Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Framing, Content, and Cancellations

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

For this week's Host Bulletin, we have some important advice and suggestions for your shows.

Framing

During the show, do not adjust the camera unless the camera falls somehow or you are instructed to adjust it by the engineer. The engineer is in charge of the framing and production values so please listen to them. If you make camera adjustments without the engineer's approval it will probably mess up the framing.

Intros

When you are beginning the show, have a concise introduction. If you are going to read it, put your notes as close as you can to the camera. Tell them it’s ThinkTech, give them the name of the series and the title of the episode, then briefly introduce your guests, the sooner the better. A long-winded introduction always loses viewers.  Our script suggestions for intros, breaks, and outtros are at https://thinktechhawaii.com/hosts-guests-2/script-suggestions/.

Content

Ask concise questions and if appropriate follow up on their answers. If there is more than one guest, address every question to a specific guest. You may need to interrupt when the guests repeat themselves or go off topic, then guide them back on track.  Successful hosts don’t just ask questions, they respond and add value to what guests are saying. This may shift the direction of the content, but with the host guiding it may lead to interesting, if unplanned, discussions.

Cancellations

If one of your guests or a co-host cannot make it to the show, let us know by all means (email at shows@thinktechhawaii.com, phone at 808-784-3426 and text message at 808-780-9254) as soon as possible so our staff does not waste time (a) preparing for a guest who isn’t going to show up and then (b) preparing again for a show without that guest.  If a guest, co-host or contributor drops out at the last minute or doesn’t join the meeting by showtime, the show must nevertheless go on without them.

Thanks so much for your cooperation on these things. If you have questions, please contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.