My First Television Interview

July 20, 2011

It was to be my first television interview--and live as well. I didn't like the idea much. My wife and I publish websites on a variety of topics--from home, and I like the anonymity and the working-without-shoes aspect of our business. But my book 101 Weird Ways to Make Money was being published, and I had to think about sales and marketing.

My publicist at Wiley and Sons had the producers of Fox and Friends interested in the book, and asked me by email, "Did you have plans to visit NY this summer?" My wife and I live in Colorado, so my response was something along the lines of "Only if someone buys me a plane ticket." But I added that I would be willing to do the interview from a FOX affiliate up in Denver.

Her next email: "A producer with FOX & Friends would like to have you as a guest on the Sunday show to discuss your book!" It was Thursday (July 14, 2011). Sometime "this summer" had turned into "three days from now." The interview would be at 8:45 a.m. eastern time by satellite feed from Denver--6:45 here.

I talked to Ana (my wife, love of my life, and top promoter). We booked a room at the Hyatt in Denver for Saturday night. A friend would check on our cats. FOX arranged for a driver to pick us up Sunday morning, so I wouldn't have to drive around looking for the studio.

We went early and bought a new shirt for me at an outlet mall along the route to Denver (someday I may have to own more than running shoes and jeans as well, but this would be a waist-up camera shot). When we arrived in I talked the girl at the check-in desk into an upgrade to the Regency Club, which was good for a lot of free food and cheaper drinks. We also discovered that Bill Gates might be in the hotel--there was a Microsoft conference going on. I hoped to ask him about a problem with my laptop, but alas, we never saw him.

I had been in touch with the segment producer from FOX while we were at that mall earlier, and she (we) had chosen six good ways to make money from the book. She was going to have graphics for each (by the next morning!), and she had several "talking points" laid out for me as well. I was impressed--and happy that I could prepare with some idea what to expect.

I had a "Media Training" printout from Wiley and Sons, which had several pages of tips on how to prepare for a television interview. In addition to "be yourself," "be prepared," "be confident," "don't fidget," and "NEVER LIE" (yes, all capitals), it was actually full of useful information. For example, I knew that stripes and bright colors were a problem for cameras, but I didn't know that light green was. We later walked over to the stores on 16th street and bought a new shirt to replace the green one I had brought.

The section which started with, "When it is live telvision bad things can happen," got my attention...

The story continues here... My First Television Interview: Part Two

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