Part 3 of 4: Becoming a PR Expert – How to be a Great Guest

Me:  So, what do you do when the media says yes?

Erin:  Many clients go into panic mode.  Don’t sweat it, we have it covered for you.  Here are a few for engagement:

1. If your media contact asks for materials, please get them to him/her in a timely manner.
2. Ask questions all at the same time.  We do not recommend calling the media 10 times a day with 1 question each time (this is where it’s good to be working with a PR person because then the PR person will annoy the media, not you—I’m smiling when I write this even though it’s true).
3. Get media training. The President to the Pope all have had it – it’s essential.
4. Anything during your interview can and SHOULD be said in 20 seconds or less.  You want a conversation with your interviewer.
5. Look the part.  If you are going to be ‘on camera’ think about your outfit, your hair.  Yes, your hair – even if you are a man.  A well groomed guest goes a long way.

True Erin TV story:  I once had a guest that showed up without 3 front teeth.  And there was nothing I could do about it.  Normally in the old time “talk show” worlds like Jerry Springer they would have dentists on staff to do “last minutes visual fixes”.  Well, this was The View and we don’t normally need last minute fixes like THAT on this show.  The director shot the interview in such a way that we never really had a ‘close up’ of the guest.  Whew, that was a close one! 🙂