Are you a blogger getting ready for your very first TV segment? I’m sharing 11 tips for preparing for your first tv segment after my experience doing my first segment.
Last week I got the opportunity to do my very first tv segment. I was so excited but also nervous at the same time. Back in middle school I was a part of the peer mediation crew and we did weekly segments on the morning news. I absolutely hated it! I was so nervous every single time. Well, this time was completely different. I was nervous but not so nervous that I was stuttering or forgetting my lines. Maybe Tristan was watching over me that day to make sure I nailed my segment. Whatever it was, it worked because my first tv segment was perfect.
Here’s some tips that helped me with my first tv segment.
11 Tips for Preparing for Your First TV Segment
1.Skip the patterns and prints.
For days I wrapped my head around what to wear. Of course I wanted to be fashionable and trendy because it’s tv. I love a good print but instead I opted for a salmon colored dress that complimented my skin color and makeup well. Patterns and prints can look busy on tv, especially if you have an elaborate setup.
2. If you look good, you feel good.
Make sure to go to bed early the night before so that you can wake up early the morning of the segment.
3. If all else fails, remember to smile.
This tip is super important. You never know when the camera is zoomed in or panned out so you always want to smile. Smiling will help you to avoid those awkward looks on camera. If you’re always smiling, you won’t have to worry about awkward screenshots 🙂
4. Practice in advance.
A good way to avoid any “umms” or silences is to practice in advance. Recruit a friend to pretend that they’re the news anchor so you can practice your lines with them. If you’re working with a brand on the segment, do your homework. Get to know the brand and their backstory so that you’re prepared for any questions that may come up.
5. Just act natural.
The news anchors for the channel I was on made my segment ten times easier. Once the ball got rolling it was like we were old friends just having a natural conversation. The best advice I can give is to just chat with your anchor as if you’re having a regular conversation. This will make the segment go smoother.
6. Be energetic.
No one likes a boring tv segment. When on tv, be upbeat and just be yourself.
7. Add a personal story.
My first tv segment was about making Father’s Day ice cream sundaes. I added a personal spin to it by talking about how we made homemade brownies as the base and that I always struggle with figuring out what to get Dad for Father’s Day.
8. Give good tips.
The audience always appreciates some good tips. For my segment, I share some great tips about how to create the perfect sundae in a mason jar rather than in a traditional dish.
9. Arrive early.
Being on time is important but arriving early is even better. If it’s your first tv segment with the station, arriving early will allow you a little extra time to get a feel for the station in person. It’ll also help alleviate the nerves.
10. Be flexible in case of changes.
News is unpredictable. Of course the producers and anchors have their show scheduled for the day but you never know when breaking news might occur. Just relax and be flexible in case a breaking news story does come in. Make sure that you carve out a good amount of time in your schedule in case this does happen.
11. Review and learn.
The best thing to do after your tv segment goes live is to watch it and take notes. You can learn so much after your segment airs. I think I’ve already watched my segment about 10 times by now. I’m taking notes on what I can improve on next time.
Here’s a few photos from my segment and you can watch it here.