This has been bothering me for two days now and I have to get it off my chest!
I have a client who was just beat up on the air by a shock jock…(or a cowardly piece of you know what – as I'll refer to him)
It's not fair. If you ever get on the air and feel the host become extremely rude, just say you just remembered, you have to return a movie or maybe you have to pick up the dry cleaning and then hang up.
You should never have to put up with crap in an interview by someone who berates you.
Here's the note my client sent me:
I had the interview from hell this morning. I want to share it with you because I know you can always use a good laugh.
The host was not mean to me. In fact, he was very friendly, but his agenda was to spoof his guest's book and degrade the topic. I stuck with him through the whole thing (20 long minutes). Here is a synopsis of how it went.
Although I corrected him at least 4 times he referred to me as "Harry Kurz" and my book as "Steamy Poop at the Pearly Gates". He asked me questions like "why shouldn't I eat dog" and "do I experiment on animals in my home". He went on to share how he fried a ferret in his microwave and asked if I had ever done that. He asked about 20 of the oddest questions one could ever expect from "why do people at McDonalds have slimey fingers" to "what did you do before you wrote your book". When I answered the latter by telling him that I was a Coast Guard Officer for 32 years, he broke in by playing the music to Baywatch (obviously he was ready for this question and answer).
When I tried to give my website address he talked over me so the audience could not hear it. It was the only time he talked over me – as I said he was kind of friendly. I tried to give it 3 times and each time he got loud and talked over it. I even asked him once if I could give it and he said "of course" and then when I tried to he got loud and obnoxious again.
I can hardly believe this guy has much of an audience. He belittled me and animals in general and was quite obnoxious (even though friendly). It was a terrible interview, but I did not let him walk over me – in fact, there were times when I took control of the interview and steered him in another direction by asking him questions. I actually surprised him with one question (I don't recall what we were talking about now) and he was quiet for about 8 seconds before he laughed and gave a lame answer.
Sorry to rant but each client becomes my friend.
The moral of the story, just hang up and have an ice cream if the host gets too rude.
That's where I'm going right now.
Wayne Kelly
The overly protective radio guy!
