I wasn’t nervous. But I was wondering if they had forgotten about me. Sitting in the waiting room like someone was about to deliver a baby, my stomach began tying in knots because I started thinking they canceled my segment. People were walking by the room, but most were leaving the building. The day before, the show’s producer told me my segment would begin at 12:15 pm. It was 12:25, and no one came by to say, “Hey, we’re running a bit behind,” or “sorry, you won’t be able to go on today,” or anything. Finally, I saw the receptionist and asked her if she knew anything about the time I was supposed to go on.
Then the staffer who took me to the waiting room came in and said that their schedule noted that I was in the last segment of the program. I panicked because I had taken time off from school to only miss one class. I needed to contact the school to see if someone could cover my next class. Thankfully, they took care of it.
Still in the dark, I didn’t know precisely what I was supposed to do. I expected someone, maybe the producer of the show, to come in and prep me on what I was to do. Nope, that didn’t happen. Finally, a familiar face, someone I know, came in, got me prepped with a wireless microphone, and walked me to the studio set. It was a nice and colorful set. Lots of lights. Large robotic cameras. I sat at the tall table, and after several moments of people talking into earpieces (I wasn’t sure if they were talking to me), boom…ACTION!
We’re on the air. I see the intro and teleprompter prompting Chelsea Haynes, the host of the Studio STL program, to speak. So she spoke. Questions were asked and answered. A little laughter. Some assurance. And in five minutes, it was over. It turns out I didn’t need to be prepped on what to do. It was just all so natural. I didn’t have time to be nervous. I didn’t sweat, feel exhausted, or feel out of place. Chelsea’s bubbling personality floated throughout the studio and helped me feel relaxed and welcomed.
My first live television interview was excellent. I don’t know if I will ever experience it again, but just like many things I’ve experienced since turning fifty years old, it’s another check off my “what would be cool to do one day” list (bucket list sounds a bit depressing). And I’ve made up my mind to keep going for it.
Check out the interview: