Students are back in class, and this was written, voiced and produced by students who are just starting their 2nd year in our post-secondary radio program. I just can't wait to hear what they be producing by the time they graduate!

Ken Boyer is one of the people on the ground filming lava and helping families know the status of there homes in evacuated areas. He encourages people to make a difference.

And here's the winning Promo/Large Markets from the last RAP Awards. This was one of my favorites from last year. Excellent work. Great creative team. Keep an eye out for these guys in the 28th Awards!

What's one way to make a clutter cutting radio ad? Use the element of surprise. The formula's simple. Set up a scenerio then take an unexpected turn at the end. Keeps listeners guessing while keeping them engaged.. And that keeps 'em tuned to your ad longer. Particularly with someone kooky enough to playfully focus on a business name...

One in a series of four commercials with the aim of changing the perception of HOSPICE from death, to living longer with care.

Let's see. I've counted 10 submissions from one of my "make client reads easier to listen to" campaigns. I've got more and by now you could very well be tired of 'em. But the point, as was hammered home by an established marketing pro I worked with a while back, is pretty plain. "Good campaigns have LONG legs". That comes with working at keeping the scenarios fresh combined with a client who's wiling to roll with it because they've been presented with the possibilities of this kind of approach. (of course a lot of 'em are not. And that's OK. But you'd be surprised at the number who ARE willing to roll the dice) If they seem to break the "radio correctness" of a locally produced ad, consider this. I heard a Geico radio commercial that personalized "dust bunnies". Silly? Absolutely! But many radio station dudes are more than creative enough to come with something as "out of the box" as that. Big agencies DON'T have exclusive dibs on creativity. The different sales points/events from ad to ad already lend some variety. Keeping the campaign a tad unpredictable, yet consistent, remains in the hands of the copywriter and producer to deliver the goods to show they're working for a client who might be already hesitant to put down hard earned money for radio ad campaigns. (A pain in the butt sometimes, considering the other deadlines we're up against) And the account rep who continues to call on those clients usually bares the brunt of this reluctance. Yet, that client resistance may begin to thaw if they hear customers tell 'em they dig your station's ads when shopping at their place of business. This attached commercial was inspired by a simple utilization of theater of the mind. Nothing earth shatteringly humorous. But still working to transform that "client has to be distant" perception into one that makes them human--and relatable. (not to mention fed up with his dopey announcer)