funny radio ads

wow. That commercial was so much fun that it almost caused me to drive off the road and collide with a flock of ducks waiting to cross the street. Thank goodness there was a stop sign there to keep my car from running over innocent people. charlatans.

For some, that situation can evoke a feeling of dread and horror. For others, the absurd setting and situation are hilarious. Humor is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to radio commercials. What is funny for some will not be for others. The problem with most commercials designed to be funny is the fact that they are not “fun” at all.

The process is often like this.

1. A professional scriptwriting team comes up with a really fun concept or theme for a commercial.
2. It is then translated into a hilarious radio commercial script.
3. The script is sent to the company requesting the funny commercial for their review and feedback.
4. The business passes it on to EVERYONE in the office, close family members, second cousins, and someone “Aunt Mary” who made an amazing taco dip for the 4th of July 1993.
5. The 30-second script is returned to the radio commercial production company with enough additions to make it three minutes long and look nothing like its original start.
6. The radio commercial production agency informs the client that it cannot change the laws of physics and needs to “edit the script for time.” The new edition lacks humor because the client wants the 32 points made by the staff and the teenage daughter in the final commercial.
7. The ad is approved, taped, and not funny at all.

How do you prevent this from happening to your radio ad?

Keep the “feedback” circle small and limit it to the target demographic of people you want to reach in the commercial. So if your message is directed at a woman who is 35 years old and had 3 children, ONLY pass the message on to someone who fits that demo. If you go after a 42 year old male hunter ONLY pass it off as that type of person.

Getting feedback on a funny radio commercial from people who aren’t meant to find it funny won’t be of any value to you. It will only put doubts in your mind as to the level of humor in the commercial. Keep the feedback on target and your salesperson will be on target.