Always Dress for TV

Always dress for the TV camera.

My staff have always known if the media calls, come find me  — even in the bathroom. I know they are on deadline and I try to respond asap.

Sometimes it results in a story or comment from me. Sometimes for clients or colleagues. Sometimes nothing. But that media person now knows or remembers that I have ideas and contacts when they need them the next time.

On this day, I had no clients. I was going to put on my “employee hat” and comfy clothes and just do filing, culling, and general cleanup. I never guessed that this would be the day that our local news station had a story to run and needed an interview in 20 minutes. Oh, and by the way they asked, could I find them a client of mine who could also see them right away. And, they also had to have something worth taking video of.

There I stood in red plaid pants, sneakers, and a Texas A&M colored shirt with no time to go home.

Well, I have had lots of clients and I keep in touch with most of them. Many of them are service providers — not much to video here. Could I find a manufacturer that could drop everything immediately for some possible moments of fame. (That is if they used it.)

I did find someone crazy enough to do it even though they were on their own deadline. As a matter of fact,  in the video you can see and hear me talking to my terrific Client Services Manager Marsha Vanhorn as we try to reach South Austin People (SoAP), the natural soap maker, wearing red pants and my husband’s cartigan sweater to cover my red shirt.

Be Prepared: Dress for the camera

My new motto: keep media clothes handy at all times.

You never know when I’ll be calling you to see if you can be interviewed in 20 minutes. Always be ready to be dressed for the camera.Or, keep media clothes handy.

Suggestions:

• No red, pastels are better. Not white either. Neutrals are always nice.
• No flashy jewelry or jewelry that clinks or makes noise.
• No patterns on shirts, blouses, ties, etc. unless you want to look like you’re floating and fuzzy.