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| "From Behind the Mic!" Begins to Smoth out the Rough Edges | by Bill Green, From Behind The MIC Co-Host
Myakka City, FL (June 6, 2005) "From Behind The MIC!" enjoyed it's second presentation of weekly racing talk radio on Thursday, June 2nd. And, while the sophisticated talk show listener would be frustrated at best with sound quality changes, call-in line volume problems and even the number and timing of breaks. Local Saturday Night race fans are excited to have a place to go with questions, hear there favorite driver's interview or just to pick up new information on racing. As we get more contacts with tracks and start to get a regular supply of schedules and results, we will fine tune the format for the listening audience.
This past week has brought an onslaught of questions and observations by guests, listeners and even the staff at KGKI Radio INC. So I have compiled a list of the most frequent topics that I have fielded via email, phone or in person and the answers I currently can best give for them.
(Question-1) The quality of the sound seems to change from interviewer to guest to phone caller, can there be some consistency?
(Answer-1) We have found ourselves working hard to get a consistent level of volume out over the listeners stream. I personally am responsible for the sound quality and feel that the sound quality issue is getting better as I learn more about this particular mixing board. We have just recently been able to give me enough time on this new board for me to get comfortable with it. Trying to keep the levels right for the studio guest and get this phone system to hear me as I respond to the caller has been a challenge. Hopefully I will get better as I go and the sound will get more consistent.
(Question-2) It seems that the entire flow of the show and the individual guest interviews are unprepared?
(Answer-2) As for the preparedness, we do our best to get the background on the person sitting in the studio, although the live guest so far have been known by Jack and I for many years each, so we had some idea where to go with them. The Fast Truck VS Fast Car Pro Trucks issue was well known by all in the room and last weeks Powell Memorial show was a more personal show for all those in central Florida racing than racers from outside the area may understand, but almost every track has a Memorial race of one kind or another. So bringing some light onto these meaningful events was the intent.
(Question-3) How do I use the KGKIradio.com chatroom and why is it when I do use the chatroom, my question never gets on the air?
(Answer-3) How to use or enter the chatroom is simple enough I hope. When you go to KGKIradio.com simply click on the CHAT button top center of the screen. You'll be in the chatroom in short order. To send a chat message, insure your computer is set for 1024 X 768 screen view. That lets you see all the buttons in the room when opened full screen. As for the questions you ask in the chatroom, well while the chat room questions are not something I look directly at, due to computer positions in the studio, I did ask the folks watching the board this week and last what they thought was up. One felt that entries were going by so fast (being moved up by other entries) that the pure number of people in the room was an issue. We have since looked at the chat room and it may change so we can control the information better and we will be adding a second screen to the same computer so two people see the info and can keep up with the questions and comments. Plus we'd like to keep the chat room about the show or racing, not mindless dribble about others visions of stardom or what concert someone went to last week. Every entry moves those above them up, so one word responses are not required because 6-75 people in a room all make one entry in the same 60 seconds and you have 3 pages of info to scan.
(Question-4) Many listeners were confused by our break pattern. The first show had hardly any breaks, one 8 minute break I believe. While this past Thursday had breaks every 20 minutes, lasting 3 to 5 minutes. Several ask why the differences?
(Answer-4) The first show was just to compelling to stop every 15, 20 or even 30 minutes. Internet radio gives us the latitude to adjust things as needed. We have no tangible sponsors as of yet except LuvRacin.Com and Karnac.com so there are not a lot of advertisements to do so far. I'm sure we will settle into a break pattern of 30-45 min or so in the future. I understand the flower clock system used by antenna based broadcasters, but we don't need the same break pattern, although at the same time we need to often change guest in studio, visit the restroom or regroup our thoughts on some issue to cover. Maybe in the near future we'll have so many sponsors that it will be necessary to breaks more often in shorter duration to get them all in and keep the audiences attention. The breaks and the flow in and out of the show, will definitely get better as we begin now to do a few sponsor spots and liners and sweepers for the station and show.
(Question-5) When will we begin to see this show separate itself from past racing talk radio shows, by talking outside the world of circle track racing and the Florida race scene it seems to only cover now?
(Answer-5) Hopefully on this issue you will see vast improvement in coming weeks. But, you must also bear in mind that this is only our third week coming up. We have not gotten as comfortable with the surroundings as for example as I may have been with Short Track USA back in 1999 or 2000. Plus, it has only been this past week that we have decided how to best use Karnac.com and LuvRacin.com to get wider spectrum of listening audience and racer interviews from across the country. You'll see more diversity as we get a little more into a comfort zone with our present package.
(Question-6) Not enough repeating of the phone numbers to call for access to the guests and hosts, or for the main office to become a sponsor or start my own show.
(Answer-6) I can fix this one right here and now. To call "From Behind The MIC!" LIVE on-the-air dial 941-322-9135 during the show. As for new shows or sponsorship packages call Roc Wyler at 941-737-6956 and get all the info you'll need to get started. We will also repeat these numbers more often in coming weeks.
For all the listeners who are trying to help "From Behind The MIC" do a better job of serving our listening audience. THANK YOU! We look forward to serving you for years to come. Please forward this to as many racing friendly emails as you know. We want this to be the best in Internet Radio for the racers as possible.
Thanks again, from Jack Smith and myself, plus all the KGKIradio.com volunteers that make each show happen.
We'll Talk To You Next Thursday!
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