Be Even More Creative

The competitive edge is achieved by creating original content that distinguishes your show or podcast.  Dave Ryan is one of radio’s most creative and innovative talents. This skill has kept his show on top of the ratings for years at KDWB Minneapolis. In today’s guest blog, Dave reveals multiple ways to be more creative.

Randy Lane

I haven’t been doing morning radio for this long solely because of my movie-star looks and sensual baritone voice. Nope, I’ve been able to keep my job because I come up with  stuff.

I wanted to use a stronger word than  stuff,  but Mr. Lane would likely ask for a revision faster than a salesperson who put the wrong phone number in those ten spots you just recorded.

I’ve come up with  stuff  for as long as I’ve been in radio and it’s honestly one of the pure joys of doing what we do. Sure, the radio show is a lot of fun, but there’s a tangible satisfaction in taking an idea from just a little “pop” in my mind to a bit I’m really proud of and (hopefully) the listeners will love.

I  think  it was a compliment when Falen from my show said, “If someone opened the top of your head and looked inside, it would look like someone was spray-sh$!ting.”

She’s all class.

Since you’re still in radio and since you’re taking time to read this, I’m gonna’ guess you are pretty good at what you do. And furthermore, I’m going to suppose you’re pretty creative.

Sidebar: not everyone who’s successful in radio is creative. They have a different gift; they’re friendly and fun to be around. And a lucky few are both tons of fun  and creative.

I can’t help you be more fun. On Saturday nights I have one glass of wine and pass out on the couch watching Dateline NBC. BUT I can help you be more creative. Here are some tips.

• Try . There are too many people who say, “I’m not creative.” Actually, they just need a little practice. I know of radio people whose only source of content is  other radio shows. Unbelievably, I had a producer who was taught that “Show Prep” meant looking at Bert or Mojo’s website to steal content.
  
  So, start with some easy stuff; maybe come up with some phone topics. Or write a few jokes like you hear on The Tonight Show. Write a bad rap song about something going on in your city. You don’t even have to use this stuff on the air, just  try. No one will care if it sucks if you’re the only one who hears it.
   
• Have a life . I’ve said this for years and it really is important. I know it’s super easy and very tempting to spend a lot of time on the couch bingeing “Yellowstone,” but the best creative sparks come from experiencing a lot of different things. Maybe you don’t want to take an improv class, but what if you went to an improv show? Or learned how to play guitar? Or took snowboarding lessons? Or even tried a new recipe? I truly believe the more experiences you can pack into your brain, the more tools and materials you have when you need to build ideas.
   
• Watch old TV shows and old movies . If you’ve never seen the hilarity that was “Match Game” from the 70s you’re missing out on some seriously great comedy. YouTube it. Heck, you could probably lift an idea for Second Date Update from a 70s rom-com.
   
• Talk to people . Duh. If your cousin tells you the cleaning lady who worked in his neighborhood was sleeping with neighborhood dads and one of them got her pregnant, you’ve got a great radio story! And yes, this really happened in my cousin’s neighborhood! Take their stories to the radio. And if you can’t because they don’t want you to embarrass them, switch up the details just enough and use it.
   
• Practice . Yes, this is a lot like  Try.  But just like learning Spanish on Babbel, you’re not going to be fluent after one attempt. Trying is a great start.  Staying with it  until you start to see some results is even better. 

BTW, if you’re already creative and crank out ideas faster than Nick Cannon cranks out babies, thanks for reading this anyway. I owe you a domestic bottled beer at the next Boot Camp. 

By Dave Ryan

Photo by  Robert Katzki  on  Unsplash