J B McCauley – How to Overcome Radio Stage Fright @MccauleyJay

How to Overcome Radio Stage Fright

I have worked in radio for many years so feel I’m ideally placed to answer this question. Radio can be the most nerve wracking experience of your life especially if it is a telephone interview or you are sitting on a separate studio well away from the radio personality interviewing you. Radio is a funny business. You have no audience to play off and you can hear your own voice in your headphones. This alone can be a very disconcerting experience for some. So, as with most things with the media, practice makes perfect.

First of all, do you think that all radio announcers speak the same away from the microphone? The answer to that is no. Generally they have a radio voice that has been well honed and well-practised over the years. They know the rhythm of their voice. So before going on any radio program I suggest the following. Buy a microphone, by some good headphones and practice like crazy. Get friends and family to ask you all manner of questions and answer them calmly and succinctly. Remember no one is an overnight radio star. It takes many years of practice to become a conduit for your thoughts and ideas in a credible and entertaining manner.

No radio station expects a first-time author to be across all the skills required to be a media personality. But here are some of the tricks that I use before going on air.

Practice and perform some vocal exercises before you go on.
Try and get your questions in advance if possible.
Try and get them to prerecord the program and vet the content before it goes to air.
If the interview is live try to take a deep breath and gather your thoughts before answering a question.
Don’t panic.
Be prepared.
Stay on track.
Don’t be stressed