How to get Booked on Oprah!

Most people believe that getting on Oprah will makeremember?" Carla Winter,the niece of Sol Wurtzel
them amillionaire, their book a bestseller or theirwho ran Fox Film (20th Century Fox) withfounder
business boom. For yourcareer to take-off like theWilliam Fox described the success of the studio
last space shuttle, you must prepare tomake thethisway: "For Fox Film it was an excellent director, a
most of your appearance. Here are some hot tips togood story and abox office star." In her book, The
help youget invited as a guest on the show, rivetMyth of the Perfect Mother
your audience on the air,and ultimately sell yourself(Contemporary Books), Jane Swigart says, "Being a
along with your product(s) or book(s).mother is likeasking half the population to do brain
As a media coach and marketing expert, I havesurgery without sending themto medical school."
helped many people getbooked on Oprah, so I knowThese memory nuggets consist of anecdotes, facts,
there is a strategy that, if followed,will help anyonestatistics,stories, or something unlikely, unusual,
increase their chances of getting on the show.controversial, shocking,funny, humorous, romantic,
Pitch and prepare.poignant, emotionally moving, or dramatic.
Before you actually get booked on Oprah, you need6. Make sure you're blurbable.
to know how topitch an idea to the show'sBy definition, a blurb is a very short advertisement or
producers and how to prepare yourself forthe bigstatementabout a topic, product or idea. For
day.example, many book jackets haveblurbs about the
1. Tape and watch Oprah.book, or what people have said about the book.
At least a dozen hopefuls call me every year forTheaverage sound bite on television is 10 seconds, so
media coaching or tohelp them create a marketingit takes someintensive practice to say something
plan. The first words out of theirmouths are: "I wantmeaningful about your book ortopic in such a short
to be on Oprah." When I ask them if they watchtheperiod of time. Practice with a timer until youcan
show 90 percent say, "No." Part of preparing forspeak your message in 10 to 20 seconds.
success isbecoming familiar with the content, format,7. Get booked on local shows first.
rhythm and pace of theEven before you consider approaching Oprah with
Oprah show.your idea, getpractice on your local news and talk
Your first step is to record two to four weeks ofshows. This will give you achance to fine-tune your
Oprah. Then, sitdown in a comfy spot and watchsound bites so you won't be shocked by thespeed
them all at once. This will give you asense of what'sof national television. Many people don't realize that
hot on Oprah for the next few months. (It doesthe
changeand go in cycles). Notice which producersOprah Show isn't a platform for their subject. When
(listed on the credits atthe end) are responsible foryou're on theshow as a guest you'll typically have a
each particular type of segment. Send aproducertotal of one to seven minutesto communicate your
information only after you are sure of who you'd likeentire message-in 10 to 20-second increments.
toapproach and why.Once you have a good feel for the rhythm of
2. Pitch a hot topic.television, you'll feelmore relaxed and ready.
Never pitch your yourself, your speech, your product8. Wow the producers with brevity.
or your book.Remember, the moment you open your mouth you
Instead pitch something that's newsworthy now: aare auditioning. Keepyour list of talking points by the
pressing nationalissue, a controversial subject, aphone when you call a producer (ora producer calls
problem for which you have thesolution, a commonyou) so you'll be succinct. You will already
myth debunked. Propose a topic that is relevant tohaverehearsed them so that they sound natural and
Winfrey's audience (controversy, relationships,inviting. Make sure allyour points are targeted exactly
personal triumph,makeovers) then prove you are theto the angle you're proposing-makingyou (and your
expert on that topic by tellingonly the informationproduct or book) irresistible on the air.
that is relevant to the idea you're pitching.Smile! You're on Oprah
For acting coach Cynthia Brian, speaker and author ofNow that you know what it takes to pitch an idea to
"Be the StarOprah, you needto know what to do when you
You Are!" (Celestial Arts), we created a pitch aboutactually appear on the show.
how she helpsteenagers work out their problems by1. Connect with your eyes.
role-playing with them oncamera. We proposed aIt is very important to maintain eye contact with
makeover show with before and after footageWinfrey 100 percentof the time when she addresses
forparents with difficult teens. Although the showyou. This means while you're talkingand while you're
idea isn't directlyrelated to her book this is an area oflistening. Audiences believe that you're sincere
Brian's expertise-and Winfreyhas been doing a lot ofandknowledgeable if you keep consistent, soft eye
shows around parent eenage relationships.contact.
Think about the areas in your personal or professional2. Create a "Top Five" list.
life whereyou're an expert and connect that to aHelp your audience remember you by developing a
provocative theme."Top Five" list to beprojected on-screen so all your
3. Put together a winning press package.key points will be illustratedvisually as you discuss
Send your book (if you have one) along with a pitchthem. This is also a secret way to keep
or angle pagewith two or three different ideas, and aWinfrey on track. Once she's stated that you'll cover
paragraph bio highlightingyour expertise as it pertainsfive points,she has to help move you through all of
to your pitches. Be as brief aspossible. You must bethem or her audience willfeel cheated. Making this list
able to sell your idea in one page. Rememberguarantees you more airtime.
Oprah producers get hundreds of packages everyAt the request of the producers speaker and author
day. If possibleinclude a two-to-four-minute video ofVictoria Moran,who wrote Lit From Within
you on other talk shows ordoing a presentation to a(HarperSanFrancisco) created a quiz for ashow on
group. If your demo video includes talkshow clips, cuevanity with questions like, "Are you constantly
it up to those segments. If not, cue your video upcomparingyour appearance to other women's? Does
toa short segment that shows you speakingthe way you look in themorning determine your
succinctly so the producerscan see that you're amood for the day?" After Winfrey got herguests to
viable guest.answer, she asked Moran to comment. She got five
4. Explore the show's Web site.chances tospeak-totaling one minute and 33 seconds.
Winfrey's Web site, has as much information asyou3. Bring visual props.
will ever need to get on the show. There, you canVisual props add liveliness and helps your viewers
review herentire wish list of subjects. She evenremember yourpoints, which indirectly translates into
makes it easy for you with alink called, "Be on thebuying your product or book.
show." With the touch of a key you can sendanLet the producers know how you plan to use your
e-mail that will reach her producers instantly.prop(s) ahead oftime. During the show you also need
Make your topic relevant in a short paragraph toto direct the cameraman to yourobject by pointing
receive a quickresponse. Let the producers knowto it or holding it up to cue them for a close-up.
that you'd be glad to hop a red-eyeat a moment's4. Introduce yourself with a stellar sound bite.
notice to be a part of their show, and youOn television your very first utterance sets the tone
increaseyour chances of being invited.for all theinformation you plan to deliver. Say
5. Create 6 dynamic sound bites.something that instantly bringsfocus to your most
Mark Twain defines a sound bite as "a minimum ofimportant message that ties into your book.
sound to a maximumof sense." Sound bites or talkingWith dedicated practice, channeling your passion,
points, are the essential messagesyou want toenthusiasm, andknowledge about your subject will
convey. Talk out loud the most important ideas,come across to your audience, andpeople will
concepts,and points of your topic as they relate tonaturally want to know more about you, your
the idea you are pitching.products andyour services.
Ask yourself, "What do I want my audience to