named Blue Ivy Carter. This is the first child for Beyonce and her hubby Jay-Z. The new parents apparently have their own floor at Lenox Hospital in New York and checked in under the name "Ingrid Jackson."

Is Rihanna confirming the news? A clue from Twitter...



"NO ONE speaks for me," Tweeted Katy Perry over the weekend. She's telling her fans not to believe everything they read concerning her divorce from Russell Brand.



New Hampshire's Secretary of State expects 250-thousand ballots will be cast tomorrow in the first-in-the-nation primary. Yes, that's more than 2008.

Are you suffering from feedback fatigue? Feedback fatigue is caused by too many email requests from companies asking you to rate their service. If you did any holiday shopping online, you're likely getting bombarded.



Would you pay even more to see a movie? The Hollywood Reporter cites several analysts who predict the price of a movie ticket will go up this year.

Primetime, Baby!



Look out for the BCS Nat'l Championship game featuring the LSU and Alabama. Kickoff is 8:30pm from the Superdome in New Orleans

ABC: The Bachelor (NEW), Castle (NEW)
CBS: How I Met Your Mother, 2 Broke Girls, Two and a Half Men, Mike & Molly, Hawaii Five-O
NBC: Who's Still Standing? (NEW), Fear Factor (NEW), Rock Center with Brian Williams (NEW)
FOX: House
CW: Gossip Girl, Hart of Dixie

Cuttin' Cake

  • Dick Engberg (77)
  • Dave Matthews (45)
  • J.K. Simmons (57)
Today is National Clean Off Your Desk Day!

Gotta See This

In today's "Gotta See This," it's a woman riding a really tall unicycle. And balancing bowls on her head. And on her feet, too...and then she... ARE YOU SERIOUS??? Watch!



Joke of the Day

It was her birthday, so Cindy took a long afternoon nap.

After she woke up, she said to her husband, "I just dreamed that you gave me a diamond ring for a birthday present. What do you think it all means?"

"You'll know tonight," her husband replied, smiling broadly.

Later that night after a romantic dinner, Cindy's husband handed her a small package.

Delighted and excited she opened it quickly. There in her hand rested a book entitled: The Meaning of Dreams.


Surf This!

Has your company blocked access to Hulu? Fear not, my fellow TV Junkie, there's always...



TvRecaps.com!

More New Media for 2012

Hey there!  Just a quick note that screams HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Be safe this weekend.  As my dad says, "the crazies are out!"

Thanks for following my ramblings throughout 2011, and if my work in any way helped you out, then I consider it all worth the effort.

I teased last week some ideas I have as we move into 2012, and I thought I'd share them now.   There is no doubt we're moving into an age where "on demand" is "in demand."  Just look at the time shifting going on in the world of television between DVR's and Hulu.  When was the last time you watched a sitcom "as it aired" on network television?

This is the exact reason I started Viral Dj.  Putting the blog out as a prep tool keeps me disciplined to updating my own personality page.  I also use that prep to produce a daily email blast for my listeners.  The email blast, along with Twitter and Facebook, are used to guide listeners back to my blog, which has seen growing numbers as a result.

I met a woman at my wife's Christmas party who receives that email blast every day... and she was a fan.  A huge fan.  Her biggest concern was that it would go away.  She reads the email, surfs the blog and now listens more than ever.

And she's not alone.  I've heard this over and over ever since I started paying attention to the web side of broadcasting.  So here is my goal for 2012:  Become much more active with new media:

- Become a Twitter and Facebook fanatic
- Produce a daily PODCAST, separate from the show.  Doesn't have to be long, just consistent.
- Continue the email blast, but with even a more personal touch
- Continue keeping the blog updated, but with more links that lead listeners to my other content.
- Start a video-blog (this may not be until later this year or even next)

Of course, the radio show comes first, but if I prepare properly for that, everything else should be easy to execute.

I have two reasons that justify my new goal:

1) As a solo jock on a music morning show, it helps me compete with the big guys
2) Gives my sales team more opportunities to sell my content, which offers more job security.

So what are your thoughts?  What are your goals for 2012?  What are you going to change...anything?    Let me know:  kiddoshea@gmail.com

Have a great holiday!
Dave