Blogger: Kathleen Y’Barbo
Today is Janet Grant’s normal day to blog but since she is still evacuated from her Santa Rosa home we are once again going to replay one of the blogs written by long-time Bookie, Kathleen. Her background (Texas A&M Aggie) is in marketing, so today you’ll get to enjoy some more of her wisdom, along with a few other Bookies. [You may notice a picture of Wendy heading up this blog. That’s only because I (Wendy) am the one who posted Kathleen’s blog.]
Things are still complicated at Books & Such. So far, Janet, Rachel and Michelle and their families are safe. At last report as of the writing of this blog fires were about two miles from Janet’s home and on the direct path, but reports, while sketchy and ever-changing, read that firefighters feel they finally have some containment on this particular fire. We appreciate your continued prayers as homes and the Books & Such office are still at risk from these devastating and unpredictable fires.
And thanks, once again, Kathleen, for stepping in!
A few years back, the Books & Such experts weighed in on ideas for making the most of radio interviews. In the process of gathering all those valuable tips, I also got some what-not-to-dos that I just had to share.
“I have an iPhone. Its ring tone sounds like an old Ma Bell telephone, and it is loud. When we began the second half of a one-hour in-studio interview discussing my book How to Keep Your Inner Mess from Trashing Your Outer World, I set my phone’s timer for 30 minutes so I’d have a sense of how much time was left. I was smart enough to silence the ringer. With 45 seconds to go, while the host was signing off, the timer sounded off. I learned that silencing the ringer on an iPhone doesn’t silence the timer.” ~~Bill Giovannetti, www.innermess.com
“I did several radio interviews for my novel, Refiner’s Fire, which my publisher set up through a media group. At the end of an interview, the host said, ‘I’d like you back when your next book comes out.’ When the next book did come out, I assumed my publisher was again going to set up the radio interviews, so I never followed up. Lesson: never assume. Once you make a great contact, keep it on file and pursue it, on your own if need be. My failure made me miss a good opportunity.” ~~Sylvia Bambola, www.sylviabambola.com
Lest you think that all interviews end in a less-than-ideal way due to something you’ve said or done, let me leave you with this:
“I’d say don’t panic if you think things went wrong. I thought I must have messed up when hosts cut me off very early and abruptly in Minneapolis during the drive home show-until I found out the bridge had collapsed during the interview. It has made me more mindful that our words on radio could be the last someone hears.” Karen Whiting, www.karenwhiting.com
So, what can you dare to share? Help those of us whose knees knock when the interview’s name shows on the caller ID to know that no matter what, even if the worst happens, God can turn it around.
A coworker and I were presenting at a state-wide meeting . . . an honor that came to us because of our facility’s successful teamwork. We decided to carpool, arranging to meet at the A&P grocery store on the highway. I arrived at the appointed time . . . and waited, and waited (this was before cell phones). I finally called the office. “She’s been waiting for you, I was told, “right by McDonalds.” And the A&P where I waited shared its parking lot with Wendy’s. We hadn’t factored in two A&P stores on the same highway.
* We were late to the event and drew the last spot on the agenda–the moment when all eyes are on the exits. With little to lose, I launched our talk on teamwork with the tale of our failure to communicate. Everybody stayed to hear us out. Honesty, humility and humor to the rescue!
And Kathleen’s post ends with my prayer on behalf of Janet, Rachel, Michelle and all facing those flames: God, turn it around. Blow the fire back on itself with nothing to feed it. Amen.
First, special prayers for Janet, Rachel, Michell and all of those affected by these dreadful fires. May God’s Grace and Comfort cover their hearts.
* When BPH came out I did an interview on a local Christian station; the on-air personality asked me to describe the protagonist, and when I mentioned that he was a Viet Nam veteran with PTSD who could only really relate to dogs, that was pretty much ‘it’. The interviewer was a dog person, and we spent the whole fifteen minute bloc talking about the dire plight of strays, and the love they could bring into a person’s life if only given the chance.
* I don’t know if the interview sold any copies of the book, but I do know that there was an uptick in the number of adoptions (of cats, too!) that came directly from the interview, and that is by far the best outcome.
Adding my prayers to everyone here for Janet, Rachel, Michelle and so many others in the Santa Rosa area. Praying that those heroic firefighters begin to contain the fire soon and that they’ll be safe, too!
Andrew: how cool that your interview made a difference in the number of strays adopted, even better, that you were able to see that difference immediately. You made a difference in the lives of the dogs and the humans that adopted them. I’d say that interview as a great success!
And that, Andrew gives a beautiful example of a larger purpose God often allows us to play in the lives of others. 🙂
Yes it does! God hears our prayers!
Add my prayers to our beloved Janet, Rachel, and Michelle. I can think of little else.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, I know a live radio interview would scare me to death! Having never done one, I have no experiential advice to give, but I’m looking forward to reading others’ experiences.
In theory, perhaps donning a British accent would help? It seems to be my default when I’m nervous, lol. (No, I probably wouldn’t actually do it on air, but I nearly gave a pitch at ACFW that way thanks to those friendly butterflies that visit at the most inopportune times)
Thanks again Kathleen, and Wendy for posting. Well from my experience and being willing to try things out that I have had more than my share of embarrassing moments. I have found the best thing is to be good natured about it, no one is perfect, and I love it when I see someone handles a flubadub in a humorous or gracious manner. It speaks volumes of their character and endears them to my heart. So, if I mess up or make a mistake, I tend to go to humor of some sort, even if it’s brief and everyone breaths out a sigh of relief along with a chuckle.
Continuing in prayer for all.
