Dear Friends,

I was scheduled to be on the O'Reilly Factor on Wednesday to comment on Sarah Palin's Acceptance Speech and her appearance on ABC with Charlie Gibson. The segment got cancelled at the last second. Here's what happened.

A Fox news booker (a producer who books interviews) called my assistant Kelly to set up a time for me to be in studio in San Francisco for a satellite interview. Kelly called me and said, "The O'Reilly Factor wants you on their show tomorrow."

I said, "Very funny. What are you calling about."

She said, "No, really. They want your take on what Sarah Palin does well and not so well."

Instant panic set in. Sure I've media coached my clients to be on the O'Reilly Factor. I've role played as Bill O'Reilly at his toughest so they would be prepared for his grilling. But there was no one to prepare me except me! And even though I knew I wasn't going to be in the O'Reilly hot seat, it's still an intimidating show pacing wise, and Bill O'Reilly, all 6'4" of him, can project some pretty strong and vehement energy when he disagrees with a person. So, in a phrase, I was scared.

But then I hunkered down and took my own advice. I prepared like crazy.

I watched the Sarah Palin acceptance speech again and took copious notes, taking down phrases that worked and those that didn't and analyzed the reasons why. I watched her body language, her facial language and studied her speaking style and expressions. Then I watched the Charlie Gibson ABC interview with Palin several times and did the same.

I went over my sound bites on paper, then in my head until I felt like I could withstand any O'Reilly wrath without loosing my cool, or my memory.

Needless to say, that night I did not sleep.

I had an appointment first thing in the morning out of the office so I called the booker back to find out what time the car was coming. She was in a rush. "1:15 pm. The producer will be calling you to go over your talking points." I had 15 minutes before I had to leave for my appointment. Five minutes later the producer called. We reviewed my talking points. At one point, when we were discussing the somewhat stiff demeanor of Michelle Obama, I said, "Palin is a like a relaxed jock."

"Use that!" the producer said.

At the end of the conversation he said, "Oh, and we'll want to open with the Sean Hannity interview."

Gasp.

"I haven't seen that one," I said, but I will." He laughed. "No one has. It hasn't aired yet. It will air right after O'Reilly." Whew. "We'll send you the clip if we can, if not we'll just send the transcript and ask you to comment on it. That's how we'll open the show." I ran out the door to make it to my appointment. When I returned a few hours later there still was no clip.

I did my hair and make-up and changed into my suit. I'm ready to go. At 1:10 pm the transcript was in my email box. I read through it quickly. It was now 1:15 and no car. The phone rings It's the producer. "Your segment has been postponed."

"For how long?"

I have a 5 pm teleclass to teach so the timing is already close with rush hour traffic given I would be in studio until 3:30 pm. "15 minutes or so." I email the the teleclass' group leader to let her know I may be late and that I'll ring her from the car on the way back for a status update. It's 1:30pm and no car. The phone rings again.

"Susan? You've been watching the news right? You know about the stock market. That it dropped 500 points today."

"Yes."

"I'm really sorry, but we have to cancel your segment and go with that story. The media coach we have in Atlanta is already in studio taping. You know how this goes. You're in the biz."

"I do. It's just a bummer it happened to me!" We both laugh.

I'm in my office in full TV makeup going over my notes for the hundredth time....

And that's the way it goes.

In the tips below I'll address how to make the best of a missed opportunity.

Warmly,

Susan

P.S. Read more about how I would media coach Sara Palin here

P.S.S. Listen to 2 upcoming radio interviews on how to use PR to double or triple your business.

October 7th, 8:15-9am PST on http://www.chatwithwomen.com
October 9th, 10-11am PST on http://www.thedrpatshow.com

TV Interview Tips: How to Prep Even if it Gets Cancelled

1. There is only one correct answer when the producer calls.

You always answer with the single blessed word, "yes" whenever a producer asks if you can do something. When the O'Reilly Factor producer called and asked if I could be in studio tomorrow I said, "Yes." When the booker asked if I'd seen the Sarah Palin and Charlie Gibson ABC interview I said "Yes" again without hesitation.

Once my assistant Kelly told me that the O'Reilly Factor called, the first thing I did was begin to watch that video since I hadn't seen the original interview. I wanted to be prepared before I called her back so I familiarized myself with some of the footage so I could speak intelligently. If you need to buy time before you call a producer back, even if it's only 5 minutes, prepare your sound bites so you can demonstrate that you know the topic at hand.

2. Prepare, prepare prepare.

Do everything in your power to access all the available information on the subject you're asked to speak about. For breaking news or current affairs you'll often be asked to comment on recent events so you'll need to call them up on YouTube or Google so you know the most up-to-the-minute information.

I searched for all the Sarah Palin information I could find to bone up on her past so that I could better comment on her present. I needed to see her base point, her normal levels of behavior, before I could accurately comment on how she holds up under pressure or extreme situations.

I could then say with confidence that when Palin gets stressed and doesn't know the answer to a question she stutters and doesn't transition into prepared information, which is what I'd recommend. I observed this stuttering about four times when she was asked pointed questions in her ABC interview with Charlie Gibson so I felt comfortable that this was a repeated stress behavior.

3. Do your own hair and make-up.

Even though the producer told me they would do my hair and make-up for the O'Reilly Factor you can never take chances. If you're stuck in traffic and you arrive a minute before you need to go on the air, you go. I always advise my clients to do their own make-up. Just leave off the powder and bring it with you so if the stylists/make-up artists don't have time to fuss with you you can always powder up. One time a client did not take my advice. Her interview was fantastic, except that she had gotten caught in traffic and had to do it without make-up looking like a sickly ghost. Very unprofessional. And not a good demo for other producers to see.

