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| Host, Christina Brown, Our Take on Arise TV Photo Credit: Debbie Mitchell |
If I had a dollar for every time someone told me they had an idea for a show they would host, I would be a multimillionaire. In my two decades of producing television, I've met several people who have had a taste of the TV spotlight either as a guest on a television show or just knew that, if given the chance to be on TV, they would be a natural.
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| Christina Brown Our Take, Arise TV |
To the naked eye of the viewer watching television, what TV personalities do on air seems effortless, but trust me it's a lot more work than you could ever imagine. It's really not so easy to be relaxed as you relay accurate information, listen to your guests, and keep your audience engaged in the conversation. On many occasions, the ultimate talent is doing all of the above while wearing an earpiece. In their earpiece they are listening for directions and cues coming from the producer in the control room.
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| Photo Credit: Robert Thompson |
Our Take host Christina Brown has spent the last three weeks sharing the one-hour show with a different guest host everyday. In each show, Christina is taking a chance on our guest host being good on camera, a chance on having good chemistry with them, and finally a chance that they will have done their homework and will bring lively fun, be engaged and bring interesting conversation to the hour-long show.
We've invited a variety of personalities to sit in the Our Take guest host seat including pundits, bloggers, and journalists of all nationalities. We are only three weeks into taping but we plan to have many more sit in the hot seat.
One of the most popular questions is: What do you look for in a guest host?
I believe that practice makes perfect and having television experience is a major plus. One of my personal requirements is to screen video of potential candidates from past television appearances. We'll do our best to prepare you beforehand for the program with background information on the segments. A good person for the job will find a way to balance the role with the show host. It's a delicate dance to dance. The guest host must be prepared and know how to share the spotlight yet not take over.
While a show host will gladly share the spotlight, he or she should never have to fight for airtime on their own show.
After the show, there is a review of your guest appearance. We encourage you to watch your Our Take segment on our YouTube channel and critique yourself. Take some notes on what you can do better. Is the connection with the host perceived in a positive manner?
The camera does not lie. Pay attention to your interaction with the guests and host, watch how you sit in the chair, and read your host's body language. Do you appear comfortable?
If you're seeking feedback following your guest appearance, please feel free to email me to set up a time. Remember good guest hosts will get noticed and will most likely receive a return invitation.
TV/Social Media Producer Debbie Mitchell is an Emmy nominated producer who is a member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA). She is currently a member of the James Beard Broadcast and New Media Awards Committee. If you have a story idea for "Our Take" or are a brand interested in Social TV, blogger outreach campaigns, or a blogger or personality interested in television placement follow Debbie Mitchell @SocialTVDeb and/or email SocialTVDeb@gmail.com
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