I was ready to go. I called Bobbi McKenna, an author who has been a on a lot of TV shows.
“Can you help me get on TV?” I asked her.
“Sure,” she said, “but first you need media training.”
“Okay,” I said, thinking to myself “How hard could it be?”
I showed up for my media training and got my first big surprise. It is not as easy as it looks. I sat on the couch, with the camera focused on me, and Bobbi asked me my first question.
“Tell us why you wrote this book?”
I wouldn’t say that my mind went blank, but the words did not flow out as smoothly as I had imagined they would.
Being interviewed on TV is not as easy as it looks.
During that first media training session, I knew that I had some work to do. I needed to get my thoughts straight ahead of time, practice so that I could answer questions quickly, and speak slowly: all things that one could anticipate.
What I had not expected is that the video camera does not see what the human eye does.
Sure, I knew that we all can look very different in still photos, but I had not realized that the video camera would magnify every little movement and facial expression.
I watched the first practice video and wondered why the woman in the video was trying to impersonate me. She looked a little like me, but fatter, and why did she get that stern expression on her face for no apparent reason? And most perplexing of all, why did she wave her hands wildly when she talked?
I vowed that I could not let this woman go on TV and talk about my book. So I rolled up my sleeves, and scheduled a few more media training sessions.
I learned to speak in sound bites. I trained myself to smile and smile and smile when I talked. I learned to keep my hands still. I was ready to go. Now, all I needed was to get my first TV gig.
It came almost immediately: “The NBC affiliate in Palm Springs wants to interview you on the morning news,” Bobbi said.
(Bobbi and I had agreed that I should start close to home, and Palm Springs is one of my favorite places.)
My interview was scheduled for the next Monday morning in the 9 – 10 am time slot. I was asked to arrive at 8:30 am. Since the commute from my home in Los Angeles to Palm Springs is approximately 3 hrs, I decided that rather than try to battle traffic in the morning and arrive tired and frazzled, I would drive there the afternoon before, and stay over night.
My original plan was to leave by two o’clock Sunday afternoon, but by the time I prepared lunch for the family and we finished eating, it was already three.
Then, my daughter needed help with a 30-page history report that was due at school the next morning. It was mostly done, but she wanted me to review it, and then help her paste 100 historical pictures on construction paper. Cutting the pictures, and pasting them onto the paper took us until 7 pm to complete. Might as well sit down and eat dinner with the family, I decided.
It wasn’t until 9 pm that I climbed into the car and headed for Palm Springs. As I rolled out of LA and into the desert, I began to run through the possible questions I would be asked. I was definitely excited!!!
I reached my hotel at midnight, checked in, got settled in, and realizing that I was still too wound up after my long drive to get to sleep. A little yoga calmed me down, and I slept like a baby until 4 am. I tried to get back to sleep, but to no avail. Oh, well three hours sleep would have to be enough.
When I arrived at the TV station KMIR TV, I have to confess that the sight of the big white satellite dishes on the lawn was thrilling. I took a few photos out in front of the studio, and then I went inside to check in, got a guest pass, and was escorted into the studio.
It was abuzz with activity. On one set, the morning anchor was busy reading the news. Camera techs, assistants, and others were rushing around. There were others, who were busy at their computers.
I heard a voice, “We have a missing hiker. Get that story!” someone yelled. The level of activity went up five notches.
Tina Patel, the reporter who was scheduled to interview me, stopped by and pointed out the set where our interview would take place.
“Go get settled,” she said.
Before I had even lowered myself onto my chair, a man rushed up and clipped a mike to my lapel.
Tina stepped onto the set, and when she sat down, one of the producers counted out “5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and we are on!”
My heart started to beat harder, and my breath became shallow. I was suddenly very nervous. A brief moment of panic, and then I fell back on my media training and preparation.
“I am the Executive Yogi,” I reminded myself. “I know how to deal with stress. Smile. Breathe slowly. Breathe deeply. Connect. I am the expert on my book. No one knows it better than I do.”
Tina asked me the first question, and I was ready for it.
“Wow!” I thought. “That wasn’t so bad.” The next question came, and I answered it as easily as I would have if there had not been TV cameras aimed at me.
When Tina finally said, “We’re done. Thanks so much for coming.” I was surprised that the interview was over.
Now, I’m pumped. I did it. I’ve got the DVD and the photos to prove it. I can’t wait for my next TV interview, and my next, and my next.
Then, it’s on to OPRAH and Ellen, and maybe even my own show.
***
VIEW Neeti Dewan's TV interview.
To order a copy of Neeti Dewan's Book or hire Neeti to speak, visit her website: www.theexecutiveyogi.com.
For Author Services, including speaking and media training, ghost writing and more, contact Bobbi McKenna, bobbifmckenna@msn.com.
