My Days of Being Carded Are Over...

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I don't know about the rest of you, but I still have those days when--given the right lighting and the proper application of makeup--I can convince myself that if need be, I could still pass for someone in my twenties (I'm 35). 

This theory was shot to hell a few days ago when I watched myself on TV.  I appeared on a local access cable program, talking about how public speaking relates to self-esteem.  Watching myself on TV, I was able to make note of several things:

  • I have a really annoying habit of closing my eyes when I'm making a point.  I think I do it to gather my thoughts, but I end up saying half a sentence with my eyes closed.  Gaaa!  Why haven't family and friends told me of this before??
  • My arms are not as toned as I think they are.  I wore a sleeveless shirt for the interview and am regretting it.  Enough said.
  • I have a lovely profile and a not-so-great head-on look.  I will now be conducting all future conversations with my head arched to the left.
  • If I saw me on TV, didn't know me, and had to guess my age, I'd probably go with mid to late 30's.  It's in the crinkles at the eyes and around the mouth and yes, even a little age showing in the neck. 

It's not that I'm displeased with how I look.  It's more that I had one of those awakening, "Hey, no one's going to blink if you try to beer at the bar" type moments. 

Next time I appear on TV, I'm going to wear my hair in pigtails and carry a teddy bear and see if that helps.

Dena on TV - Take Two

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Spent this morning taping the 30-minute TV segment for Greensboro Community Access TV. The "Take Two" in today's title is accurate - we had to shoot it twice.

I was a little nervous going in because I never know where to look with TV.  I tend to oogle the host so I don't have to look at the camera.  But we had our 30-minute segment and I thought it went pretty well.  Then the producer motioned the host back to the cutting room.

"Uh-oh," I thought.  "I did something wrong.  My mike wasn't working.  I used too big of gestures and obliterated my face when I spoke. Something." Tyrone, the host, came back.

"We need to do that again," he said.  "They didn't have the recording equipment set up properly. "

So we ended up taping the entire show again.  I did well except for one question where I went on so long in my answer I forgot what the original question was.  I finally remembered and managed to bring it back around but it was not the most succinct of answers.

Better was that on the 2nd go-around Tyrone asked me to give my contact info, so I was able to cite my www.denaharris.com website.  Not a direct plug for the book, but anyone who visits there will certainly be able to find their way to the book with no problem.

Not sure when the piece will air.  Probably sometime in August.  And I have no idea how many people will see it.  I'm guessing being local cable it won't be hordes.  But it just takes the right person seeing it to make a difference.

Now I must go scrub my face.  I actually put on foundation today and in this 110 degree heat we're having (I kid not) I feel like my face is about to melt off.

I'm going to be on TV

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A gentleman in my Toastmaster group hosts a local community cable show and has asked me on as a guest to speak about self-esteem and public speaking.  We've talked about this for a month and it's always been one of those, "Yeah, I'll call you and we'll set something up," and then nothing happens.  Well this morning (Saturday) I got a call from him asking if I could be at the studio at 11am on Monday for the interview.  I got the message off my cell phone, turned to Blair and said, "Of course we'll be chucking all our weekend plans in favor of going shopping for a new outfit for me."

Not really!  For Oprah, yes, I will hit the stores but community access is going to have to live with me wearing my has-beens.

I've read that people appearing on TV should wear solid colors, not white, and never go sleeveless.  A peek in my closet reveals striped and patterned long sleeve shirts or sleeveless solids.  Story of my life.

I need to submit a list of questions to him by tomorrow.  I was just working on it and it's harder than it sounds to come up with questions to interview yourself about.  My wanna-be-questions range from, "So tell us, Ms. Harris, is it true you're a natural genius or do you have to be a little thought into it?  to "How long do you think you can hold out until everyone figures out you're a fraud?"  (Just kidding on both counts....) =)

Although the topic is public speaking and not my humor book, you can be darn sure I'm going to manage to slip that in somewhere.  Every ounce of publicity counts... Wish me luck!