Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/196551
good candidate to be a guest. He needs a website (you should have one, too!) and a more focused message. can provide you a copy or link to the show for your website and promotional material. GET RADIO-READY MAKE A LASTING IMPRESSION OK, let's say you have your website up and running; If you've never done an interview before, it can you have a good, concise, informative pitch; and be nerve-wracking, and you want to come across you've landed yourself a spot on a radio show. as professional as possible. Practice with a family Here are some things you will need to know. member or friend, and follow these tips: Are you going to a studio? Get directions, parking, • If you are with the host live, meet her eyes, call time, etc. If you are going to a studio, are they smile, and be as conversational as possible. fi lming the show also? Many radio shows have a video • If you are conducting the interview over the running of what is happening live in studio. This might phone, make sure you're in a quiet room on affect your wardrobe choice. Whether it is fi lmed or a landline phone, and don't use a headset or not, show up dressed in a professional manner, and speakerphone. Don't walk around the room. Sit take a copy of your book, DVD, or product with you. with good posture, speak slowly, and smile. If it's a phone interview, • Be energetic and vary your speech get the call time in the correct patterns. Low energy and a monotonous time zone for you. Find out if voice are not appealing on the radio. you are calling them or they • If you have to cough, burp, clear your are calling you. Get their throat, or take a drink, use the mute phone number and make button if you have one (make sure to sure they have the correct unmute before you talk again), or take number for you. Find out the phone away from your mouth. www.factbrowser.com/facts/11193/ how long the show is and how • Make sure you are hydrated, long you will be on, and if and don't smack your lips or there is a specific focus or a breathe too hard. Those sounds number of topics for the show. can be picked up during the interview. Often, a show will ask you beforehand for questions, • Remember you are on the radio, so nodding so have those prepared and get them to the person in your head to illustrate agreement and delivering charge in a timely manner. If a producer doesn't ask one-word answers aren't going to work. for questions ahead of time, check in to see if you can Also, if you want to make the most of your radio provide some—it's their show, but it's your time to appearance, have a product or service you can pitch. get your message out. You may also need to provide a This can be anything from a full video series to a free, written bio, introduction, and headshot for promotions. informative giveaway. If you don't have anything, it Some shows have very specific guidelines about doesn't exclude you—a show might be very interested guests not promoting books, products, or services in the benefits of massage, or something you are until the end; they get upset with guests who make offering like a new technique or special treatment—but the show into a commercial. Ask what the policy is having something tangible to offer the listeners is a about telling listeners how to reach you and fi nd out great way to get the word out about your practice. more—it's better to know ahead of time. And, if you If you're interested in using radio to build your get to the end of the show and nothing has been said practice and your personal brand, hit the Internet, about how to reach you, be sure to tell everyone. gather all the info you need for the show, breathe, Many shows take breaks partway through. and have fun. Catch you on the airwaves! If you know there will be a break, ask before the show if your microphone will still be live during Kathy Gruver, PhD, is author of Body Mind Therapies that time. There's nothing worse than thinking no for the Bodyworker and Other Health Professionals (Infinity one can hear you as you're blowing your nose. Publishing, 2012). She is also a speaker and practitioner After the show, send the host a quick note with more than two decades of experience. For more saying you enjoyed being a guest, and see if she information, visit www.thealternativemedicinecabinet.com. 243 Million Americans listen to AM/FM radio weekly. www.abmp.com. See what benefits await you. 79