114 How to Sell Yourself
at home?” Begin your answer looking at the person who asked the
question, and then gracefully glide toward the camera. But if you
do that, be certain you know which camera to look at. One of the
worst moments on TV news is when the reporter is looking at the
wrong camera.
The same principle applies to the telephone caller. If you’re
part of a call-in show, the producer, director, or stage manager
will probably brief you before airtime. If no one tells you which
camera represents the caller, ask. If you’re one of a group, as in a
panel, make it a point to look at the moderator or another panel-
ist—preferably the person who’s speaking. When it’s your turn,
or if you interject, be sure to look at the person you’re talking to,
answering, or interrupting.
When some other panelist is hogging airtime, don’t fall into the
trap of a shouting match. Only a political junkie enjoys the Crossfire,
Capitol Gang school of high-pitched, shrill, “I know better than
you” school of TV performing. If you’re surrounded by these types,
occasionally interject a good-natured comment such as, “Hello
there, remember me?” or “How about another point of view?” An
intelligent audience will wonder why the rude ones are ignoring you
and may even wonder if the others aren’t actually afraid of hearing
what you have to say. I really like it when the speaker responds to
the professional interrupter with, “Let me finish, Joe,” or “Joe, you
had your turn. Now let me have mine.”
When the show includes a studio audience, you have to be
even more careful. The cameras have been arranged to shoot you
from the perspective of the person who’s talking to you. So, your
job is to look at the host, the audience, or the other panelist, who-
ever is talking, or the one who invited you to speak. It’s an excel-
lent rule.
Most of these ground rules apply when an interview is sched-
uled for your office. If the crew includes a make-up person, let
that person make you up. If not, you should get a quick lesson in
make-up before the crew is scheduled to arrive and put on the
simplest application.
The stand-up interview
For most of us, the toughest interview to handle is the stand-up
interview. People are not at their best standing up on the street, at