Greetings,

The Speakers' Bootcamp in July was a giant success and by popular demand we are offering another Bootcamp March 9-13 you can read more about it on the speakerservices.com website. I am concentrating all my energies on the 2nd annual MediaSpeak Symposium, Master the Message, Master the Media www.speakerservices.com/mediaspeak Oct. 5, 6 & 7 followed by the 3 camera Video Demo Showcase Nov 5. The Symposium is not just for speakers and authors it is for anyone who has a service or product and wants more visibility with print and broadcast media. Our excellent faculty will take you through the process of learning how to get to the point, how to generate PR, media materials, how to do a great interview with radio, TV or print. Our media coaches will assist you in getting your angle so you can pitch live to the media on the last day. Imagine if you were named as the expert in your field by People Magazine or perhaps an interview on Entrepreneur radio or your service or product was featured on a TV show. Would that make a difference? I suspect it would.

The second complimentary teleclass with some of our faculty for the MediaSpeak Symposium is scheduled for Aug 10 and the last one will be Sept.11. Just go to www.speakerservices.com the third column and follow the link to register for either one and I will send you the number to call. Check this out though http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2623069201365658135 this is a TV interview with Jacquie Jordan on Gregory Mandell's show- (they are both on the program for the Symposium) Jacquie is speaking on how to be a Guestpert. If you have any considerations of why you should be attending the Symposium please feel free to ring me. 310-822-4922. A similar event takes place in New York for 2 days and it is $5,000. Early registration with us is a mere $597.

Raleigh Pinskey shares her insights and brilliance in today's article on How To Give and Get The Best Darn Interview!'.

Do you need a 3 camera video demo? Take a look at the streaming samples on the website at http://www.speakerservices.com/videoprod.html. I have 6 openings left.

I am on vacation from Aug 17 through the 28th. The office will be closed and I will not be checking e mails however, feel free to leave me messages and I will get back to you when I return. Please don't worry if I don't respond right away (many of you know I am very quick to respond)

Susan Levin
Speaker Services
310-822-4922

New & Renewing Speakers & Authors August - '06
See all speakers: http://speakerservices.com

see all speakers: www.speakerservices.com

Keri Bowers, Author
Educator, activist and mother of a child with autism whose groundbreaking film, Normal People Scare Me, has won numerous awards, offers new perspectives and life-changing programs for those with developmental disabilities.
Autism, Disabilities, Parenting and Children
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/239

Phil Glosserman, Author
Certified Professional Coach and Master Practitioner of NLP shows how to develop a positive mindset about selling, attract clients, stay motivated and transcend the "blockers" that keep you from stellar success.
Goal Planning, Professional Development, Sales
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/240

Garrett Lambert
Master NLP Trainer and Peak Performance Consultant reveals Masterpiece Mindset Principles used by the most enlightened, wealthy, creative, powerful and successful people who've ever lived - from Aristotle to Bill Gates.
Business Solutions, Communication, Leadership, Professional Development
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/241

Mark Austin Thomas
Veteran broadcaster and News and Program Director gives rare inside glimpse of how the news and entertainment media work and why we feel overloaded with information yet, at the same time, uninformed.
Broadcasting/Media Relations, Race Relations, Spiritual Politics
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/146

Vashali, Author
Spiritual "tour guide" shows how to end struggle and doubt, make friends with your mind, and embrace the Divine Force of Love that you really are.
Dreams, Paranormal, Spirituality
http://www.speakerservices.com/speakers/detail/243

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Tips & Advice

Check out this flash movie from Mike Taylor

This is a non-commercial, inspirational Flash Movie from Mike Taylor taylormh@comcast.net. Click on it. It's thought provoking and if you like what you see send this Opportoon to all your friends. To view our flash movie you can click the link below or copy and paste it into your browser. http://www.domainofopportunity.com/opportoons/opportoons.html Mike Taylor, Domain of Opportunity, (310) 216-7218 _________________________________

Looking for professionals to contribute a chapter to a book on Leadership - Get Published Now! Reply to Keith Ivey, 714-322-0901

Are you a speaker without a book? Do you have several books in you? I am too and I have a solution...

I am a speaker without a book. There are several books in me. But right now I don't have one and without a back-of-room product today, I'm losing money.

My solution is to find 10 to 15 other speakers who understand how a book can generate credibility as well as income. Each of us will contribute a chapter on the general theme of LEADERSHIP and share in the publishing cost. Two other entrepreneurial speakers have already committed to the project.

