by Jaye Albright
Partner, Albright & O'Malley Consulting

Let's face it.  No one is "perfect."  Occasionally, some of us attain perfection for a few seconds, a couple minutes.  But, perfection that lasts the length of a typical morning show?  It rarely happens.

I apologize for the fact that this article is starting to sound more like an essay on Buddhist philosophy than a treatise - with examples - of the ingredients of one of those rare morning shows that DOES occasionally approach perfection (which is what this actually IS supposed to be about).

My partner Michael O'Malley and I are constantly collecting GREAT morning show examples and bits.  Recently we sent a composite of many of our favorites to our clients... stunning examples of morning perfection - perfect phones, perfect stunts, perfect prep, perfect localization. 

It was GREAT.  But, also it was somewhat intimidating - since it's a montage of the best of the best.  And, it's always our fear that the reaction of many PD's and morning teams would be 'I could never do that,' or "I wonder what the REST of their show is like.' 

So, rather than dish up a plate of perfection, how about a great example of REALITY?!

That is a real, unedited show that contains most if not all of the elements we like to hear in the morning?

Recently, I monitored CJJR, Vancouver's Clay St. Thomas and Karen Daniels.  

Why Clay & Karen? 

Well, for one thing, Karen Daniels is a seasoned vet who really understands what it takes to involve listeners, stunts and phones to evoke emotions and be completely compelling. 

And, for another, Clay St. Thomas is the JRfm and "Vancouver veteran" in the morning, having previously been on CHR Z-95 before coming to country almost a decade ago.  He's an accomplished professional actor and standup comedian.

A quick overview of Clay & Karen..

Bit #1:  Interview with Terri Clark, coming to a local music festival, ended with a local phoner with a listener who has been going to the festival for six straight years with eight friends who call themselves "The Shooter Grannies" because they spend the weekend drinking JELLO shooters.

Bit #2:  Rap with the team's "Dr. Sport," Greg Douglas on the latest Canucks gossip.

Bit #3:  Benchmark call-in for "All or Nothing Tuesday" for Keith Urban/Carolyn Dawn Johnson concert tickets.  Topic for the trivia quiz:  British Columbia trivia questions.

Bit #4:  After a refernce to the Northwest's traditional favorite, cafeine and coffee (how hyper Clay is today), they do a funny bit of byplay referring to a hot topic in Vancouver news right now, proposed legalization of marijuana in the province.  The bit compares how Calgary celebrates their Stampede with hay bales all over town to a new local festival "Celebrate BC."

Bit #5:  Phone topic:  "The smelliest spot in Vancouver" gets many entertaining and local references designed to get folks talking about what they heard on JRfm today when they get to work later on.

Bit #6:  Ways to cope with summer's heat in the Lower Mainland and the resulting terrible forest fires in the Cascades which have resulted.  Lots of important information updates, yet with a human and caring attitude.

Bit #7  Interchange with newsman Campbell McCubbin on the Kobe Bryant situation and its relation to local laws.  Humor mixed with a touch of sex innuendo, but for a family audience.

In short, there is almost nothing that happens on Clay & Karen's show that doesn't reflect a current 'big event' in local lives (forest fires, legalization of marijuana, same sex marriage) and do it making use of real listener phone calls as well as personal point of view/relating. 

In fact, using listeners to describe smelly spots around town is no doubt due to the need for economy while covering a local news story, but it also strengthens their impact and relatability. 

Sure, the show isn't always precisely PERFECT.  But, it is always human, topical, extremely timely, local and deals with whatever the target listener is talking about at this moment, this morning.

Other good elements of this typical day's show:  that interview with the "Jello shooter granny" gives Clay & Karen to mention that they will be appearing at the Merrit Mountain Music Fesitval and having fun touching individual listeners, yet it comes off as an aside in a funny bit of content rather than as pure hype.

I love the way Clay and Karen appear to have a great rapport with phones, edit them tightly and incorporate them effortlessly into everything they do, without losing topical and local top of mind content. 

The folks who personify the service elements, news guy Cam McCubbin, Dr. Sport's  character and even the JRfm "all day traffic" reporters all have great inflections, getting lots of meaning into every phrase. 

They always tease to specifics, creating more listening occasions.  They sell the station very naturally by promoting usage and lifestyle, building image around passion for the music without making it seem like they are selling me anything.  They back announce titles and artists of the songs, sounding like they love the music and are knowledgable about the artists' lives. 

Overall:  it's definately NOT perfect.  But, as you'll hear, it's a pretty good example of a darn good day on a darn good morning show. 

And, what makes it so to my way of thinking is that they are relentlessly local in all of their content, with lots of personality and point of view.  All tightly-prepared, yet sounding very spontaneous.

If you didn't find a few ideas to borrow for YOUR morning show, perhaps YOU should send me a cassette or CD. 

Maybe YOU are the perfect one...!