I recorded an appearance for someone’s podcast yesterday.
The call was supposed to be at 1:15 PM, but the host had emailed and asked to push it back to 1:30; he had an emergency client call he had to take. I obliged and we both jumped on Zoom at the (new) scheduled time.
When I got on the call, I was surprised to see that the host was on Zoom mobile, on his phone while outside.
He was walking, and explained to me that he usually took a walk while doing his client calls. The emergency call that had pushed our call back had gone a bit long and he wasn’t back home yet.
While that part was all fine and good, I was a bit disappointed. The host being not-at-home meant he was either going to ask to postpone the interview again, or he planned on running the interview from his phone, with his podcasting microphone and without good lighting for me to see him as we conversed.
Being that this was a podcast, to me that meant one thing: less than the best quality audio, on his end at least.
My audio was good to go, since I was at home in my normal interview setup. The host said that he’d find a quiet spot on his walking path for doing his end of the interview, and also assured me that his normal number of listeners would still tune in despite his not being at his usual desktop microphone.
As we got started, I reminded myself of something: to the host’s audience, this was still my introduction.
They didn’t know anything about the 15-minute push-back of the schedule. Though the host was transparent during recording about the fact that he was recording from his phone, the audience already knows the host; it’s his show. To me, they would be listening to our interview with one unspoken question: “Is this Dre guy worth my time?”
If I didn’t show myself well, there wouldn’t be a second chance. There would be no excuses about the time, or about the host’s audio — my one chance to capture some of the host’s audience and make them my audience would be gone. I had to deliver at my standard, despite what anyone else did, if I wanted to make a good showing.
This kind of stuff happens: circumstances aren’t ideal, but the not-ideal circumstance is still your one chance to show yourself. Fumble with this one, and you don’t get another look.
I made episode #571: The Biggest Win: The One You Were Expected To Lose to help you be — and stay — ready, especially when the situation is not in your favor.
Listen here: http://DreAllDay.com/571–