We have secured the services of a cover designer, a printer liaison and a business manager. The best part of this collaboration is that we have developed a publishing concept that will make this book totally unique and an incredible value for each of the contributors.

Give me a call so that I can tell you about it (714-322-0901). The print run is scheduled for late September, so call immediately if this appeals to you.

_________________________________________

Article:

'How To Give and Get The Best Darn Interview!' by Raleigh Pinskey

Clients and customers do come from talk show interviews and articles. Trust me when I tell you this, but more so trust the power of the media.

Recently, I attracted $50,000 worth of consulting business from a radio interview, the subject of which was built around a Special Report I have offer. I have volumes of these stories from my experience and that of my consulting clients. It's not uncommon to attract new and meaningful business by doing an interview with your local radio, TV or print media.

I advised a client with an environmental products store to speak out on the issue of chemical products for the home that eventually end up in drains leading to the oceans, rivers and water table. Her crafted pitch letter got her on three radio talk shows lasting 20 minutes each; six minute segments on two community oriented TV shows, and a feature in the Lifestyle Section of her local newspaper. Six free interviews which would have cost her over $100,000 in advertising costs.

Her crafted and well prepared interview brought her a $250,000 salary to spearhead a cleanup campaign project in a neighboring town. It also increased the foot traffic into her store, raising her business by 15% in a period of 3 months.

Remember what P.T. Barnum said: 'Without promotion, something terrible happens... NOTHING!!' Well, the follow up to this could be: 'Without a great interview, something terrible happens, no one will know about your promotion.'

What are the benefits here? Radio talk show segments last anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes, with an occasional one hour stay. At anywhere from $600 to thousands of dollars a minute for paying for advertising time, I'd say it was worth going after a visit to a local talk show... wouldn't you? One full page newspaper article can be worth $35,000 in 'free print advertising' costs in New York or Los Angeles, and can attract hundreds of thousands of dollars in new clients. I was able to generate new and meaningful foot traffic for both a bakery and a hardware store, saving them from going under when we began an aggressive interview campaign based around in-store lifestyle events.

Ready to try for an interview situation?

Before you pick up that phone and write that letter, I'd like you think about this. Giving a great interview is not a fly by the seat of your pants thing. You need to know how to give a great interview. It's worth the knowing how to give a great interview, it's worth knowing the ins and outs, it's worth the aggravation to prepare, it's worth the time you'll spend preparing.

UCLA winning coach John Wooden was very serious and very committed to practice. He would imprint his feelings about preparation for the game with what became a much quoted Wooden legacy. ' Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.'

What the practice will do will get you this compliment from the media: 'You gave a great interview, I'll use you again when we need a spokesperson on the subject.' These are the words you should long to hear. This should be the music you want your ears to hear. To be told you give great interview is definitely a goal to have.

I hope you'll do many interviews. And I hope that before you do the interviews that you'll take these field proven pointers into consideration. Embrace them as yours and I guarantee you a great and prosperous interview:

1. Prepare for an interview - one on phone or conducted in person - as you would for an important client presentation. Know the facts. Be able to clearly articulate your position. Write down what points you want to get across, and never lose sight of them. This is your agenda. No matter if the host strays, if you have written copy you can always go back to any point you feel is necessary.
   
   If you're doing a telephone interview, make note of any materials which support or illustrate the story being discussed. Get them to the reporter immediately after the phone call. This courtesy is particularly appreciated when a reporter is on a tight deadline. If it's a live, what we call an in-person interview, have material ready to illustrate or support your points. Give them to the interviewer before the session so they can take time to acquaint themselves with them, and be able to insert them into the interview at the proper moment, sometimes with your help.
   
   Write out all the questions you want them to ask you during the interview and make sure you give it, mail it or fax it to them. Many will be grateful, others will think you're trying to lead them. But as Ghandi said, 'If you don't ask, you don't get.'
   
   In section 5, there are question examples that I suggest you send along as part of your comprehensive media or presentation kit.
   
2. Always be honest and direct. If you're free to give an answer, do so. If you're not free to comment - if you're asked for information that is privileged - say that you are not free to comment. If the interviewer asks a question and you're not certain about the proper answer, tell them you'll check on the information. Always make the follow-up call. It strengthens your integrity and solidifies your relationship with the media.
   
