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Talkers Go To Boot Camp

The first TALK SHOW BOOT CAMP drew a capacity crowd to ATLANTA’s CROWNE PLAZA RAVINIA SATURDAY to hear panels and presentations ranging from nuts-and-bolts discussions on how to transition from music radio to talk or get syndicated to opinions on the future of the business.

Among the highlights of the show, produced by DON ANTHONY’s TALENTMASTERS, were spirited comments on an FM Talk panel by TALK RADIO NETWORK’s PHIL HENDRIE and CUMULUS Rock WNNX (ROCK 100.5)/ATLANTA morning “REGULAR GUYS” co-host LARRY WACHS, with ENTERCOM Rock KISW/SEATTLE morning host B.J. SHEA contributing from the audience, on talent’s travails dealing with radio’s management and the pigeonholing of hosts into political categories; a promotions panel headed by TRN’s RUSTY HUMPHRIES highlighting ways to get attention; views on the industry’s future in an optimistic opening presentation by MIKE MCVAY (“there will be a recovery”) and a closing panel featuring consultant GABE HOBBS and trade reporters and former PDs TOM TAYLOR, AL PETERSON and ALL ACCESS’ PERRY MICHAEL SIMON (with SHEA, WACHS and syndicated host DOUG STEPHAN weighing in from the audience).

More highlights included a presentation on PPM and tactical mistakes made by programmers based on the results by COLEMAN INSIGHTS’ SAM MILKMAN; and KIPPER MCGEE on using social media, FRED JACOBS on observing trends and the evolution towards digital media and mobile apps, and VALERIE GELLER offering tips on interviewing. On a “Talking Your Way to the Top” panel, experts discussed the traits common to top talent, with TRN’s PHIL BOYCE recalling SEAN HANNITY’s persistence (calling “at 10:01” to get the ratings released at 10:00), GELLER stressing talents’ senses of humor, and GREG MOCERI noting NEAL BOORTZ’ “fearlessness.”

And on the syndication panel, ENVISION RADIO NETWORKS’ DANNO WOLKOFF advised aspirants to develop the on-air product, an online social media presence, and on-demand (podcast) material, while agents ERIC WEISS and LISA MILLER gave the talent reps’ perspective, DIAL GLOBAL’s JESSICA SHERMAN discussed the needs of syndicators for affiliate sales, and STEPHAN talked about being an independent in the market.

GABE HOBBS MEDIA founder and longtime former CLEAR CHANNEL VP of News-Talk Programming GABE HOBBS was honored with the ANDREW ASHWOOD Award at the event’s luncheon, with DIAL GLOBAL and COX RADIO host NEAL BOORTZ as guest speaker.

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We’re getting our Phil: Radio host returns to South Florida airwaves

Phil Hendrie is back to being himself. In other words, he is scores of different people, from journalist/holistic nutritionist Margaret Gray to Ted Bell, who claims he invented baked potatoes cooked in tin foil, to politically incorrect homeowners association commando Bobbie Dooley to Pastor William Rennick, who has deduced that Jesus must have been black because he called everyone “Brother” and was profiled by the authorities.

Hendrie honed his riotously funny radio theater of the mind on WIOD (AM 610), then went to Los Angeles, where he became nationally syndicated. He gave up radio in 2006 to act and do voices on shows such as King of the Hill and Futurama. This wasn’t enough to keep him busy so he returned to radio with a general talk show the following year.

Now he is back to his old hilarious ways on more than 100 stations, including WIOD, WINZ (AM 940) and WBZT (AM 1230). Alas, his show is live out of Los Angeles from 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Pacific Time (1-4 a.m. in the East). So many stations pick up only highlights or air it on delay.

WIOD carries highlights from 9-11 p.m. on Sunday, and WINZ airs an hour from 5-6 a.m. weekdays. WBZT, which has limited reach in Palm Beach County, carries Hendrie live.

The thing I miss most about South Florida is…

The great listeners I had and the friends I made there. South Florida was the first place that really got it about me. The people were unbelievable. The golf tournaments we had the last summer I was there were awesome.

Offered prime tickets to any event, my choice would be …

Any Green Bay Packers game played in the snow.

If I wasn’t on the radio, I would have liked to be …

A professor of history or doing historical research.

If I could go on any reality show, my choice would be …

That bail bond show in Miami with those chicks.

Something about me people would be surprised to know is …

I’m a completely middle-class man. I like suburbia, supermarkets, school plays and stuff like that.