Neal liaison gives market boost with radio broadcast

MANATEE COUNTY — At her producer’s cue, Gail Shane closes her eyes, letting a smile spread across her face as she takes a moment to dance in her seat to her intro music.

Then, she’s on.

“Welcome back to 1280 WTMY, the voice of Manasota,” she said. “You are listening to Gail Shane & Friends, bringing you community and real estate talk. You can listen and watch us live in the studio on WTMY.com.”

Shane’s new program, “Gail Shane and Friends,” took to the airways July 19 on WTMY 1280 AM Radio. The program, which airs from 4-5 p.m., Sundays, features discussions of hot topics in real estate with local Realtors and industry experts under Shane’s direction. Guest Realtors also highlight a charity of their choice and invite a representative of that charity to join the program.

“People want to know about today’s topics in real estate,” said Shane, the Realtor liaison for Neal Communities. “I like bringing in the experts and getting the information from the people who work it every day. I like to promote good deeds, good news and good people.”

In each session, Shane said she is careful to paint a picture in words for her listening audience. And with Shane’s natural knack for the microphone and unique program format, the show’s popularity is on the rise. Already, guest Realtors are scheduled through the end of November.

Shane said she never expected to become a Realtor — let alone a radio talk show host. She came up with the idea after bumping into WTMY’s Cliff Roles three days in a row.

“It was an omen,” Shane said. “We met for coffee and talked about radio. I told him my ideas and he said, ‘You can do it.’”

The meeting gave Shane the push she needed to move forward. She met with the station manager, who was looking to fill a Sunday spot and then pitched the idea to her employer for a sponsorship. In less than two weeks, she was ready for action.

Throughout the experience, Shane hasn’t shied from the spotlight — even with the knowledge that her program has caught the attention of listeners across the United States and in Europe.

“I’m amazed; I don’t know where it’s coming from,” Shane said. “I’m very comfortable (in front of the microphone). We just chat. We’re prepared to talk to each other.”

To hear clips of Shane’s program or to for more information, visit WTMY 1280 AM Radio’s Web site at www.wtmy.com.

Contact Pam McTeer at [email protected].