Most everyone hates Mondays. There’s even a Boomtown Rats song that celebrates how much we despise Monday mornings. It’s tough for listeners and for radio personalities. It’s just different. Some just accept that their show sucks on Monday. But that’s giving up. Don’t do that. You’re better than that.
Why Your Show Sucks On Monday
The first step to overcoming a problem is being aware of what causes it. There are three reasons Monday morning shows are a challenge.
Listeners Are Different: Weekends are more fun. Monday reintroduces the routine. For two days, listeners have been in a relaxed weekend mode. Now it’s time to crank it up. They’re moving slower and are a little cranky. And those responsible for families have to deal with kids, which complicates things even more. Then when they finally get in gear, it’s frantic.
You Are Different: Morning personalities have been off for three days. One of the advantages of hosting a morning show is that virtually every weekend is a three-day weekend, from 10 am on Friday through Sunday night. Transitioning to a different mindset – and lifestyle – is hard. Sleep patterns change and even when rested when the new week begins, there’s a weekend hangover.
Physical Differences: It’s not just a mental and emotional adjustment. Studies show physical differences on Mondays. We tire more quickly. We are less optimistic. The Monday Morning Blues or Blahs are a real thing.
So yes, there’s a reason your show faces more barriers as the week begins. But that is not an excuse to just mail it in. Listeners are struggling, too. They need their favorite personalities even more on Monday morning.
How To Fix Monday Morning
So what is the solution? If the show sucks on Monday, dig in and find the sparkle.
Here’s how to make it sizzle:
Show Prep: It’s always a good idea to plan a show in advance. Follow the show prep guidelines in the Prep Like a Pro plan and Mondays will improve immediately. It’s tempting to rush out the door after Friday’s last break, but spend a few minutes getting a head start on Monday. To help, Personality Magnet Show Prep releases the next week’s content each Thursday.
Start Earlier: Since Monday is a grind, get to the studio earlier than usual. Just 15-30 minutes can make a huge difference. This helps multicast shows reconnect, fine-tune content, and get the cobwebs out before turning on the mic. It may help to play warm-up games. This seems silly at first, but it’s amazing how quickly the energy comes back.
Plan For No Listener Interaction: The audience is dragging. They’re less likely to participate, especially with complicated topics. Getting upset won’t help and begging for phone calls sounds horrible and desperate. So keep topics simple. Personality Magnet has a simple Monday Morning topic each week. Or play an easy guessing game like Impossible Trivia. But most of all, prepare as if nobody will call. Phone calls are terrific, but planning for the audience to provide entertainment value is lazy.
Prepare Psychologically: Success is a product of attitude. Mondays happen and nothing can stop them. Prepare mentally to start the week full of enthusiasm and positive energy. Demand the same attitude from the entire team. Find a way to look forward to a new week of exciting opportunities. Change your mood and Monday will follow.
Conclusion
Monday will never be fun. It takes more effort so the show doesn’t suck on Monday. Prepare and plan for it, knowing it’s the most difficult day of the week.
Oh, and this goes double for Tuesdays following a long weekend!
And triple for the first day back after the Christmas holidays!
