The MediaCoach

Hi John,

May I wish you a wonderful Christmas. As I mentioned, this is a briefer edition than usual as we're all busy at this time of year, and I'm sure you've got plenty to do. However, this week sees the return of my fiendishly difficult music quiz to give you something to think about over the next few days. If you can solve all ten questions, and drop me a line, I will draw a winner next week for a 90-minute speech makeover call, for any time next year. All of the questions are music-related, and some are about Christmas. Good luck!

1. What classic song did Joan give her friend Vernon in 1971?
2. Who is the link between Kiss and Hot Chocolate?
3. What huge and helpful Christmas hit was written by James and Robert in the 1980s?
4. What powerful Christmas song did Nasher have a hand in?
5. Which Richard and Judy reunited this year on stage in Oxfordshire?
6. Which band lost Brian, brought in Michael for a while, and now have Ronald?
7. Harold sang a Christmas classic, but what Christmas song did he record with Mr Jones?
8. Why might Michael Barratt make me nervous?
9. On what album did Elton play with Elston?
10. Which two songs topped the charts in the 1970s for eleven consecutive weeks and contained the same Italian phrase?

No interview this week, but a couple of tunes that received the best reaction this year. One is from Russ Ballard, a great singer songwriter, and the other from Robbie Boyd - also a superb talent. Hear them both in Media Coach Radio Show.
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The MediaMaestro is a well-known and much-loved comedy performer who several years ago realised that she could do something to help lonely people at Christmas. She started a hashtag #joinin on Twitter, and encouraged people to chat about what they are doing on Christmas Day. Every year, she spends hours online on the big day chatting to people and encouraging them to start their own conversations with each other. Absolutely brilliant. Well done Sarah Millican!

The MediaMug is. er....a film. In a shameless attempt to make more from the ABBA phenomenon, a sequel - "Mamma Mia - Here we go again" has just been trailed. The Meryl Streep character has been killed off (or maybe she decided to give the film a body swerve), and Cher makes an appearance as the mother of the character Meryl played (still with me?). Anyway, since Cher is only three years older that Meryl, that must have been a medical miracle. Anyway, here's the traller - see what you think.

HO, HO, HO!

Humour is a valuable tool for any speaker. If you want to make a strong point, deliver it on the back of a laugh, and your audience will remember it. Unfortunately, many speakers try to use "recycled humour". In other words, they either try to tell jokes, or repeat a story that they have heard another speaker use. Neither is a good idea.

Humour in your speeches should come from your experience. For one thing, it's easier to remember. For another, telling jokes requires perfect timing and years of practice. Most of all, if you tell your own stories, it is much harder for anyone to steal your material (and woe betide them if you catch them doing it).

And if you think nothing funny ever happens to you, try keeping a notebook with you and jotting down anything that makes you laugh. The book will fill up quickly, and provide a mass of material for your speeches.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS...

"is my two front teeth" as the old song goes. OK, you are too young to remember the ditty, so take my word for it. However, if you asked a TV or radio producer what they want for Christmas, the response will very likely be "a guest to talk to".

Over the Christmas and New Year period, the media still operates, but guests are hard to find. It is often the easiest time to get on air, and because the audiences tend to be large, it can be a very good time too.

So, if you receive a call from a journalist, asking if you might be available for a chat in the next few days, say "yes" - even if it means missing a couple of hours dozing on the sofa in front of a repeat of that comedy show that you never really liked anyway.

BE A SOCIAL MEDIA SANTA

No, you don't need to wear the red suit and the beard. The characteristic to cultivate is giving gifts. That's what will make you a go-to person in your topic.

Next time you use Twitter or Facebook, think how you can give a gift, such as:

Make someone happy this Christmas with a social media gift.

The school Nativity play is a lovely event. Sometimes the wee ones sing so softly you can hardly hear them. This video shows a little girl who was obviously told to "sing loudly" and took it very, very literally.

I can help

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."