Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of September 10, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:
Host Bulletin, Week of September 10, 2023

Live Forum this Saturday

Join us for Point-Counterpoint Hawai'i live this Saturday, September 16 from 12 noon to 1 pm HST! Developing Relationships in Indo-Pacific will be moderated by former governor John Waihe'e. The panelists for Part 1 will be Chris Cottrell, Karla Cruz, Jim Moriarty and Srini Sitaraman, and they will cover Southeast Asia, the Philippines, China / Taiwan and India. Please tune in on ThinkTechHawaii.com, YouTube, or Facebook and send your questions and comments to questions@thinktechhawaii.com. Part 2 will be on on Saturday, October 14.

Distinguished Guest Election/Survey

Voting is open! Thanks to everyone who made nominations.  Click here to cast your ballot for ThinkTech Distinguished Guest. Vote only once, but feel free to share the link.  Last month's winner was Tina Patterson, nominated by host Chuck Crumpton of "It's Time for Responsible Change". Please don’t forget to respond to our survey on the second page, which covers issues related to the above forum. Voting closes next Sunday, September 17th, and we'll announce the results in our email advisories on the 20th.

Lighting

Have a white light available to brighten up your face. Avoid lighting from behind you or directly above you - that will cast dark shadows on your face. You can use one of the attached images to make your monitor a ring light.  If you have a Mac, you can also download the iGlasses app, which is a great way to adjust, brighten and improve your video picture.  Of course, you can also get a real ring light on Best Buy or Amazon; we recommend https://www.amazon.com/yAyusi-Portable-Operated-Cordless-Conference/dp/B09V7CW3SR

Vocabulary

When using acronyms, terms of art, or important names -- "collective bargaining”, “HPU” (Hawaii Pacific University) and "Sidney Powell", for example -- take a moment to define and explain them to your viewers, or ask your guest to do so. The host should represent and address the curiosity of the average viewer, who may not be familiar with your subject. Make sure we don't lose or confuse them with jargon.

Promotion Tip

Select people in your network who would be especially interested in your latest show and write a short, personalized 1-on-1 email inviting them to watch on the episode link you provide. This is a successful strategy used by host Rusty Komori that contributes to the wide popularity of his shows.

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of September 3, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:
Host Bulletin, Week of September 3, 2023

Distinguished Guest Nominations

Click here to nominate a guest from one of your August shows to be selected a Distinguished Guest! Only the first 10 nominations will be on the ballot. Nominations close Thursday, September 7th and voting will begin on the 10th. The results will be posted in our email advisories on the 20th. The winning candidate will be profiled in a short video for our livestreams and social media.  Last month's winner was Tina Patterson, nominated by host Chuck Crumpton for his appearance on "It's Time for Responsible Change".

Point-Counterpoint Hawaii

Our live open forum, Point-Counterpoint Hawaii: Hawaii's Developing Relationships in Indo-Pacific Part 1, is on Saturday, September 16 from 12 noon to 1 pm HST! https://youtu.be/LJelWiCANGo Please spread the word, send your questions and comments to questions@thinktechhawaii.com, and watch it live on ThinkTechHawaii.com.

Name-Dropping

Avoid simple name-dropping during shows. Name-dropping makes episodes less accessible to viewers who may not know who you're naming and are new to the subject. Provide context or brief explanations when mentioning names to help them follow along and understand the relevance of these people to your discussion.

Eye Contact

Look directly at the camera throughout the show. Avoid looking at another screen, or down at your table or desk, or off to the side. Place the Zoom window on your screen as near as possible to your camera so you can maintain continuing eye contact with the audience. If you have notes, put them in a word-processing document or notepad window on your screen as near as possible to the camera.

Promotion Tip

Encourage your guests to promote their episodes. Ask them to share the links we send them after the show, using their email, text messages and social media. If the episode gets enough views, it may be selected for our Top Five and Staff Pick of the week, which is broadcast on Olelo 54, promoted in our ThinkTech Weekly, shared among your fellow hosts and our directors and underwriters, and played in our Monday schedule.

