Before You Hit Record
Wing it? No, thank you.
Anyone who says "I'll just wing it" secretly plans to fail. They don't prepare because they want an excuse if something goes wrong.
Everyone, and I do mean EV. ERY. ONE., overestimates their ability to wing it.
That's why we put so much effort into the pre-recording preparation for Top Floor. We require guests to do a 30-minute prep call with me before we schedule a recording, and we do four things in that call:
1. I tell a short version of my life story, from opening hotels for Starwood to founding Hive Marketing.
2. I explain the structure of an episode and our elevator analogy, including the Emergency Call Button and the Loading Dock.
3. I ask the guest to tell a more extended version of their life story.
4. Along the way, we bounce ideas off each other about what questions we want to cover in the recording.
After we prep, I use the transcription of that call to help me create questions for the episode, which I share in advance so the guest doesn't have to wing it. (In news that will surprise no one: people still wing it.)
The prep call benefits the guest, the audience, and me by:
Building rapport. We connect as humans and lay the groundwork for an authentic conversation during the recording.
Setting expectations. We discuss the structure of the episode and any off-limit topics or areas of emphasis so no one is caught off guard. Doing this eases nerves and improves performance, especially for someone new to podcasting.
Troubleshooting tech. Connecting in advance allows us to identify potential issues with equipment, internet connection, or sound quality. Catching these problems early avoids scrambling on recording day.
Reducing rambling. The quality of the content is better when we've discussed it in advance, and the guest is less likely to ramble or veer off-topic, resulting in a tighter, more focused episode. It’s easier to edit, too.
A prep call is a small time investment that creates confidence, clarity, and a more compelling conversation -- meaning the listener won't get bored or annoyed.
This article originally appeared in CJ’s Weekly Check In here.