| Building and Protecting your Reputation |
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Hi John,
So the world has changed, at least for a while. I hope you and yours are well, and you are making the best of whatever circumstances you find yourself in.
In return, I will do my best to offer you tips and advice at a time when in-person speaking and visits to radio and TV studios are off the agenda.
I know there are many people facing issues of having to present information from their homes, so if you have any questions about how to deliver via Zoom, GoToMeeting, or any other system, just drop me a line.
And also get in touch if you'd like to be a featured interviewee in my Media Coach Web Radio show, especially if you have something valuable to offer in the current situation.
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One more call for my Facebook group called Remote Speaking
Now as featured on radio! (I'm a regular guest expert on Love Sport radio) There are now around 700 speakers and event planners sharing their expertise.
Come and join us, and feel free to invite others. Whether you're a speaker or an event planner, we all can do with advice to keep our businesses buoyant. |
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Jeremy Nicholas is an old pal of mine. He's a speaker, MC, humourist and speaker coach. He's one of the wittiest people I know, and I was delighted to hear that he's launched a new course to help people add a little humour to their communications. It's something we all need right now. Hear more about it in the Media Coach Radio Show.
There's also a fantastic tune from Dublin troubadour Rob Corcoran. |
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The MediaMaestros are Bonnie von Duyke and Emer Kinsella, full-time professional violin players, who took to an empty toilet paper aisle in Los Angeles wearing high-vis lifejackets. Completely straight-faced, they serenaded the ransacked shelves to the tune of Nearer, My God, To Thee, the piece the ship bandmaster plays as the Titanic sinks in James Cameron's 1997 classic.
Von Duyke details in the video description how, "Many musicians and freelancers are losing work at this time. Concerts and events are being cancelled right and left."
"Being a freelance artist myself, I'm not giving up and I want viewers to be aware of my services during this social distancing time."
How true. If you can support your local musicians in any way, please do.
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The MediaMug is a film that has not gathered the best possible reviews since its release last year. Cats was the big loser at this year's Golden Raspberry Awards, which are given to the year's worst movies.
The widely panned musical was given six Razzies, including worst picture and worst director for Tom Hooper. James Corden was named worst supporting actor, while Rebel Wilson was named worst supporting actress. The gongs were due to be announced at a live LA ceremony but instead took place via video link after the event was cancelled due to coronavirus concerns.
Many of the film's stars, including James Corden and Rebel Wilson, have taken the opportunity to make fun of it.
The film had an estimated budget of $95m (£77m) and has to date managed to claw back (sorry) $74m (£61m) at the worldwide box office, according to Box Office Mojo.
Dame Judi Dench, who played Old Deuteronomy even confessed she had not watched the completed film.She said she was "only slightly" aware of the response to the film, adding, "I think people have been rather kind to me."
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| Speaking Tip - In Media Res |
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The start of your speech or presentation is crucial, but you know that already. It's even more important when delivering to a remote audience.
You know that you need to grab the audience and make them keen to hear more. You may already have a great opening line. But would it make more sense to start your speech at the most dramatic point? In media res (literally in the midst of things) is a technique that you can use to do just that.
Let me explain with an example. Here's a speech opening. "I have no idea why I agreed to sit at number three in a four-man bobsled at the top of the Cresta Run in Switzerland. As we reached a top speed of seventy miles an hour, and we rocketed round a corner with my head lower than my feet, the brake man patted my helmet and whispered 'Keep your head down, Alan, someone died here yesterday of head injuries' ".
Now it's possible to go back to the start of the story and explain what's going on (that story is true, by the way, and it still makes me feel wobbly even to write it). The thing is, you don't need to tell your story in a linear fashion. It's OK, or even preferable, to start with a dramatic moment and then roll out the back story.
It's a trick often used by film directors (see Citizen Kane, American Beauty, The English Patient, etc....) Try it yourself.
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| Media Tip - On the phone, on the radio |
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It's increasingly common for phone interviews to be the method of choice for radio stations. In fact right now it's the only way.
That not only provides them with access to experts (you) anywhere in the world, but also saves on transport costs, as well as saving you time. Clients of mine who get their first local radio in-studio interviews are often delighted with the experience, but the novelty soon wears off as they realise they spent three hours on a three-minute experience.
What happens if you are asked to do a phone interview? Firstly, you, or your communications department, will receive a call from a researcher asking if you are available for interview at a certain time. If you agree, they will probably ask a few questions there and then to find out if you are the right guest, and to guide the interviewer too. Make sure that you get a contact number for them, and that you also give them your mobile and land line.
When your interview time nears, you should arrange to be somewhere that you won't be interrupted (put a sign on the door if necessary) and be available at least five minutes before the time agreed. You will receive a call from the studio, who will check that the line sounds fine, and that you can hear them and they can hear you. Make sure your mobile phone is off now.
They will then switch the connection so that you hear the studio output, when you may hear your interview trailed. - "And coming up next, we'll be speaking to:" That's the time to get a few deep breaths in. You will probably hear a cue ("with you in ten seconds"), and then the interview will start. Treat it as what it is - just a conversation. When it is over, the technical operator will cut in and thank you, at which point you can put down the phone and breathe a sigh of relief, before jotting down your notes. Easy, eh? |
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| Social Media Tip - Play don't worry |
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Eagle-eyed and mature popsters will recognise the title of this piece as a tip of the hat to the late Mick Ronson, guitarist, record producer and David Bowie sidesman.
The point of this piece is to not concern yourself too much with every comment you receive on social media. It's extremely unlikely that everyone will agree with you, and it would be a fairly dull world if there was no debate. Controversy is the stuff of life, and if you are to raise your profile and reputation on social media, you have to be prepared to take a bit of criticism from time to time.
Disagreement can be a good thing, since it will draw more people to comment and engage with your posts. The important thing for you is to stay calm and respectful. Never, ever insult anyone personally. Always focus on the issues raised.
The other point I'd like to make is that you don't have to be totally serious all the time. In fact, some playfulness and humour is a great asset. Once again, don't ever make fun of individuals, but use humour to make your point about an issue. Alas, some people see humour as an attack on their values, but there's not much you can do about that. Humour can even be a potent weapon to defuse rising tensions in a social media debate.
So why not try to be a little more light-hearted on social media? You may well be surprised and delighted at the response. |
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| Need some remote speaking tips ? |
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| The information in this ezine may be freely re-used in any online or offline publication, provided it is accompanied by the following credit line - "This information was written by Alan Stevens, and originally appeared in "The MediaCoach", his free weekly ezine, available at www.mediacoach.co.uk." |
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