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of August 27, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:
Host Bulletin, Week of August 27, 2023

Live Open Forum

Our next Point-Counterpoint program is a two-part special on Hawaii's Developing Relationships in Indo-Pacific. Part 1 will be live on ThinkTechHawaii.com, YouTube, and Facebook on Saturday, September 16 from 12 noon to 1 pm HST: https://youtu.be/0fGqgQPPGSw. It will be moderated by former governor John Waihe'e. Panelists Chris Cottrell, Karla Cruz, James Moriarty and Srini Sitaraman will cover Southeast Asia, the Philippines, China and India.  Please tune in and send your questions and comments to questions@thinktechhawaii.com.  Part 2 will be at noon on October 14, and we’ll tell you more about that later.

Cancellations

If you need to cancel an episode, please give us as much notice as possible. Cancelling two episodes within 60 days will change your status to “ad hoc” host.  An ad hoc host can do shows when there are show times available on the production schedule, but does not have a reserved time, date or interval on the schedule. See https://thinktechhosts.blogspot.com/2023/05/bulletin-to-thinktech-hosts-week-of-may_14.html

Labeling Graphics

Unless you're presenting a slide deck, please label each graphic you want to use with a number and description as requested in our Graphics Guidelines so our engineer and editors will know when to display them. If you don’t label your graphics that way we may not be able to include them in that episode

Labor Day

Reminder: Monday, September 4 is a building holiday, and we will not be producing shows that day.  If your show is scheduled for that day, please let us know if you'd like to reschedule to another day in that week or the following week.  Note that the next building holiday after that will be Thanksgiving, November 23. See the holiday schedule at https://thinktechhosts.blogspot.com/p/faq.html.

Promotion Tip

Your views will depend in large part on how well you describe your episode in the show information you provide. Write a compelling description that includes thoughtful and descriptive keywords and phrases, so you can give viewers a good preview and understanding of what your episode is about and make it easier for search engines to find and recommend your content.

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of August 20, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:
Host Bulletin, Week of August 20, 2023

Props/Objects

If you'd like to show an object during your episode, please take a picture of it beforehand and send it to us in accordance with the Graphics Guidelines. Showing the object itself during the recording is NOT recommended because Zoom often blurs  it. Photos of the object will look much better on the screen.

Standing

Please do not stand during the show. It's disruptive, and it's much more difficult to keep still while standing than sitting on a chair. If you tend to lean back and forth or swivel in your seat, change to a more stable chair. These movements create garish video artifacts, deteriorate your audio, and push you out of frame, cutting off parts of your face/body onscreen.  

Praise

When introducing your guest, guard against too much praise or lofty language “I’m so excited to welcome John Doe, the most important pig farmer in the islands.” Get to the facts and the crux of the discussion, and bear in mind what you want the audience to take away from your show.

We View Your Shows

We established a Content Committee in 2021 to review the quality of our shows. We assess on a variety of measures, including video and audio quality, show information, hosting skills, and degree of responsibility. Our biweekly meetings inform our decisions for the Hosts of the Year, Show of the Year, and Host Bulletin topics. We’re currently working on feedback to each of you because we care about your shows and want to make them first-rate. You should review your own shows too, so you can improve on them.

Promotion Tip

Express your pride as a ThinkTech Host! You work hard to make your shows great. Tell colleagues and people you meet that you're a talk show host on ThinkTech Hawaii, a nonprofit that has produced over 14,000 talk shows and short movies, and streams 30 new live talk shows every week. Send them these links and a link to your playlist when you can.

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of August 13, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:
Host Bulletin, Week of August 13, 2023

Remembering Dennis Esaki

Dennis Esaki, host of Politics and Land in Hawaii, passed away on July 25, 2023. We've dedicated today's Special Sundae Collection to his shows. Dennis Esaki's dear friend Ricky Cassiday preserves his legacy as he continues to host Politics and Land in Hawaii. View the playlist at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQpkwcNJny6mYSv3OsHjPK8LI0B2jfA6t.

