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How to Make the Most of a TV or Radio Interview |
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| Sooner or later, the time may come when you
are asked or will ask to appear on radio or TV. It may be an event promotion or an
interview about your ministry. This type of engagement is, by some, comparable to public
speaking and most people fear that more than death itself. So, if you do have the
opportunity to be on radio or TV here are some pointers to make it easier: *Talk to the Interviewer as a Friend: Put the fact that you are talking to or being seen by thousands of people out of your mind. You can't see them so for all practical purposes they do not exist. Talk to the interviewer or even pretend you are talking with your best friend and let everyone else eavesdrop. *Preparation is always the Best Policy: Prepare! Usually your fear is of the unknown. Make sure you have good notes and give the interviewer a list of questions that you want to talk about. Don't let the interviewer surprise you with questions you are not prepared to answer. *Visit the Station Beforehand: See if the interviewer will let you visit the station a few days in advance of your appearance. See if you can observe someone else's interview and see how it goes with that person and what you can expect when it's your turn. *(At home) Move Around: If you are doing the interview on radio by phone from your home or office, feel free to walk around on your feet. Some people think better moving around. *Bring Something with You: If you have something such as a CD, booklet, or brochure to show for your event/ministry, bring it with you if at all possible. Even on radio. It's easier to talk about your "product" if you have something right there where you can touch it and see it. *Speak Conversationally: The most important point is to be yourself. Don't use any words you don't use in your everyday life. Using big words doesn't impress anyone and most listeners and viewers will be able to tell you don't use them regularly. *Dress Appropriately: Even for radio where they can't see you, dress as you would want your audience to see you. You will feel the most at ease in your standard work attire. For TV, depending on the circumstances, a more professional look may be necessary even if it's not your normal dress. Remember you are representing your ministry and you want to do that looking and sounding your best. Five more tips addressing your appearance are from Television Do's and Don'ts by Susan Trapp, Account Traffic Coordinator of Media Relations, Inc.: 1. Keep make up and hair simple. 2. Keep your hemline low and your neckline high. 3. Optimal colors for an outfit are jewel tones, or darker colors like navy or gray. Black and white are the two extremes that you should stay away from. Also, pastels can really wash out your coloring. 4. Jewelry can finish an outfit's look, however keep it simple. Garish earrings and large, noisy bracelets can distract your audience. 5. Finally, do one last check before the "cameras roll." Make sure your clothes aren't askew, there isn't any lipstick on your teeth and you don't have hair sticking up in the back of your head like Alfalfa from the Little Rascals. *Let Someone Less Nervous Go Before You: If other interviews are being done at the same time, you can let someone else go first. The main reason is if you are extremely nervous; they will arrange the lights and sound and all the settings with the first person. Minor or no adjustments will be made for all the others. You will be made to sit there longer and there is a greater chance of your anxiety increasing. Let someone else be the test subject. When it's your turn sit down and knock it out. *If at First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again: If you are being taped for playback on the station at a later time and feel you didn't do well, don't be too shy to ask if you can do it again. If they have the time they may let you. After all they want a good presentation too. Radio and TV can be a positive contribution to your ministry. It is natural to be fearful, but try to put that aside. The more exposure you can generate the more people you have the possibility of attracting. Brought to you by: Small Town Marketing- http://www.smalltownmarketing.com/interview, small business guide -Tom Egelhoff is the author of "How To Market, Advertise and Promote Your Business Or Service In A Small Town." He is also the developer of www.smalltownmarketing.com, a small business guide with over 198 Web Pages of free marketing, advertising and promotion tips and articles. Excerpted by Trish Helligso, WomensMinistry.Net Staff Intern
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