CPR Promotional Check-Up - Oct 21, 2011

Christmas Music, Yeah!!

It goes without saying that the majority of you will have a station in your cluster doing The Christmas Thing. Which is cool. So, some thought starters:

Debuting With Some Flair    I’ve launched two stations with faux ‘rmats of Christmas music. And both times we added the visual of sticking street teamers in Santa costumes on street corners all over town. Cheaper than outdoor and frankly way more effective. I’ve never seen someone put up a board with three artist photos and a position statement and watched as one in four motorists leaned over and turned the channels on their radio. But I dressed up as Santa, stood on a corner in 100 degree heat and watched that happen. Why wouldn’t you have some fun with the day you switch the music?

For The Website      Just as stations do with Halloween, you should have a web list of EVERY Christmas tree lot, school pageant, Santa parade and other seasonal event/activity in town. Especially the school stuff. If you ask, trust me, the Choir & Theater Parents will send you the info.

Awkward Cards    How popular are these things? There’s a website AND a line of greeting cards. One of the Christmas stations is looking at soliciting photos and rewarding the top vote getter with a visit from the DJ’s who will drop off a tree with lights and ornaments.

Caroloke      If you’re going to change the music, you should change the contesting too. Very simple, take a caller, start a Christmas song hook, cut it off and they need to finish it to win.

Googlizing      I’ve seen non-Christmas stations with more festive websites than their seasonal brethren. Have falling snowflakes. Have the Snoopy decorated doghouse up in the corner. Wired in Philly always has Ralphie from “A Christmas Story” and the Abominable Snow Man from “Rudolph” on the masthead.

Christmas Eve     BRMB in the UK did a Santa World Tour with call-ins from the sleigh for 24 hours. I have the copy.

The Next Million Hit Youtube Video     Find a listener. Take the engineer out to their home. And set up one of those “flash to the beat” light displays that ends up on youtube.

Could Induce Diabetes      I’ve never seen a station work with a mall and mike Santa. Have the parents sign a release form as the kids are up there and edit together a cool collage of little kids asking Santa for stuff.

Will Be The “Fluff Piece” On CNN     Regular readers (the indigent and 3rd shift motel employees) will know that I’ve been pushing “surprise soldier homecomings” since 2002. And damn it if it’s not a show now. If you could get a soldier to walk out and surprise his kid at the school pageant DRESSED AS SANTA, then you will for a day be the coolest station on the planet. Work the FSO office with the local guard, reserve and bases. Politicians have juice too.

The other and FAR easier thing to do (and free) is to find some kid whose dad/mom is deployed and webcam their pageant.

The Station With Balls      Get a box of ornaments and EVERY celeb that comes through between now and Christmas, have them sign all the balls. Then auction them off for a toys charity before Christmas.