Hollywood is pumping out super hero movies nearly every day. The Incredibles 2, Deadpool 2, Avengers: Infinity War, Justice League, Wonder Woman, Spiderman: Homecoming just to name a few recent films. What is unique about each super hero is their unique super powers:
- Aquaman-can communicate with the creatures in the sea
- The Flash- can run, think, and act faster than light itself. He can also move through time, phase through matter, and even read/acquire knowledge at a hyper-accelerated rate.
- The Incredible Hulk- nearly unlimited strength, rapid tissue regeneration powers, and inexhaustible stamina
- Wonder Woman-invisible plane, deflecting bracelets, excellent lassoing ability
But what about your staff. Your on-air talent, your producers, board ops, production, reporters and anchors. What are each of their super powers? It’s likely while some are the same that most of them have different, unique “super powers.”
Let’s look at talent first. I’ve certainly worked with hosts with all different kinds of super powers. Here’s a list of some hosts I have worked with and their super powers:
- Terry Boers/The Score-Quick Wit
- Mark Packer/SiriusXM-Great Storyteller
- DA (Damon Amendolara)/CBS Sports Radio Network-Supremely creative
- Chris Childers/SiriusXM-Passionate
- Paul Finebaum/ESPN-Stirring the pot
The really important point I’m trying to make here is that everyone on the staff has something special to offer. If you try to make each of them do their shows the same exact way, you will be missing out on their super powers.
The same goes for your producers. What are their super powers? Working with talent, guest booking, use of sound, field producing, creativity, publicity or social media? Whatever their super powers are should help you team them with the right show and hosts. Have the social media wiz take an active role in helping the entire station get better on social media. The best guest booker—on the show that needs the most/best guests.
This doesn’t mean it’s the only thing you focus on with that host or producer. But play to their strengths and work on their weaknesses. When Michael Jordan came into the NBA, he was not a great outside shooter. His strength was getting to the basket and finishing and/or getting fouled. He realized the physical grind of going to the basket so much and that his body was aging. So he worked on his game. His outside shots and his fade away jumpers out of the post. The result—he led the league in scoring when he was 32, 33, and 34. Who was the only other NBA player to win a scoring title in his 30s? Jerry West at the age of 31. So play to your staff’s strengths, but help them work on their weaknesses as well.
Same goes for the PD. They need to figure out their own “super powers.” It could be air-checking, imaging, talent development, planning or creative ideas. Whatever it is, play to it while working on your less “super” attributes. You may not end up in the next Superhero movie, but you will help make your radio station stronger!
Matt Fishman is a former columnist for BSM. The current PD of ESPN Cleveland has a lengthy resume in sports radio programming. His career stops include SiriusXM, 670 The Score in Chicago, and 610 Sports in Kansas City. You can follow him on Twitter @FatMishman20 or you can email him at FishmanSolutions@gmail.com.