Maui Fires

Our hearts go out to those affected by the Maui fires. Please share their stories and raise awareness through your shows. Jay Fidell examined the devastation in his show last week (https://youtu.be/fMBgtb5Hnd8), and host Rusty Komori will be covering this topic in this week's episode of Beyond the Lines. Let's do all we can to coordinate support and help our Maui 'ohana.

Distinguished Guest Election/Survey

Voting is open! Thanks to everyone who made nominations. Click here to cast your ballot for ThinkTech Distinguished Guest. Vote only once, but feel free to share the link.  Last month's winner was Frederic Ruppert, nominated by host Mark Shklov of "Law Across the Sea". Please don’t forget to respond to our survey on the second page, which covers important issues about the pending indictments. Voting closes this Thursday, August 17th, and we'll announce the results in our email advisories on the 20th.

Promotion Tip

Submit your episodes to online media platforms, such as news sites and organization newsletters to expand your reach and your audience. For example, you can write an article for Civil Beat's Community Voices and include related information from your shows.

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of August 6, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:
Host Bulletin, Week of August 6, 2023

Distinguished Guest Nominations

Click here to nominate a guest from one of your July shows to be selected a Distinguished Guest! Only the first 10 nominations will be on the ballot. Nominations close TOMORROW, August 7th and voting will begin on the 10th. The results will be posted in our email advisories on the 20th. The winning candidate will be profiled in a short video for our livestreams and social media.  Last month's winner was Frederic Ruppert, nominated by host Mark Shklov for his appearance on "Law Across the Sea".

Prepare Your Guests

Send your guests the Appearance Guidelines and Graphics Guidelines when you first recruit them. They need to record in a quiet, indoor space with a table or other flat, stable surface--not a hand or lap--for their recording device. Last-minute emails and complications from uninformed guests is stressful for everyone, and we may have to reschedule the episode if their video or audio is not up to our production standards.

Slides

Avoid using excessive text or graphics on slides. The clutter can make them illegible and distracting. They should be minimalistic and complement--not repeat--your spoken words, allowing your viewers to focus on the key messages. We strongly advise the 5x5 rule: NMT 5 bullet points per slide, with NMT 5 words each.

Moderating

Hosts are responsible for moderating the discussion, so if your guest is rambling, failing to answer your question, or repeating their comments, interrupt them and guide them back on track. Keep in mind that excessive interruptions (affirmative interjections such as "right" and "uh-huh" or talking over them too much) can be upsetting, so try one or two soft interruptions. To have good audio on the substance, you may need to restart the question you asked--we'll edit the overtalk out in post.

Promotion Tip

Episode highlights are great for enticing others to watch the full video. Email your selected clip to hayley@thinktechhawaii.com  so we can post it on https://www.youtube.com/@ThinkTechHawaiiBriefs/ to get the word out on your show.

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of July 23, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of July 23, 2023

Show Description

Please review your show description at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wTryiidjPg8lC69UbSSbCR5Ukhx5szg8vZPvRmY88-8/edit?usp=sharing and make sure it's up to date. You can also check out other ThinkTech shows through the hyperlinks.  A better show description will help you get more views.

Connect it Back

Please make sure the coverage of your episode is consistent with the name and description of your show. If you expect that the discussion will be outside of your show's name and description, you should find a way to connect it so your viewers will understand what you are doing.

Labor Day

Labor Day, Monday, September 4 is a building holiday, and we will not be producing shows that day.  If your show is scheduled for that day, please let us know if you'd like to reschedule to another day in that week or the following week.  Note that the next building holiday after that will be Thanksgiving, November 23. See the schedule at https://thinktechhosts.blogspot.com/p/faq.html.

Promotion Tip

You can reach new audiences through thoughtful cross-promotion.  If your episode is related to another show's theme, it would be great if you mention that host and show on your show. You might also want to recommend potential topics and guests to other hosts. Cross-promotion will expand both viewerships for both shows. 