Oh, but my typos on here are the result of my brain going fast with a hen pecking finger trying to text as I look up only to see the message I’m creating rolling off the little rectangular box. AND it happens on almost all my comments! AWK! Well, I just keep swimming like Dorie the fish recommends. I will eventually get to where I’m going and happily.
One practical thought – most people, when faced with a microphone, want to lean in because they think the mike will hear them better.
* All this does is to constrict the lungs and diaphragm, and turn an otherwise pleasant voice into something resembling a drunken bullfrog on a wet night in Glasgow.
* Lean back, and talk normally. The mike hears way better than you do.
Not nice, Andrew. Now you’ve planted the image of a drunken Scottish bullfrog in my brain, and I expect that to keep popping up to draw a chuckle when I should be focused in the emotional/spiritual crisis scene I’m final-editing.
Great recommendation Andrew because I don’t think there’s a one of us that would like sound like a drunk frog in Glasgow. The picture the listeners form in their minds listening to a voice like that can only be what? Could be scary or hilarious, or anything in between.
Exactly. And there are sound guys/gals on the other end of that microphone who will make you sound great if you let them. Love the drunken bullfrog analogy! 🙂
And with a hand-held mic remember to speak into the end, not the side.
Of course that mostly applies to live presentations.
Thank you for graciously continuing to keep the blog posts coming, Wendy. Prayers continue for friends and family in CA.
In general, we know that making assumptions is discouraged. In the case of a radio interview (or any interview) however, I believe it is wise to make an exception and assume that the interviewer knows little to nothing about you/me. He/she may not have even heard my name before, almost certainly has not read my book(s), and is just an interview assignment that the producer has placed on the day’s schedule. Help the interviewer out! Feed questions ahead of time that the interviewer can ask. Do whatever you can do to make the interviewer look like they have known you for years and are introducing a long-time friend to their audience. If you make the interviewer look good, they will turn that around and make you look good as well.
Excellent advice, Damon, thank you! Such a good idea to bring prepared questions, that’s a win-win for everyone.
GREAT perspectives and suggestions, Damon. When we can make someone else look good, they often return the favor. And that’s not just in radio interviews.
“Make the interviewer look good …” Great thought, Damon. Always give first.
This is a great post. I have never done a radio interview, but I find the idea intriguing. 😉
*My questions: How do you battle the nerves before and during an interview? And, do radio hosts send you a list of questions beforehand? Or do you just have to be extemporaneous?
I’ve always wondered this, too, Jeanne … do they give you a short list of questions so that you can be prepared? I’m sure they do all they can to help the person feel at ease … They have to know how scary it could be for someone who isn’t a radio personality. 🙂
You battle the nerves by turning that nervous energy toward being prepared. I always suggest that an interviewee ask the interviewer if he/she would appreciate some suggested questions. Remember you’re there to help the reporter to his/her job. Providing questions–and answers–is a great way to do that. And yes, I do suggest you provide the answers as well. I’ve found that not only does this help the interviewer guide the course of the interview, it also gives him/her material to write a follow up article. And who doesn’t want more promotion?!
I got some great advice before I talked with Eric Metaxas, who loves to wing it and yell jokes.
I listened to his podcast the week before the interview sprang up with an hour’s notice. I prayed, stood up while I talked with him over the course of an hour. It was fun.
As the author, you know more than the interviewer does. Have a few points you want to make, right them down and try to stick near them. Write down the interviewer’s name so you don’t forget.
Write down the full title of your book (!), and your website address– so you can remember them!
If, like me, you gave a potentially confusing last name, have a way to help people remember it and how to spell it. After living with this silly name for 40 years, I bungled that!
Mostly, though, relax and enjoy the conversation. Go ahead and imagine the interviewer in their underwear if that helps! Lol
Thank you all, so much, for your prayers. We’re hanging in here– this last Oakmont fire should be the end, but it’s been a crazy 8 days since we first left home in the middle of the night.
Many fire fighters are out there, now, and we are confident the fire will be stopped. God is good.
Please hand out grace on the spelling! Lol Yes, my brain is frazzled.
You had an hour’s notice? I can’t imagine. However, that might work best for me. The more time I have to think about it, the more time I have to work myself up into a frenzy. 🙂
Given my epic amount of radio interview experience, (a grand total of one) I don’t think I have any usable advice. But my interviewer was kind enough to interview me before he interviewed me, so that helped A LOT.
And I tried hard not to say “umm” 5000 times.
A pre-interview is always a good thing. As is trying not to say ummm. Also, try not to use ‘and’ to keep a thought going. Think of how your interview responses would look if they were written down. Do not respond with something like this: “Yes, I did write this book with the desire to reach people and no, I do not like applies but oranges are great, and the Astros beat the Yankees yesterday and don’t you just love the new Crowder song?”
Okay I exaggerate, but listen closely next time someone is answering interview questions. There is no need to fill the space between sentence with ‘and’. It’s sort of an umm that is an actual word.
Instead, end your sentences, do not create one giant compound sentence/thought that goes on for awhile. Can you tell this is a pet peeve of mine?
Big money can run an oil pipe line from Canada through the USA to the gulf.
Engineers should figure on how to run a water pipe line (smaller) through the mountains to help contain fires. It’s the same problem every year. People die, millions in property damage and no one does anything.I’m sure insurance companies would contribute. Add a 1% tax to help pay for a water pipe line. People will pay if they have a design. Universities could start a contest for engineering students for the best designs. Pass this along and get started using the talents that God gave us.
My prayers for safety and protection for all your team and all of your properties.
Of course I’m praying hard for everyone in fire areas. What will happen to your clients if the office burns?