by
Scott Lorenz
Westwind
Communications
Recently
one of my author clients was featured on FOX News Boston.
Before he was interviewed on
camera he was nervous but was able to recall the media training that we
put him through a few weeks earlier. That, along with a pep talk, and he
was good to go.
What about YOU? Are you ready to be interviewed by local or national TV?
If you've not had media training, believe me it's too late once you get
the call. You may have to get in a car or on a plane within an hour's
notice. It's too late to get the training then. That's why you need to be
prepared before you get the call.
My experience as a publicist has convinced me that one of the greatest
concerns about being interviewed on television is what to wear. For radio
or newspaper interviews, fashion doesn't matter but how you appear is
critical for television.
When my clients agree to media
coaching, my first choice for them
to work with is TJ Walker, CEO of Media Training Worldwide (www.mediatrainingworldwide.com)
TJ Walker is one of the leading authorities on media training in the
world. With more than 20 years of media training experience, Walker has
trained thousands of CEOs, authors, and experts, including leading
government officials in the United States, European Prime Ministers, and
African diplomats.
Here's a quick list of "What to Wear and Not Wear!" that
TJ Walker and other media coaches have developed that I share with you now
so you can look terrific for your TV interview.
1. Don't wear white, black or red. White glows and becomes the most
noticeable thing on the TV screen. Black is too harsh and can suck up all
the light. Reds "bleed" on camera and are distracting.
2. Pastel shirts work well on TV.
3. The safest color on TV is blue.
4. Don't wear dangly earrings. They distract.
5. Remove jewelry that moves, makes noise, or could hit your microphone.
6. Be wrinkle-free.
7. Don't wear stripes, herringbone, small intricate designs, or flashy
jewelry. They are hard for a TV camera to pick up on.
8. Don't wear checks.
9. Dress in a simple, boring manner, unless you are a fashion designer.
10. TV viewers should focus on your face and what you say, not your
clothes.
11. Men should have about an inch of their shirt cuff showing.
12. Avoid light colored pants.
13. Wear over-the-calf socks so your skin doesn't show if you cross your
legs.
14. Don't wear more than one ring per hand.
15. Women shouldn't wear short skirts if you want people to focus on your
message.
16. If you wear a dark shirt, dark suit, and dark tie, you will look like
you are auditioning to be a hit man on the "Sopranos."
17. Vests look stuffy on TV.
18. Don't wear stripes. They dance around on the screen and are
distracting.
19. Avoid hair products that add shine.
20. No visible logos or companies or brands, except for your own company
logo.
21. People shouldn't judge you by your appearance, but they will.
22. If you do or wear anything distracting on TV, people will remember
that and nothing you say.
Clothes are the major factor in controlling how you appear to viewers.
While appearance is critical for success on television you also must be
concerned about the words that come out of your mouth, the knowledge you
display, and the self-confidence you demonstrate.
The bottom line: RELAX, you'll do fine. The butterflies you're feeling are
what will drive you to do your best! Remember, it's not like they are
going to ask you the square root of 656! They're asking you about
your book, your company, your story which you obviously know. Just follow
these helpful tips and you'll look as good as you sound.
Scott Lorenz
is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations
and marketing
firm. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX &
Friends, CNN, ABC Nightly News, ESPN, The New York Times,
and Howard
Stern.
Email: scottlorenz@westwindcos.com
Website: www.westwindcos.com
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