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of July 16, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:
Host Bulletin, Week of July 16, 2023

Last-minute Guests

Reminder: we really can’t include any last-minute guests in your shows. They create problems for our staff. Your list of guests and their information should be on your Show Information Form by 10:00 pm HST the night before so we have enough time to prepare for your episode.

Zoom Camera

Leave your camera and the Zoom program on at all times, and don’t move the camera unless the engineer asks you to do so.  If you disturb or turn off the camera or the Zoom program, we will have to cut out that part of the video.  If you need to get up, just leave your camera alone.

Sound Interruptions

During the show, be sure to turn off your cellphone and set your computer devices to Do Not Disturb in order to avoid notification sounds, which will be picked up on the Zoom audio. Here are some instructions on how to do that: https://blog.rescuetime.com/do-not-disturb/

Reading Text

Avoid reading lengthy resources (articles, data, statistics, biographies, etc.) on air. That will bore and turn off viewers.  Instead, quote the most important points (NMT three sentences) or summarize the resource. Slides with succinct bullet points about the resource can be helpful visual aids. If you have notes, put them in a word-processing document or notepad window on your screen as near as possible to the camera so you can look into the camera and maintain eye contact with the audience. In any event, never read more than 90 seconds.

 

Promotion Tip

Help us help you! Remember to tag and mention ThinkTech Hawaii in your social media posts so we can share them with our viewers and followers. Type the “@” symbol and then start typing our page's name:

Facebook - @ThinkTechHawaii
Instagram - @ThinkTechNews
LinkedIn - @ThinkTech-Hawaii

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of July 9, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:
Host Bulletin, Week of July 9, 2023

Distinguished Guest Election/Survey

Voting opens today! Thanks to everyone who made nominations. Click here to cast your ballot for ThinkTech Distinguished Guest. Vote only once, but feel free to share the link.  Last month's winner was Gary Yabuta, nominated by host Jay Fidell. We also appreciate your response to our Current Events Survey. Voting closes Monday, July 17, and we'll announce the results in our email advisories on the 20th.

Editor Opening

We are looking to hire a part-time editor who knows or can learn DaVinci Resolve. If you know anyone who might be interested, please send them our ThinkTech Story on it, which is at https://storiesofthinktech.blogspot.com/2023/07/a-bullpen-of-editors-if-youve-been.html. You can contact us about this by emailing michael@thinktechhawaii.com. 

Camera Shaking

Place your device on a table or other flat, stable surface to prevent camera shaking -- not in your hand or on your lap. You can use a stand or a piece of tape to hold the device steady. Avoid moving, banging or leaning on the surface, as this is likely tol move or shake the camera as well.

Planning Shows

Did your guest cancel at the last minute? Contact us at shows@thinktechhawaii.com and we can give you suggestions for guests and potential topics.

Promotion Tip

Another way to find potential guests is through a dedicated email address. Create one for your show and include it in the Website to Display field on your Show Information Form so we can promote it in your episodes and our other platforms. See what host Peter Roseggdid in hawaiisvolunteerchampions@gmail.com for his new show, "Hawaii's Volunteer Champions".

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of June 25, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:
Host Bulletin, Week of June 25, 2023

Content

As you prepare your shows, remember that we want to raise public awareness. To achieve this, we need to create meaningful shows that convey valuable lessons, things that viewers don’t necessarily know snout. During the episode, get to the heart of the matter as soon as possible. Long introductions lose viewer interest; get to the crux right away and weave in their bios later.  Avoid  general questions like “Tell us about yourself.”  Better to try to ask “What did you do to get into real estate development.”  Then follow up on the details of the answer.

Questions and Interruptions

If a guest is rambling during the show without answering your questions, interrupt them, thank them for their (irrelevant) response and ask your question again.  Viewers like to see your questions answered.  They don’t like to see your questions ignored.  Some guests keep talking when you try to insinuate the next question.  In that case, keep repeating your question until they stop talking. Then ask your next question in the clear. Our editors will take the talk-over part out. 

