Before you read farther, you should know I think my job as a reviewer is to be a program director’s advocate—not a cheerleader for the producer. With that warning…Dive in….
The title of this piece is deceptive. It is not a tale of two cities. It is a piece of personal therapy. The producer simply turns on the mic, records (very badly by the way) some experiences and then proceeds to bore us with a depressing, torturous nearly 30 minuets full of personal information we don’t want to know.
First the techincal: Two Words—Wind Sock! The recording and mixing are below acceptable standards for a radio station. Sorry to be harsh, but I just can’t say it any softer. Much of the recording is down out doors and the wind in both San Francisco and New York is a starring cast member.
Now onto the content and story telling skills. I am not sure what the story is in this piece. Sure, the producer claims it be a discussion on the emotional state of chaning home towns. About half way through the piece I blurted out (quite unexpectedly) “Tell it to your Therapist Not My Listeners.” I got a strange look from the woman on the treadmill next to me. Radio is supposed to uplift, provide insight and entertain. Unfortunetly, this piece is a depressing and self indulgent and way too long. This is hard to say because it’s a diary piece, but I would find it hard to say I would want to spend time hearing this story over cocktails. Since most radio is done in the car, where cocktails are not available, the only outcome is a station switch.
Ok, how could this piece be made better? EDIT EDIT EDIT. That requires a producer to think about what the listener needs and wants to know and to objectively decide what to put in and what to leave out. The problem here is EVERYTHING is in here with no prioritization—Listeners don’t need to hear an elongated exchange about not being able to find a specific NYC subway brochure for example. The use of the word Piss in the opening is a turn off. If this were a comparision about the two cities, there should have been a corresponding section on BART. There are several transitional pieces that are adaquetly written that if strung together would have yeilded an acceptable three minute piece.
With deepest appologies to the producer, this piece is not ready for air.
Sorry, It's not about Cities
Steve Yasko
Posted on February 10, 2005 at 04:36 AM
Before you read farther, you should know I think my job as a reviewer is to be a program director’s advocate—not a cheerleader for the producer. With that warning…Dive in….
The title of this piece is deceptive. It is not a tale of two cities. It is a piece of personal therapy. The producer simply turns on the mic, records (very badly by the way) some experiences and then proceeds to bore us with a depressing, torturous nearly 30 minuets full of personal information we don’t want to know.
First the techincal: Two Words—Wind Sock! The recording and mixing are below acceptable standards for a radio station. Sorry to be harsh, but I just can’t say it any softer. Much of the recording is down out doors and the wind in both San Francisco and New York is a starring cast member.
Now onto the content and story telling skills. I am not sure what the story is in this piece. Sure, the producer claims it be a discussion on the emotional state of chaning home towns. About half way through the piece I blurted out (quite unexpectedly) “Tell it to your Therapist Not My Listeners.” I got a strange look from the woman on the treadmill next to me. Radio is supposed to uplift, provide insight and entertain. Unfortunetly, this piece is a depressing and self indulgent and way too long. This is hard to say because it’s a diary piece, but I would find it hard to say I would want to spend time hearing this story over cocktails. Since most radio is done in the car, where cocktails are not available, the only outcome is a station switch.
Ok, how could this piece be made better? EDIT EDIT EDIT. That requires a producer to think about what the listener needs and wants to know and to objectively decide what to put in and what to leave out. The problem here is EVERYTHING is in here with no prioritization—Listeners don’t need to hear an elongated exchange about not being able to find a specific NYC subway brochure for example. The use of the word Piss in the opening is a turn off. If this were a comparision about the two cities, there should have been a corresponding section on BART. There are several transitional pieces that are adaquetly written that if strung together would have yeilded an acceptable three minute piece.
With deepest appologies to the producer, this piece is not ready for air.