I was recently at a funeral for the father of a friend of mine. I didn’t know the man who passed away, but after the funeral I felt like I had known him for years. All due to storytelling.
His funeral was packed full of stories about the man who died. Some sad, most funny. I had never met him, but that didn’t make the stories less interesting and entertaining. I was riveted hearing things about a man I didn’t know. Honestly, I didn’t want the funeral to end. The stories were just too good.
If you can master the art of storytelling on the radio, you’ll probably always have a job and a huge audience. People want to hear stories, not reports. Stories don’t have to be long winded. You can tell a story in just a few lines and still be riveting, but it takes practice and a plan.
Here are a few storytelling tips that I've learned along the way:
Stories are not reports
The subjects are about common and relatable life events
Have moments of genuine humor
Are delivered one-on-one and allow for interactivity
Are rehearsed so they have maximum impact when told
The listener should think of you as a friend. The best way to do this is to open up and share personal stories, experiences and opinions with your listener.
Don’t be afraid to make fun of yourself. Self deprecating is not only relatable, but endearing.
Good story telling not only has the ability to make you stand out and be remembered, but it also can help you feel better
If you want to be known for one thing, be known as a great storyteller.