Solo Shows

Solo shows should be the exception. Alternatives to consider:

a. Contact other hosts or shows@thinktechhawaii.com for guest recommendations.
b. Contact us at shows@thinktechhawaii.com to reschedule the show to a time more convenient for a possible guest.
c. Record the show at a time that will be more convenient for a possible guest, using your own Zoom account. Let us know a week beforehand.

Promotion Tip

Make an email list of your followers and regularly send them the links for your shows.  We know that works.  Also, engage with your viewers on social media; interact with them, initiate discussions with them and always respond to comments they make.  Building a strong online presence creates a loyal and active viewership, and that will pay off for you and for ThinkTech.

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of June 18, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of June 18, 2023

Stinger

We have stopped doing the “stinger “after host openings, and we're glad to hear that you like this change! If you have any other suggestions to improve  our shows, website pages, advisories or social media, let us know at hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Cancellations

Please -  if you or your guest find that you can't make it to your show, please plan alternatives:

1. Keep an updated list of other hosts and guests who can step in as last-minute backups.
2. If the host is unavailable but a guest is ready but you can’t find a backup host, with some notice we may be able to find a substitute host
3. If a guest is unavailable and you can't find a backup guest, the host can do a solo show, preferably with graphics.
4. Pre-record a show on your own Zoom account.  Let us know at least a week in advance.

If you have to cancel two shows within 60 days, we will want to change your status to “ad hoc” host.  An ad hoc host can do shows when there are show times available on the production schedule, but does not have a reserved time, date or interval on the schedule. For more information: https://thinktechhosts.blogspot.com/2023/05/bulletin-to-thinktech-hosts-week-of-may_14.html

Fourth of July

Independence Day on Tuesday, July 4 is a building holiday, so we will not be producing shows that day.  If your show is affected by this holiday, let us know if you'd like to reschedule to another date. We are doing shows on Juneteenth, June 19. The next building holiday after that is Labor Day, Sept. 4. See the broadcast schedule at https://thinktechhosts.blogspot.com/p/faq.html.

Promotion Tip

People can watch your show when it’s aired on our calendar (the dates are shown in our email advisories and the home page of thinktechhawaii.com) or on demand any time (see thinktechhaii.com videos or YouTube.com/thinktechhawaii). Tell your friends, family and followers! After your show airs, it will be published to our website, YouTube, Facebook, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of June 11, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of June 11, 2023

Fund Drive

It's the final push! We have only four days left to reach our goal. If you haven't donated yet or if you want to make another donation, click here to Donate via PayPal. To make a donation by check, please send it to ThinkTech Hawaii, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 603, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. Please spread the word about our fund drive to your networks and followers as well. We depend on everyone's donations to keep your shows on the air. Thanks so much for supporting our collective efforts on ThinkTech.

  DONATE  

Ad Hoc v. Regular Hosts

What we call Ad Hoc Hosts do not have a regular interval or spot. If you are an Ad Hoc Host you can schedule episodes at your convenience and the convenience of your guests.  Go to https://calendly.com/thinktechhawaii/30min to schedule a production date.

Regular Hosts, on the other hand, have a regular time, day and interval on the production calendar. If you are a Regular Host and you want to reschedule your production time or day for a particular episode, or add an extra episode, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Once  an episode, hosted by either a Regular Host or an Ad Hoc host, has been produced and uploaded, we’ll send you the link and the airdate for that episode so you can advise your networks and followers.

Reading Text

If you have notes, put them in a word-processing document or notepad window on your screen as near as possible to the camera so you can maintain eye contact with the audience. Avoid reading lengthy scripts, quotes or citations (articles, statistics, biographies, etc.).  That will bore everyone. Slides with succinct bullet points, however, can be helpful. 

Promotion Tip

Do you respond to comments that are posted on your shows on YouTube and other platforms?  You should. Engaging personally when appropriate enhances the viewer experience and encourages greater viewership.  Even a simple “thank you” is an important extra step that can leverage your shows and create longtime followers.