4. Make the most of a cancelled spot.

Since I had already done my hair and make-up which took the good part of an hour, my astute assistant Kelly said, "Why not do a video of you media coaching Sarah Palin?" So I did. See it here: http://www.prsecrets.com/videos.html

Then I wrote a quick note to the O'Reilly producer with the link so he could take a look and to let him know I was available for any last minute cancellations if the need arose.

Seminar with Nancy Juetten & Susan Harrow in Seattle

This seminar covers how to get local and national PR.

In the first half of the program Nancy is going to discuss getting local PR and the steps you can take to do it yourself that she has already taught hundreds of people who rave about her simple, yet effective methods. Nancy is an expert in building local publicity for her clients and has been teaching these Publici-Tea workshops to women who who use her techniques to get the kind of publicity for themselves that you typically pay a publicist thousands of dollars to do for you. By establishing themselves locally these businesses are now poised to go national.

Which is where I come in.

I agreed to do the second half of the workshop and speak about getting national publicity (publicity on a large scale) on Oprah and in O Magazine. Even if you're not interested in these two venues the principles I'm covering are applicable for ALL national media coverage. We've chosen to focus on Oprah because getting on her show and in her magazine are in such high demand and seems to be on almost everyone's wish list. Whether it's on yours or not getting national coverage on TV or in print can double or triple your business overnight.

Some results of my clients:

==> One self published author became a regular commentator on national news, got a 6 figure book deal and now writes regularly for 2 top national blogs.

==> A seminar leader who wanted to expand his speaking business worldwide was interviewed on Larry King Live, then twice on Oprah and other national shows. The result? He secured a 7 figure book advance. Currently his seminars are sold out all over the world. His business has grown to a large multi-million dollar concern.

==> An 8 million dollar company who had meager national media coverage got into 0 Magazine and instantly sold out of the product that was mentioned, then got into Time Magazine and the New York Times.

==> An academic who spoke in jargon and hadn't had any media attention has now been quoted, featured or profiled in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Smart Money, CNN, The Christian Science Monitor, and NPR and has recently expanded another arm of her business which lead to working with one of the top motivational speaking companies in the world.

You see, it's possible for anyone, even you, no matter what level you're at right now, to set the foundation to rapidly grow your business with PR--once you know the secret strategies and insider tips that set you heads and shoulders over the thousands of others clamoring for their 15 minutes of fame.

Feel free to call Nancy at 425.641.5214 to talk more about what we have in store for you on October 17th in Seattle, or go here to register now. Earlybirds save $100! And get bonus gifts worth over $150.

Sarah Palin: Media Coaching Tips

I'm now a columnist for the examiner.com. Learn what to do and what not to do from John McCain's running mate. Here is my first post

Teleseminar: How To Become A News Expert

Don't Miss This Power-Packed Opportunity To Find Out How To Get Booked On Big National Media & Create Prestigious Thought Leader Status

Presented by Annie Jennings of the National PR Firm, Annie Jennings PR (Annie's authors appear as news experts on the top media daily) and me. Find out what you need to know to enjoy the buzz of the celebrity status that appearing on the top shows in the media as the featured expert including these strategic benefits:

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Teleseminar Sign Up & CD

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CREATE MEGA DEMAND FOR "YOU": But how do you mega demand for YOU? That is what the new teleseminar will reveal. Don't miss this one because everyone will be there and you should be too. The sign up link is below.

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Annie Jennings of the National PR firm, Annie Jennings PR promotes authors & experts to the most prestigious media in America. Her commitment to excellence has forever changed publicity as she has created the most advanced publicity tools and strategies used in PR today. Annie's mission is to help everyone share their messages all over the world for the betterment of all.

FREE CD: "The Making Of A Million Dollar Expert" Offered To All Who Sign Up Using The Link Below:

Teleseminar Sign Up & CD

Dan Hollings' Twitter Secrets

These twitter tips go from beginners to advanced. They've already been recommended on Cnet news and elsewhere. Dan is the mastermind behind the marketing of movie "The Secret" and an internet marketing, micro-blogging and mobile marketing strategist.

http://twittinsecrets.com

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For free info about advertising yourself as a guest in Radio-TV Interview Report (RTIR) The magazine 4,000 producers read to find interesting guests and to get the free special report: 39 Ways to Get Free Publicity As a Guest on Radio/TV Talk Shows Nationwide & accompanying audio go here: http://bit.ly/djbtye

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Come Meet Me

Seattle WA
Grande Publici-tea with Nancy Juetten
October 17 12:30-5pm
Register or 425.641.5214

Anywhere in the World
How To Become A News Expert Teleseminar with Annie Jennings
October 28th
1-2pm EST
Teleseminar Sign Up & CD

Anywhere in the World
The Art of Blowing Your Own Horn
Indie Business Radio
April 7, 2008
1:00pm EST
Please join us

Anywhere in the World
Authors Access
Get a 6 Figure Book Advance: Before You Write Your Book
Please join us

Anywhere in the World
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1 hour
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Anywhere in the World
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1 hour
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Anywhere in the World
Become a 60 Second Sound Bite Genius
(For Pitching, Producer calls, Networking or Presentations)
1 hour
Download it at no charge here.

For further schedule information and course descriptions
please visit.

Quote

Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.

~ Winston Churchill