Use Radio Remotes to Create Show Content

Use Radio Remotes to Create Show Content

Radio remotes are typically pretty low-key — and by low key I mean boring. But that doesn’t mean the 2 to 3 hours spent at a store grand opening or festival is a waste of time. With your smartphone, you can use that 3-hour card table event to generate audio content for your show. Here’s how.

→ Get topical. Ask questions that get the type of responses you can piggyback and use an introduction to a show topic or a fast break between songs. Examples:

• “No politicians allowed — who would you like to see run for President of the U.S.?”
• “If they moved the White House to a new location anywhere in the U.S., where should it go?”
• “If you could kick one state out of the country, which one would have to go?”

→ Host a game. Some InterPrep contest ideas are for multi-person shows or require multiple callers. Use listeners at remotes to do the contests you normally can’t do. On your show the next day, use the audio as a way to refer back to your event. Example: “I had a great time at Jackson Harley-Davidson yesterday afternoon. We played some games and gave away prizes. Listeners Jamie, Keith and Lois played ‘I Spy A Lie’ with me…”

→ Have listeners be your voice. Record listeners doing show and feature intros, saying holiday-specific lines, doing jock-specific comments for promos, etc.

→ Go Facebook Live with something that can be brought back to the show. Doing a remote at a barbecue festival? Go live with a barbecue pro and get his or her 3 tips for making great barbecue. Invite listeners to ask questions and use them during the interview. When you’re back in the studio grab some of the audio from the Facebook Live event to recap.

→ Everyone has a story. Ask questions and you might discover someone has an interesting job, hobby or charitable interest. Use the audio to launch a show phone topic or pass the interview on to your news director for a public affairs program.

→ Set up your next phoner. Maybe your phones aren’t as strong as they once were. Ask remote visitors the questions you plan to turn into phoners over the next week. “My co-host just shared that she loves peas on her pizza. What’s your weird pizza topping? Here’s what someone told me when I asked this question in downtown…”

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