datamusicata

This morning at 8 am, I was on the highway, driving to Nevada City to do Larry Hillberg’s radio show on KVMR; though this particular show was hosted by the delightful Cindy Hayden, who was filling in for Hiking Larry. Wow, that was a set up sentence if ever there was one.

In any event, as I was driving, I began setting up the show in my mind; which songs I would do, what I wanted to talk about, and I realized that I have been doing radio shows for over forty years and that putting yourself together for such a performance is second nature to me. So I am going to lay out to you what I do to prepare for a morning radio show. And the preparations for an afternoon or evening show are essentially the same.

When I have an early morning radio show (which happens more times than not on the day of the gig), I make certain that I get to bed in enough time to have seven hours of sleep, so gage your retiring hour by when you have to get up.

When you do a show in the evening, you’ve had all day to loosen up your vocal chords and to get everything flexible and ready. When you wake up exactly the opposite is true.

For me to sing early in the morning, I have to get up even earlier in the morning, by at least two hours. Take a really hot shower and get that steam into your lungs and vocal chords, that helps loosen them up.

I also eat something before I sing. I know that you are not supposed to do that and I usually follow that for my concerts, eating not closer than three hours to the show is my habit (that of course, floats with circumstance, but that is the goal for evening shows).

For some reason, if I eat in the morning, it helps open up my voice for singing. I don’t understand why, I only know from experience that this is so for me. You’ll have to experiment to find what warms up your voice the fastest.

In the car, I put on CD’s of mine and I choose the songs I’m going to sing before I put the CD’s in. And I sing those songs, and I go through the fingering of the guitar in my mind. I do the performance in my head.

I also decide what I want to talk about and I make certain that that is included in the interview. If it’s to promote a show, then I make certain I mention all the pertinent info in the beginning of the interview and again at the end. I also make certain that my website contains all the viable info, so that folks can go there instead of risking their lives while they are driving, writing down the venue phone number.

If you can’t remember this stuff, write it down. Give yourself some crib notes, so that you can refer to them during the interview.

If it’s an album that I’m promoting, I make certain that I have copies of the CD, posters, fliers, post cards…whatever promo I have that I can leave behind. That’s important to the process. It leaves a visual reminder of you behind for the interviewing DJ and the other DJ’s as well.

And also decide on some amusing anecdote that you can share. Being funny on the radio is even more impactful than the singing. Everyone wants to have a good time and if you are having a good time, then they are more likely to want to spend more time with you…at your show.

Arrive at least 45 minutes before interview time.  Ask if you can have a room to warm up in.  They are accustomed to this and will have someplace for you to warm up. Bring in everything you need and check it off before you settle in.   Play your instrument and sing until they ask you to come into the studio.    

After you are back home or at your hotel, send the station and the DJ a note thanking them for the time and the interview. It is just common courtesy and it goes a long way.

So in a nutshell: plenty of rest, warm up voice, choose material, bring promo material, doo and bring crib notes, and thank the folks. See you on the radio.