Have moms you work with who have kids at home call to see what they’re doing. Then the mother starts giving the kid chores to do that day before she returns from work. Record all of this after the show in the production studio – listen as the kid has a meltdown the longer the list gets.
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Here’s a fun new feature you can do on Mondays that plays off your weekend. Dana and Jayson, WBLI, Long Island, were recapping their weekend on a recent Monday show. Jayson took the position that he had an incredibly lame weekend and seemed disturbed by it. They were really smart by broadening it out to include listeners, trying to “out lame” Jayson with the simple question: Who had a more lame weekend than Jayson? Great radio shows work when they tell stories. Stories have details and twists-and-turns that capture the audience. Jayson is presented as a very regular guy to the audience in this conversation, also allowing both of them to showcase their senses of humor very authentically. The premise is fun (and atypical) as are hearing the audience tell stories, too, turning them into the stars of the program.
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There are few stations and shows that can openly make fun of Donald Trump without retribution from its audience or Trump’s loudest supporters. The Cruz Show, Power 106, Los Angeles is one. With its intensely loyal Hispanic base, the show can consistently go there, with the audience identifying with their point-of-view all the way. Once laughter is included, and we figure out how to entertain around the topic, it makes it even better. They asked the audience the simple question, “I’d rather (blank) than see Donald Trump become president.” This works because it’s a Hot Topic with an interesting take – every answer is different so the bit doesn’t become stagnant. The execution was even better – with them culling answers from people on the street and on the phones – two approaches to make it sparkle.
How about you talk to kids and ask them to put together a platform for a political party they could support. You might have to seed the answers, but I would be looking for: instead of one, there will now be four Halloweens a year so I get more candy. My mother has to legally serve me ice cream after every dinner. It’s a felony for my sister to talk after 6pm. There will be no homework once school starts.
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Playing on the heels of last week’s audio, here’s another music-based feature to entertain the audience. What happens when you fuse country lyrics with a hip hop (rap) style? Well, if you’re Ryno and Tracy, KYGO, Denver, you get “crap”. Here’s a fun game where Tracy does the lyrics of a hit country song in a hip hop style. First listener to guess artist and title wins. Games work because if done well, they’re vicarious. They win even bigger if those playing along in cars are laughing and having a good time. What’s really important is to not focus on what you have to give out, but figure out how to give the prize out in a way that includes those who want to call to win (the smaller group) and those who listen to play along (the way larger group). The big success happens when those playing along laugh.
School supplies are already in stores to be bought by parents. Let’s help kids get ready to head back to learning by putting them to work. Find a few fun kids and ask one each night next week and the week after, when the GOP and Democratic Conventions are on, to watch an hour of it each evening and write a 50-word book report on what they saw then come on the show the next morning to read it to the audience.
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