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of June 4, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of June 4, 2023

Slides

Avoid using excessive text or graphics. The clutter can make slides illegible. They should be minimalistic and complement, not repeat, your spoken words.  This allows your audience to focus on the key messages. We strongly advise the 5x5 rule; NMT 5 bullet points per slide, with NMT 5 words each. Watch this episode with award-winning videographer Larry Jordan for more tips:  https://youtu.be/MU8LYOF-ft0.

Preparing Guests

Prepare your guests for the show by sending them the Appearance Guidelines and Graphics Guidelines when you first recruit them. Last-minute back-and-forth emails from uninformed guests is stressful for everyone, and we may have to reschedule the episode if their video or audio is not up to our production standards. Sending the guidelines to your guests before you complete your show information gives them more time to prepare themselves.

Writing Show Information

Run-on sentences can confuse readers and make it challenging for them to understand your writing. Use appropriate punctuation, conjunctions and sentence structure to break down long sentences. This improves the clarity, readability and impact of your writing.

Clean Lens

Dust, fingerprints and smudges on your camera lens  will produce blurry video. Take a moment and  clean your camera lens regularly for clear and professional video quality.

Promotion Tip

Reach new audiences through cross-promotion!  If ThinkTech Hosts from other shows are on your show, or if your episode is related to another show's theme, mention that other host and show. Promoting each other will predictably expand both of your audiences.

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of May 28, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of May 28, 2023

Fund Drive

We still have a way to go for our Spring 2023 Fund Drive.  Of course, the drive keeps your shows and this platform running. Please donate to our drive through this link, the QR code below, or by mail to ThinkTech Hawaii, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 603, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. Share it with your guests, friends, family and colleagues. Every donation, big or small, helps.

Guest Bios

Of course, you want to introduce your guests when you start the show, but that introduction should be short, a couple of sentences.  If you recite a lengthy bio, you will lose your viewers.  You can mention bio information, when appropriate, during the show, dropping a point here and there to inform your viewers, but avoid a long recitation.

Talking Over

Although it’s important to moderate the discussion as a host, repeatedly talking over or interrupting can seem inconsiderate and hinder the conversation. You might tell them in advance to hold their comments down to a few minutes so you can move on to the next point of discussion.  If they nevertheless go on too long, or if you find that they are repeating their comments, try a soft interruption once or twice, and that should get them to stop.

Lighting

Make sure your camera is at eye level and that your light source is in front of you. Avoid lighting from behind you or directly above you - that will cast shadows on your face. If you wear glasses, look at your image in your Zoom window and if necessary adjust the light or your glasses to avoid a direct reflection on your glasses.

Promotion Tip

Ask viewers to subscribe to ThinkTech Hawaii's YouTube channel by clicking this link or the SUBSCRIBE button on https://www.youtube.com/thinktechhawaii. If they click the bell, YouTube will send them a link for each new ThinkTech program that has been uploaded. 

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of May 21, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of May 21, 2023

Fund Drive

We're about halfway through our Spring 2023 Fund Drive that enables our platform and each host’s show to exist, but the funds raised thus far would cover ThinkTech's expenses for only 10 days. We need your and your guests' help to keep us on the air and produce your shows. While we are deeply grateful for your contributions of time and expertise, we also need your financial donation. Please consider donating through this link and sharing it with your networks. Or you can send a check to ThinkTech Hawaii, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 603, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. Thank you for your ongoing support in keeping ThinkTech thriving.

  DONATE  

Memorial Day

Memorial Day on Monday, May 29 is a building holiday, so we cannot record shows that day. Please let us know if you'd like to reschedule. The next building holiday is Tuesday, July 4. See the broadcast schedule at https://thinktechhosts.blogspot.com/p/faq.html.

Preparing for the Show

The key to satisfying and engaging shows is preparation. Taking time to prepare in advance can ensure a well-informed and meaningful conversation that captivates viewers. Meet with your guest at least 2 days before recording. This allows you to establish a connection, familiarize yourself with the subject, and decide on the key topics to cover during the episode.

