Do NOT hire a publicist to get on TV - You can do this Yourself!

In my early twenties, I worked in the movie industry. Mostly I worked as a production manager, thus I was not involved in the artistic process. It was my job to get permits for locations, lock off streets, even have cars towed, secure parking, and keep the team happy by ensuring that food arrived on time and any and all problems were solved. My work paused when somebody called “All quiet please – Lights – Camera – Action” and began only again after the director called “Cut.” That gave me time to watch and study the director and the actors work. Sometimes, we shot and re-shot the same scene about a dozen times until it was perfect (in the eyes of the director).


These days, these experiences are my biggest handicap when I myself am on TV. The second after I say a sentence, I know how it could have been said better and I worry about my hair and posture constantly. There is no director’s assistant who signals with wind-milling arms somewhere in the background. I know how it could be done perfectly, yet I never get there.

Most recently I have published four ‘naked’ (meaning no-fluff) books which shed light on many problems indie authors face. The books also explain how to solve these issues cheaply and more effectively. One of these four books, “Naked News for Indie Authors: How to Get on TV,” elaborates on that indie authors should NOT hire a publicist because they themselves can pitch TV stations much more effectively. This book is not getting too many reviews. That’s not because it is not selling; it is probably because the readers, indie authors, are intimidated. They see and read the plan and the path. And then, they begin worry, just like I worry every single time I enter a studio.

“Can I really do this?”
“What if I mess up?”
“Maybe I should just wait.”

I have been on local TV four times. Just recently an anchor has asked me to be her to-go expert, which means I am getting to be on TV more often. Here is the gist of my knowledge.

Everybody (not only indie authors) can get on local TV easily.All it takes is to pitch a TV-station properly.You must offer yourself as a “local expert” when you pitch a TV-station, because that tells the anchor that you are somebody who is not a one-time passer through but you could be his or her to-go person in the future.

Shooting a 30 second commercial takes three days (with about 15 people/staff working on it)
Shooting a 30 second movie sequence takes three hours (with up to 50 people staff working on it)
Shooting 30 seconds for TV takes 30 seconds (with 3-4 people/staff working on it)

Therefore you can never be perfect, just like I can’t. It takes years of practice to achieve perfection and all TV anchors know that, because they have done it.Local TV anchors need to-go people. If they’d show only syndicated program from the main TV station, there would be no need for their own jobs. Thus they will always prefer to invite a local expert.You should try to get on TV at least one time. Even if you mess up, you can pull a screen print which you can put on your website, thereby adding “expert on TV” to your portfolio. The picture won’t talk but will look impressive.  Thus, throw all “what-if” thoughts out the door, and pitch a TV-station.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain

Here in this video you can see
a) Me, not too perfect (It was extremely humid and my hair did not want to cooperate)
b) One of the anchors messing up
c) The beautiful "commercial" the TV station presented about one of my books

You can have that for your book too. 



For details how to pitch professionally please read my book "Naked News for Indie Authors: How To Get on TV"

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Multi award-winning motivational indie author Gisela Hausmann published the following books under her own 'naked' brand.  

"NAKED WORDS: The Effective 157-Word Email"

"Naked Truths About Getting Book Reviews"

"Naked News for Indie Authors: How NOT to Waste Your Marketing $$$"

"Naked News for Indie Authors: How To Get on TV"
"Naked Determination, 41 Stories About Overcoming Fear"

"Naked Elaboration: Our Time to 'Fix Things' Is Running Out"



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