The Ten Show in Philadelphia

[Kiltboy]

Wonderful for you and the shop! Enjoy the "free press".

[auld argonian]

You've got butterflies? C'mon...you da man! You've gotta get on there and EXUDE confidence on behalf of all of us. Think about it....if you can wear a kilt, that pretty much shows that you can do anything. Just don't let the reporter put on a kilt and start doing dumbass things and cheap kilt jokes....better still, tell them to send a woman reporter...that'd work out better on several levels.

Or should we start a pool on all of the corny kilt jokes that the reporter is going to do? Keep it "on message", Rocky!

Best

AA

[RockyR]

You've got butterflies? C'mon...you da man! You've gotta get on there and EXUDE confidence on behalf of all of us. Think about it....if you can wear a kilt, that pretty much shows that you can do anything. Just don't let the reporter put on a kilt and start doing dumbass things and cheap kilt jokes....better still, tell them to send a woman reporter...that'd work out better on several levels.

Or should we start a pool on all of the corny kilt jokes that the reporter is going to do? Keep it "on message", Rocky!

Best

AA

"Exuding confidence" has NEVER been a problem for me (just ask Kelly... she thinks I "exude" a bit too MUCH confidence).

It's a 'fun talk show' kind of thing, so there will probably be a few jokes and whatnot, but I'll try (if the opportunity presents itself) to stress the fact that it's not a costume to be worn once a year. I wear the kilt daily and it's comfortable, classy, male clothing.

I'd rather have a MALE reporter b/c he can 'play dress up' and model a kilt outfit for the whole viewing audience, rather than just me with a woman wearing a man's kilt.

We've done 1 other 'extended interview' show before and were interviewed for the news when I made a kilt for a Marine (Sgt. Farr) a few years back. Typically, they want to ask what Celebrities we've made kilts for, who our 'regular' customers are and what we wear under the kilt. I'll TRY to keep that answer PG or PG-13.

[KiltShot]

... I'll try (if the opportunity presents itself) to stress the fact that it's not a costume to be worn once a year. I wear the kilt daily and it's comfortable, classy, male clothing.

I'd rather have a MALE reporter b/c he can 'play dress up' and model a kilt outfit for the whole viewing audience, rather than just me with a woman wearing a man's kilt.

... Typically, they want to ask what Celebrities we've made kilts for, who our 'regular' customers are and what we wear under the kilt. I'll TRY to keep that answer PG or PG-13.

I'm with you on the above points.

I assume that you will be helping the reporter to select a kilt from your stock. If he doesn't know what tartan to pick you might want to suggest American Heritage. That would visually imply that kilts are not just for Scottish or Irish Americans. Television is primarily a visual experience. You can use that to your advantage.

I hope you can agree with him to avoid the underwear issue completely. It's a personal decision that people make for themselves, not a topic for idle conversation, and it's certainly not the reason the kilt is worn. With that said, it's amazing how often the question comes up from the most unlikely people.

[RockyR]

I'm with you on the above points.

I assume that you will be helping the reporter to select a kilt from your stock. If he doesn't know what tartan to pick you might want to suggest American Heritage. That would visually imply that kilts are not just for Scottish or Irish Americans. Television is primarily a visual experience. You can use that to your advantage.

I hope you can agree with him to avoid the underwear issue completely. It's a personal decision that people make for themselves, not a topic for idle conversation, and it's certainly not the reason the kilt is worn. With that said, it's amazing how often the question comes up from the most unlikely people.

The reporter is an African American named Byron Scott. As it turns out, he's roughly my size and I have 2 Scott clan tartan kilts in my own wardrobe, so he'll be able to wear a kilt in his own surname.

I've also read Matt and Todd's article about the history of the Irish kilt, so I'll be able to speak intelligently.

[IRISH]

very cool, rocky.

if you're nervous, do what i do before a football match: plenty of motorhead on the ipod and when the bell rings, come out swingin'.

i'll be wearing my usa kilts ferguson modern to a family dinner at my mom's tomorrow for my birthday, down the local on wednesday night and in the somerville st patrick's day parade this sunday. the best apparel purchase i've made in my entire life.

best wishes, knock 'em dead.

[dutchy kilted]

Just be your knowledgeable, personable, kilt-wearing self and enjoy the publicity! You might need longer hours at the shop after the show though to accomodate the new business.

[RockyR]

if you're nervous, do what i do before a football match: plenty of motorhead on the ipod and when the bell rings, come out swingin'.

I think if I 'came out swinging' on the reporter, I'd make the news in a whole diferrent way. hahaha...

Just be your knowledgeable, personable, kilt-wearing self and enjoy the publicity! You might need longer hours at the shop after the show though to accomodate the new business.

I REALLY DON'T want to work more / longer hours. Roughly 7 - 8 AM to 8 -9 PM 6 days a week is plenty for me. We'll make Mac work longer hours.

Good luck tomorrow Rocky. I have my DVR set to record the show. By the way, I love the weathered green Scott kilt for the cold months.

Glad to hear you're going to watch. Make sure your DVR is set for WEDNESDAY (March 17)at 11 AM and not TOMORROW (March 16).

[CameronCat]

Rocky, Good on ya', Mate!

Wonderful publicity for kilts in general and your kilts in particular. We'll be interested to hear if you get a business bounce from the segment.

(The wag in me wonders if this wouldn't be better done on St. Andrew's Day or prior to Burn's Night, but TV always goes for the easy story.)

The on-camera tips I can offer you are simple:

1- Be yourself, and have fun. Smile a lot; you're a nice guy...let it show.

2- They're there because you're the expert; don't be afraid to tell 'em what you know.
2a- Have your thoughts collected, think before you speak, and then "speak short", i.e. don't ramble during an answer or explanation.

3- Forget the camera; talk to the interviewer. Glance at the camera occasionally as you would someone else in the room while speaking.

4- Be willing to put up with some minor inconvenience in the store, such as perhaps moving furniture to accommodate a camera position or similar upsets. TV isn't as simple as they make it seem, and if this is live-to-air, the shoot may become a bit more complicated. (Or not--depends a lot on the producer and the crew.)

Best of luck and please post a full "after-action" report, hopefully with a link to the result.

Peace
JT