#9: "Hey guys!" and other hosting crutches you should avoid

I recently told my eleven year old son he was banned from watching any YouTube video that began with "Hey guys!"  He was upset at first and I could hear him yelling at the screen, "Oh come on!" as seemingly every video he clicked on began like that. My little boy got the point quickly and so should you. "Hey guys" is rampant in DIY videos these days. It's overused. It's trite. And it's lazy. You won't hear Bob Costas, or Ryan Seacrest, or Savannnah Guthrie opening with these words. Ever. That's because they're practiced at what they do, and you should be too.

Be different. Break things up.

It's simple. Mix up your intros. If you went to Journalism school, or you have ever worked in a newsroom, you already know every article; each segment should start differently from the last and it's the same here. And if you don't believe me, just check out your favorite news site, or your local evening news. Your hosting stand ups should begin differently each time as well. Simple as that. And if you truly feel the need to use "Hey guys" (yes, even I have used it once or twice) be sure to employ a 10-1 ratio. In other words, for each time you use "Hey guys" be sure to do something different the other nine. 

Here are a few other crutches that hosts use when they're nervous, or don't know what else to say. Up your game by not being one of them. 
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• "Who are you wearing?" (why? just.. why????) 
• "Who do you look forward to seeing tonight?" (as opposed to who do you want to avoid?)
• "At the end of the day" (I've used this one. It's a stinker.) 
•  "Thanks, Bill" (thanks for what exactly?) 

Finally, please don't beat yourself up if you've ever used these. Most of us have (see mine above). Yes, it can be off-putting, but its a great reminder that you are better than this. You put work into our craft. Don't derail it with flubs like these. Now its your turn. What catch phrases, or overused cliches bother YOU?