3. Never reveal anything you're not prepared to see in print or hear on the air. Comments made 'off the record' often appear attributed to another spokesperson,' but can be made to look very much like they came from you.
   
   What happens when a comment is made 'off the record' is this. The interviewer puts it into his cerebral computer and really intends never to reveal your confidence. Time passes and he/she remembers the information but doesn't remember who said it, and the 'off the record' memory has also gone by the wayside. So they repeat the information as if it were an OK thing to do.
   
   Most times 'off the record' memory is innocent, but can be detrimental to ones health none the less.
   
   So be very careful of 'off the record' comments. Remember it this way: The interview really begins when the microphone is turned off and the notebook is put away.
   
4. Keep your ego under control. Don't volunteer unconsidered opinions or information. In other words, don't give answers to questions unless you are asked. Keep in mind the objectives of the interview. Do not amplify or illustrate. Never digress into areas that are not relevant to the objectives of the interview.
5. Never lecture an interviewer on the misdeeds of the journalistic profession or the past sins of his/her media. Nothing can get an interviewer angrier than being told how unfair he/she or their media has been to you or a colleague. Whatever the validity or the sincerity of your statement, it will only serve to create a hostile atmosphere which will probably influence the tone of the outcome.
   
   Unless of course this is exactly the tact you wish to take to make your point. But then again, even an activist's have been known to exhibit class. Remember, you catch flies with honey. And the media won't ask you back if they hate you as an interview. They will if you're controversial yet cooperative to their needs as well.
   
6. Good media persons have highly developed interviewing skills and know how to uncover a newsworthy story. Many thrive on gossip and will try to set you up to comment on rumors or to give credence to hearsay. They will sometimes make an outrageous statement to stimulate an unconsidered reaction from you. Always be alert and aware of why you are talking to the reporter. There is a tendency to ingratiate yourself with a reporter during an interview because of the pressure that results from the interview situation. Don't go overboard to be friendly and helpful, particularly if you don't know them well. You are there to be helpful to the cause....not to please them.
7. If you're doing a live, personal appearance, in-studio interview, take along a cassette tape (you've already asked how long the segment is going to be and noted it on the tracking sheet). Give it to the producer to tape the interview as it is being conducted. If you're being interviewed over the phone, or what is known as a phoner, make sure you tell the producer ahead of time, during your initial screening interview and remind them again when he calls you 5 minutes before the show that you want a tape copy of the interview.
   
   (If it's a print interview you should always bring a tape recorder to your interview. That way, having a record of what you say can be a great protection to you, and peace of mind. When doing an in-person radio show ask them to record it simultaneously. But always be prepared by bringing your own cassette, just in case. But if you're being interviewed by a journalist over the phone it's usually fruitless to ask for a copy. So go to your local appliance store and explain that you want to tape a phone interview.)
   
   Be aware that tape recorders can be a friend or a foe. Think carefully before you answer. You can't tell a tape recorder to forget that, nor can you claim to be misquoted, nor can you claim you never said that. And remember not to say anything off the record, even if they shut it off.
   
8. Knowing the personality and modus operandi of the interviewer is crucial. No two work the same the way in an interview. You must be prepared to adapt to each. Read their writings, listen to the radio show and watch the TV segments. Remember what Coach Wooden said.
9. Never argue with the person interviewing you. Never lose your composure. You may be interrupted in mid sentence, not because he/she is being rude - but because there is a deliberate technique to let you know they're dissatisfied with the answers you're giving, just to provoke you into giving an unconsidered response. The solution: respond more directly and clearly. Keep on track. Never challenge them out of anger and frustration. Never answer a question with a question.
   
10. Don't allow the interviewer to put words in your mouth. This is a trap. Answer questions using your own words so that anything that is quoted is your statement, not what they were trying to elicit.
    
11. Never exaggerate the facts. Most interviewers are sensitive to what they perceive as puff. Understatement is always the best policy. Actually, the truth is the best policy.
    
12. Before or after an interview, be wary of engaging in friendly conversations. These are usually designed to provide them with more information than you are prepared to provide at the time. It is also another way to get you to give them exclusive quotes. Good interviewers know that you are more likely to respond spontaneously when you are in a distracted state of mind, and they will exploit the moment. Keep in mind that the media lives to Carpus Diem... Seize the Moment, and you should live to Caveat Emptor... Let the Buyer Beware!