Multiple Guests

Each guest should have their own equipment and be in separate rooms. Two people at the same machine can cause audio and framing issues. Please review our Appearance Guidelines with your guest beforehand to prevent such issues.

Promotion Tip

Have you tried using QR codes to promote your show? You can use them in emails, flyers, business cards, etc. for quick and easy access to your shows. (For example, see the QR code for Community Matters below.) You can generate them for free at https://qr-code-generator.com.

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of May 14, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of May 14, 2023

Live Forum This Saturday

Join us for Point-Counterpoint live on Saturday, May 20th from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm. Challenges to Healthcare in Hawaii on ThinkTechHawaii.com, YouTube, Vimeo or Facebook  The forum will be moderated by former governor John Waihe'e. The panelists will be Hilton Raethel, CEO of Hawaii Healthcare Association; Scott Grosskreutz, a radiologist in Hilo; Esther Smith, a family practice doctor in Kona; and Vicky Cayetano, businesswoman, politician and informed citizen.  Please tune in and send your questions and comments to questions@thinktechhawaii.com.

Cancelling A Show

To address the problems we have been having with short notice cancellations, we are implementing a new policy regarding cancellations. Going forward, a host who has two unexcused absences within two months will become an ad hoc host, i.e., the regular time slot for your show will be assigned to other shows and you will have to do your show at other times that may come available. 

Cancellations will be considered excused if:

(a) you notify us at least one calendar week in advance to give us time to organize a suitable replacement;

(b) you provide an alternative show as a substitute; or

(c) you are experiencing an unexpected emergency.

To prevent unexcused absences, we suggest you prepare backup hosts and guests or, if necessary, prepare a solo show with slides or other graphics. 

Distinguished Guest Election/Survey

Voting is open! Thanks to everyone who made nominations. Click here to cast your ballot for ThinkTech Distinguished Guest. Vote only once, but feel free to share the link.  Last month's winner was Connie L. Hall, nominated by host Sharon Thomas Yarbrough of "Sister Power". Voting closes this Wednesday, May 17th, and we'll announce the results in our email advisories on the 20th.

Recording Indoors

You and your guests should do your shows from quiet indoor spaces. Outdoor spaces are noisy and unpredictable, and recording in a car is dangerous and way less than ideal. If you or a guest find you have no choice but to record from a car, stop safely on the side of the road so we can get acceptable production values. Thanks for your cooperation on this -- we had to shelve an episode that was recorded from a car this week.

Promotion Tip

Digital flyers can be helpful tools in promoting your show. See attached examples from fellow ThinkTech Hosts. You can create them for free on Canva, which is available on the Web, Android and iPhone.

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of May 7, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of May 7, 2023

Point-Counterpoint Hawai'i

Join us for our live open forum, Point-Counterpoint Hawaii: Challenges to Healthcare, on Saturday, May 20th from 12 pm to 1 pm! You can watch it live on ThinkTechHawaii.com, YouTube, Vimeo or Facebook. Actively participate with our panel of local host experts, let your voice be heard, and send your questions to questions@thinktechhawaii.com.

Last Chance!

Distinguished Guest nominations close today. Click here to nominate a guest from one of your April shows. Voting will begin on the 10th. Distinguished Guest Election results will be posted in our email advisories on the 20th. The winning candidate will be profiled in a short video for our livestreams and social media.  Last month's winner was Connie L. Hall, nominated by host Sharon Thomas Yarbrough for her appearance on "Sister Power".

Preparing Shows

ThinkTech Hawaii's goal is to engage and educate our viewership. “Shooting the breeze” is not enough. Select guests that are familiar with interesting topics. As host, conduct research to ensure that your content is substantive, thought-provoking, and relevant to the audience. ChatGPT may help in this process: https://chat.openai.com/auth/login. Adequate preparation can increase your viewership, enhance your credibility as a well prepared and engaged host, attract future guests, and build your show’s reputation.

