Well, that's a question I've been asked countless times ( 14 times in fact) throughout my career, but in truth, it's a question I’ve often asked myself. I'm Nic Pandolfi, and I've had the good fortune to spend years behind the mic, from BBC local and commercial stations to national radio in the UK and New Zealand. My journey into radio was entirely by accident – a happy mishap that I've thoroughly enjoyed. Perhaps that goes some way to explaining why I find radio, its content, and the best way to 'present' it so fascinating.
Beyond the Banter and Fake Drawls
In my view, being a good radio presenter isn't about how well you can talk over a "ramp" – that bed of music presenters often chat over. And it certainly doesn't require your voice to take on a fake drawl or sound overly excited about it being "Feel Good Friday." Those bits of radio clutter are just a process, a technique, like riding a bike. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. But they have absolutely nothing to do with connecting with an audience.
Connecting with your listeners is far simpler: just be you. Be the person on the radio that you are at home, with your friends.
Presenters vs. DJs: A Crucial Distinction
And let me be clear: radio presenters are not DJs. And DJs are not presenters. I'm happy to spell this out if you want, but as the title suggests, a presenter is someone who makes the journey of listening to radio easy, fun, and insightful. They make it sound effortless, and I think that’s because, fundamentally, being a radio presenter is easy.
Nobody really showed me how to do it. A few grumpy journalists told me what not to do and what not to say. I'd nod along, thinking, "But you sound fake, Jim, and I think you're wrong." Being a radio presenter might require a sprinkle of defiance, a nudge of the rules, but only for the benefit of the listener, never for your own ego.
My Simple Advice for New Talent
Now that I work with young, talented radio presenters, the one thing I tell them is this: check your levels, think about the listener, and then open the mic. I was never one for huge amounts of prep; the role didn't really need it. And I certainly worked with people who typed out their scripts, including their own name! I'd say if you need to write your name down, you might struggle to say something memorable or remotely worthy of being called a radio presenter. Of course, some of us are lucky enough to find it easy to talk behind a mic, but if you don't – what are you doing there?
Learning from the Best (and My Own Blunders)
I've had the privilege of working with a rare breed of presenters: Hugh Evans, Andy Archer, Nick Risby, Mark Matthews, Lucy Hood, to name a few. I’ve undoubtedly left a few out, but all those names taught me something. I also learnt how not to be a presenter by listening to my own output. I was always incredibly self-critical and enjoyed hearing how I could have made a speech link better, or not. So, really, how to be a good presenter is truly far less of a kerfuffle than some on the radio make it sound.
**The one element those names all shared, they took the job and the responsibility incredibly seriously but never themselves. They were real.
My Radio Pet Hates
- "Up for grabs." Presenters say this, and nobody on planet earth says that, do they?
- If the radio production says "LBC with Nick Pandolfi," the worst thing you can possibly say next is "Hello, this is LBC and I'm Nick Pandolfi." I'll genuinely shout at the radio: don't repeat the production!
- Radio folk who know how tall a transmitter is and when it was built.