Nick R Thomas - A Public Speaker's Blog :: In Defence of Radio Show Prep Services!

(The following article was originally published in the Radio Magazine Issue 753, 6th September 2006)

Prep services: The case for the defence, m'lud...

I love radio discussion forums. There's the appalling spelling, lack of punctuation, unbelievably bad grammar ('he could of done that') and the relentless sniping at anyone with the temerity to be employed as a presenter (often from people who plainly never will be).

Then there's the frequent claim that writers like me spend our time supplying an inferior product which no-one should be using anyway. No, not heroin cut with Ajax, something far worse: pre-written show prep!

One post stated that jocks who use it shouldn't be allowed within a hundred miles of a microphone. Presumably those who believe this only ever enjoy films and plays which the actors have scripted themselves (never mind the brilliance of the delivery - if those aren't Pacino's own words then he's definitely cheating!)

Using a prep service is no different from spending money on a voice training course, the services of a good agent or a good haircut for a PA (and you're lucky if you can. I had hair once; damn, I miss it). It's choosing to make an investment to help you succeed in a ferociously competitive industry.

It would also seem that prep services are 'for people without any talent'. My service is confidential but I can tell you that my clients include prime-time presenters on major stations. Is it their lack of talent that's got them this far?

Incidentally, I don't provide the 'list of events' type of prep, just humour, and I agree that jokes are subjective, but I was staggered to read a post from one jock who worked for a station where gags were only allowed on the breakfast show. Despite this, he cracked a few on his own programme, only to find himself hauled in front of his PC who told him they couldn't possibly be funny because they weren't on breakfast! Just think what a miserable existence this controller must have, perhaps renting comedy DVDs but only feeling able to view them between the hours of 6 and 10am.

I certainly don't seek to put every word into a presenter's mouth (who would want that pressure?) but using two or three of my gags a day augments the original material of a good jock. Sometimes my input sparks off an idea so they can add their own witty postscript. In fact, using a professional scriptwriter means that, over time, they may develop their own writing skills through osmosis. Once again, that's an investment.

Another criticism is that we're 'not local' (very League of Gentlemen!) but have you looked at your regional newspaper? There's not much to amuse your listeners in stories about planning decisions or car crashes (the latter certainly don't seem cut out for drivetime laughs!) Surely it's better to say something humorous about a national event but relate it to your own region?

Some posts even claim that prep services are over-subscribed to saturation point - I wish! So does my bank manager.

When I write topical comedy, I sometimes agonise over whether it's cruel. Then I look at the comments posted in some forums and realise that I am a fluffy bunny compared with some of these people. Do their listeners ever get to hear this side of their personalities? 'In forum veritas', eh? Actually, I shouldn't paraphrase Latin because apparently another failing of prep writers is that we 'assume a level of stupidity rather than intelligence' on the part of the audience. But of course! After all, I cut my writing teeth with humour used by Punch, Sir David Frost, the New Statesman, the Spectator...

I may attract some forum flak for writing this article but I'm prepared for that because preparation is my business - and I'm not ashamed to say so.

Nick R Thomas