| Ever listen to a talk show on the radio? And ever | | | | won't sound silly to the listener, if you follow a |
| wonder how those experts on the shows got to | | | | couple of rules. First, know the general format of |
| be there?The dirty secret is that they | | | | your answer, but don't memorize what you're |
| shamelessly pushed themselves onto the | | | | going to be saying. Second, be spontaneous. Try |
| program. And while it sounds both dirty and | | | | to engage the host, and talk to them. Of course, |
| shameless, the reality is that going on to talk | | | | there will be lots of people listening on the radio, |
| programs is a great way to promote your work | | | | but you will sound stilted and forced if you think |
| in a way that's both low-key, and effective.Plus: | | | | of them. Think instead of that one individual you |
| even if you can't be on a particular program, you | | | | are speaking to, the host or the caller. Third, smile. |
| can benefit from talk shows, as a caller.The | | | | Of course, if you're discussing an unhappy or |
| secret in both situations is to remember my rule: | | | | serious issue, you don't want to be grinning from |
| you are there to provide information, and not to | | | | ear to ear. But smiling, or at least maintaining a |
| sell your service or product.Which doesn't mean | | | | pleasant look on your face, will make your voice |
| you won't sell your work. You will. But your | | | | sound more musical, more vibrant, and less flat. If |
| listeners won't think they are being sold. And | | | | a caller, or even the host, becomes |
| that's a great combination.I've written about using | | | | argumentative, that's all the more reason to keep |
| audio calls to promote your work. This is a | | | | a pleasant look on your face. Maintain a pleasant |
| variation of that. But it's a far more effective | | | | expression, and be a genuinely nice person, and |
| system.Talk shows need you. Desperately. And | | | | you'll likely defuse the anger.Don't be discouraged |
| the smaller the talk show, the smaller the | | | | if there are not a huge number of calls. A good |
| network, the smaller the radio station, the more | | | | host will know how to make a program work, |
| desperately they need you.Most people | | | | even if there are not a lot of calls. But you will |
| contemplating going on talk shows think Oprah | | | | likely be surprised at how many calls come |
| first. And while I won't argue with anyone who | | | | in.When you get calls, make sure you listen to the |
| manages to snag a spot on Oprah, the reality is | | | | caller, and understand their question. And pause |
| that you are competing with thousands of other | | | | for a second before answering, to give yourself |
| people for that privilege. And you are unlikely to | | | | time to think, and collect your thoughts. If you |
| get on there, at least not for a long time.On the | | | | are baffled by a question, it's OK to say, "Well, |
| other hand, let's say you're in a small town. And | | | | that's a very good question, but it's a little outside |
| the local station has a talk show every morning | | | | my area of expertise. But let me tell you how I |
| from 8 to 10. And most of the time, the talk is a | | | | handled a similar situation ..." Then go on to talk |
| group of several announcers who sit around, | | | | about an area that relates to the question that |
| chew the fat, discuss high school sports, and | | | | you are familiar with. Don't take calls personally. If |
| generally try to fill in the time between | | | | someone is angry about something, you are very |
| commercials.And there are hundreds of such | | | | likely not the cause of their anger. In such a |
| examples across the US and Canada. And you | | | | situation, you might say, "I can appreciate that |
| don't have to be in a small town. Even in such | | | | you are quite concerned about this issue ..." And |
| radio markets as New York City and Chicago, | | | | then go on to relate their question to an area of |
| there are dozens of small stations which serve | | | | your expertise.And when the program's over, |
| niche markets (think ethnic groups, small areas, | | | | your work is not complete. You need to do 2 |
| etc.) And those that have talk shows need | | | | things. First, speak to the receptionist. Leave one |
| talkers. Which is where you come in.The other | | | | of your cards, and write your URL on the back of |
| reality is that while a good talk show sounds | | | | the card in large, legible letters. The receptionist |
| informal, it's anything but that. The structure of a | | | | may get calls later from people who want to |
| good show is formal, and laid out in advance. The | | | | contact you, and you want the receptionist to be |
| guest (that's you) sets out the format for the | | | | able to send them to your site. Next, write a |
| program, sets out the questions the host will ask, | | | | thank you note to the host of the program. Not |
| and basically knows what's going to happen, and | | | | an email: you want to send an actual card. No one |
| where the program's going to go.If you have | | | | does this. And so by doing it, you will stick out in |
| never listened to a local radio talk show, do so. | | | | the host's memory. If the program went well, |
| Listen to a number of them. Know what you are | | | | you definitely want to be back at a later time, |
| getting into, and how the host operates.In the | | | | and if the host remembers you as a good guest |
| meantime, prepare a resume, but not a regular | | | | who's helpful, informative, and easy to deal with, |
| resume. This one focuses on what you are | | | | you have a far better chance of being asked |
| prepared to offer as a talk show host. Explain | | | | back, over and over again.Jim Huffman, RN |
| what you have done, what you are good at, and | | | | specializes in natural and alternative healing |
| what you know.Next, prepare a list of questions | | | | therapies. His first book is 'Dare to Be Free: How |
| for the host. These will be ones that you are | | | | to Get Control of Your Time, Your Life, and Your |
| prepared to answer, and while it sounds a little silly | | | | Nursing Career,' and is aimed at helping other |
| (to you) answering the questions that you've | | | | nurses find satisfying, dynamic careers. |
| prepared, and already know the answer for, it | | | | |