QUICK, ADVICE FOR TV SPOT

[GTison]

WeVe got a spot on a TV show at 5 am. any advice or experience. prob. get to do 2 or 3 tunes ( if that).

anyone got exp. on this good or bad?

Smile...don't hide and wear color's that won't wash you out. Enjoy...this is a nice moment.

[Keith Wallen]

I will use Scotti's signature "B~Natural". Treat the camera like its the only person in the audience that you are trying to please. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/blues.gif

[Christine W]

Put some make-up on, so your face shows up. Get your girlfriend or wife to help you, (NATURAL SKIN TONE COLORS ONLY) This may seem strange but TV washes you out. I used to work for a newstation doing graphics and those news casters male and female wore so much makeup so thier faces would show up on TV made me wonder if they chisled the stuff off with a crow bar at the end of the night.

[mandodude]

Don't get your wardrobe advice from mandopete...

;-)

[BenE]

Make sure your pants are zipped and bring something to wipe the sweat off your brow between songs....Nothing looks worse than sweating buckets on TV...Makes people think you have something to hide! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[johnwalser]

Those of us a little older remember the Nixon/Kennedy TV debates. Try not to look like NIXON!!
Good Luck,
John

[John Flynn]

Don't have one of your band mates rip the front of your shirt off. It's been done.

Seriously, know which camera is on and make occasional eye contact with it. If the camera switches, don't look directly from the first camera to the second. That would result in a "shifty" look on camera like you are confused. Look away from the first camera when the light goes out and glance at something else, like one of your band mates or the neck of your instrument, then look up at the second camera. Do this smoothly and intentionally. You might even practice it a few times before the show when the cameras are off. Also, don't stare at the camera. Make casual eye contact with it like it was a live audience member.

[Rich]

Have fun and play well! Best of luck. It makes me nervous just to read about...

[John Rosett]

and don't forget to wear your "hi mom!" t-shirt.

[Undercover Brother]

Keep the songs short! If you can figure out a few notes from the show's theme (guessing this is a local news morning show) they will think you are a hero if you can play it. Don't wear a hat unless you have to, the lights will be blocked and they won't see your sleepy face. Don't stray from the mic too much. I've always wanted to play Monroe's "Heavy Traffic Ahead" during a morning traffic report. Maybe they'll let you play it in the background! Generally all they want is news, weather, traffic, news, weather, traffic...
What channel will you be on? Mandolin Cafe Go-ers are everywhere... maybe someone can see it! Oh yeah... if you can study and memorize David Lee Roth's moves in the video for Van Halen's song "Jump"... that's always a big hit with the crowd. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Chris

[GTison]

WE were there. It was fine I think. If it ever comes again we'll know better. maybe abreviate the pickin tunes and songs too. be ready to play in and out of station breaks. We were about half ready. but the host just interviewed us and made us the whole show. much more than I expected. good free advertizing. great experience. the host and show was real fly by the seat of your pants affair. thanks for the advice yall.