Confessions of a TV novice

When I asked if I had time to get a drink of water, AM Buffalo Host Linda Pellagrino said it was no problem. We had five minutes before airtime. But when I bolted out the studio door to the fountain, I could hear the crew joking that they were afraid I wasn’t coming back.

Hardly.

The more likely scenario was that they’d have to drag me away from the WKBW-TV set. I’d been talking about my debut novel, “The Way Life Should Be,” for the past week and the problem wasn’t getting me to open up. The problem was usually getting me to shut up.

Pellagrino was warm, friendly and enthusiastic. Of course, like everyone else on TV, she was also beautiful. She asked a few questions, plugged my book, and after five minutes, we were finished.

Simple enough.

Later that night at a reading in Niagara Falls, Channel 7 sent a reporter out to do another short piece. And when I looked up from signing a book, I saw my old friend Maryalice Demler, the anchor for the local NBC affiliate, with her shoes off, standing on a chair, shooting video herself.

Now this was a big deal. Demler’s broadcast dominates the evening news in that market and she was also going to air a longer feature for a new morning show she was starting the following week.

I was thrilled and grateful. I’ve known Maryalice for 10 years and the former Miss New York is not only an incredible broadcaster, she’s very humble and down to earth. She even took the time to email me the following tips for upcoming taped TV interviews:

1.  Look at the reporter asking the question, NOT directly into the camera

2.  Keep your answers to-the-point. A TV reporter can only use a 12-15 second sound bite.

3.  The soundbite that is going to make the air is usually the one that contains the best emotion and enthusiasm.

4.  When you are setting up your “signing station”, pay attention to how the table looks and what is behind you.

5.  When you do a reading, stand. If possible, ask for a podium.

6.  Be sure to look up when you are reading. Make some eye contact with the audience. “Perform” a little.

Okay, then came the bad news. I hadn’t done as well as I thought.

“When I saw your interview with Linda this morning you seemed nervous. You were a bit monotone. Tonight at the LaSalle Library, I thought you were very animated and much more relaxed. Your personality really came through. You need that extra boost of energy and enthusiasm because the TV camera will always shrink the emotion and inflection in your voice. You have to pump it up. Smiling a lot is also a good thing.”

Maryalice is the best, and I was so grateful for her advice. During my next interview, at Channel 6, the NBC affiliate in Portland, Maine, I was determined to do better and kept everything she said in mind as I talked to broadcasting veteran Rob Caldwell.

I pumped up the emotion, kept things short and punchy, even managed to smile.

Those five minutes flew by.

Afterward, I asked Beth how I did with Maryalice’s tips.

“You looked GREAT!” she said with such enthusiasm that I realized she’d also learned the Maryalice tips.

I can’t tell you what a relief it was that I’d finally gotten the TV thing down. As I triumphantly walked down Congress Street, heading to our next interview, I replayed things in my mind. Then I replayed them again, just to be sure.

“You know,” I finally admitted to Beth. “I don’t think I ever told him what the book was about.”

Oh, well.

At least I’d kept things short and punchy.