Live TV. It’s a double-edged sword. For business owners, going on TV can offer great exposure and gives customers a chance to see the people behind the operation. Rather than hawking your product, you can add a personal touch to something that is near and dear to you: your business.
It carries a sense of spontaneity that makes it more intriguing than words on paper. What will the host ask? How will you conjure up an answer in less than three seconds? On the other hand, this can happen:
The highlight of this comes at the 2:30 mark. “And boom goes the dynamite!”
So when BizSense was offered the chance to appear on the “Virginia This Morning” show for CBS-affiliate WTVR News 6, we obliged. And that’s not easy when you’re a print guy. We were talking about how colleges affect salary potential. We had at least one viewer for sure. (Who else is watching TV at 9:30 a.m.??) My mom was at home watching me, waving a foam Number One finger at the TV, screaming “That’s my boy!”
We were told to be at the studio no later than 8:15 a.m. We were practically the first people in the building. The secretary arrived about 10 minutes after we did.
I was the last guest to appear on the show. Maybe they were trying to ice me like a field goal kicker. It didn’t work.
Once we got in the studio, they miked me up, and before I knew it, I was sitting down with the two co-hosts. It only felt like 30 seconds, but the interview went great. I felt confident and relaxed, and I have my preparations to thank for that. Plus, the hosts were really friendly and casual.
So what are some ways to prepare yourself for a TV gig?
Practice, practice, practice. The show didn’t give me a list of the questions ahead of time, but earlier in the week we made some educated guesses at the type of questions they would ask. That definitely helped. I also suggest sitting down with a friend or colleague who can act as the interviewer and run through a few questions like you’re sitting in the studio. Do this several times. It’s kinda goofy the first time. But the more comfortable you are answering basic questions, the more you can come back to them when you get asked something that you’re not prepared for. Get whoever is asking the questions to throw in a few curveballs. It’s important to be able to think on your feet, and it’s a skill that’s applicable in all walks of life. It will give you more confidence and it will make you feel more comfortable.
Don’t ramble. I have a propensity to ramble when I don’t know what I’m talking about. I lose my train of thought and sometimes sit silent for 10 seconds while I reconnect all the dots in my brain. If I were to do this on live TV, the awkward meter would be off the charts. So when you’re asked a question that you’re not sure about, don’t just start talking. Take a breath, find the point that you want to make, and then make it. Better to have a short answer that makes sense than a long answer that ends in confusion. During my practice rounds for the interview, I rambled dozens of times. It was ugly. Luckily, I had practiced so much that I was fine on air and was able to calm myself before I answered each question. And when all else fails…let the hosts do the talking. This is what they get paid for (and they really seem to like it) so let them steer the conversation. Make your answers clear, and then let them make the next connection. Your answers don’t have to be limited to one sentence; just make sure that everything you’re saying makes sense and is something that you want to say. And if you get tripped up, just stop talking. Hosts are trained to fill in moments of silence, and they will get you back on track with a new question or comment. For Richmond BizSense, this is Alec Depcrynski reporting. We’ll see you back here tomorrow morning for all the business news you need to know. Have a great day.
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Live TV. It’s a double-edged sword. For business owners, going on TV can offer great exposure and gives customers a chance to see the people behind the operation. Rather than hawking your product, you can add a personal touch to something that is near and dear to you: your business.
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