Events and Holidays

Be mindful of current events and holidays when planning topics for your show. Connecting your content to events and holidays can expand our audience and show viewers that we are up-to-date with what's happening in the world. Such episodes make great content for our Special Sundae Collections, which we promote every Sunday. Please consider this as Mother's Day, Memorial Day, and Pride Month are drawing near.

Promotion Tip

Submit your episodes to online media platforms, such as local news sites and organization newsletters. For example, you can write an article for Civil Beat's Community Voices and include related information from your shows.

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of April 30, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of April 30, 2023

Fund Drive

Our Spring 2023 Fund Drive, Discovering Our Future, is happening! Please spread the word among your networks. Thanks to everyone who has recorded promos, promoted our drive and has made a donation. We hope all of our hosts and guests will make a donation.  You and your guests can donate through the button below or on our website, or by sending a check to ThinkTech Hawaii, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 603, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.  Thanks so much.

  DONATE  

Minor Release Form

If you plan to bring a minor onto your show, a parent or legal guardian must give permission for them to participate. If applicable, the Minor Release Form should be sent to shows@thinktechhawaii.com by 10 pm HST the night before your show. Without the release we cannot and should not include minors in the show.  Note that this week we had to set aside an episode because of a missing release.

Family

Please try to avoid having immediate family appear as guests on your show. It can skew the scope of the discussion and undermine your credibility as a citizen journalist. You can recommend immediate family to other hosts if you want. If you do bring them on your show, please be sure that it’s not just a talk story with family and that the discussion adds value to the content of the episode.

Websites and Contact Info

If you'd like us to show a website or contact information in the lower thirds during an episode, put that in the “Website / Email to show" field on your Show Information Form. Note that we only share contact information if we have permission and we have it on the form. 

Promotion Tip

Participate in online communities--such as LinkedIn groups, Reddit, and Facebook groups--related to your shows. They can help you promote your content and connect with potential viewers and guests.  When you engage with them, don’t be shy; talk up ThinkTech and your show.

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of April 23, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of April 23, 2023

Best Device

You and your guests should connect from a desktop computer or laptop if at all possible. They have more functionality, stability, and better video and audio quality. Phones and tablets should be used as a last resort, but if you need them, 1) have a phone stand, books, and tape ready to make adjustments; 2)  learn how to navigate the Zoom settings, including rotation lock; and 3) connect headphones with a mic to your device.

Professionalism

To present yourself in the best light, please wear semi-professional clothing and choose a presentable location to record. Do not wear clothes that are white, striped, seersucker or have small patterns like checkers or dots. They create distracting video artifacts around your head and shoulders. Also wear clothing that distinguishes you from the background. Appropriate dress not only looks good on camera, but also creates a positive and professional image for you, your guests and your show.

Zoom Chat

Keep an eye on the Zoom chat box throughout the show so you can watch for notifications. The engineer may message you about show timing (e.g., "5 minutes to close") or issues that need to be fixed. Wrap up promptly when the engineer messages you to close the show--time has already run out, please refrain from asking final questions or making closing remarks. This will ensure that we stay on schedule and end the show on time.

Show Cancellations

If ever you or your guest can't make it to your show, please plan alternatives:

1. Keep an updated list of other hosts and/or guests to step in as last-minute backups.
2. If host is unavailable but guest is ready, and you can't find a backup host in time, with some notice we may be able to find a substitute host
3. If guest is unavailable, and you can't find a backup guest in time, host can do a solo show, preferably with slides or other graphics.
4. Pre-record a show on your own Zoom account. You need approval for this option, because it doubles or triples the staff time and expenses for the show. Let us know a week in advance.

If you do end up cancelling, let us know ASAP so we have time to recover and set up an alternative show.

Promotion Tip

Encourage your network--family, friends, coworkers, colleagues, and anyone else who would be interested--to like, comment, and share your video. This will not only boost engagement and expand your audience, but also improve the ranking of your video, increasing the chances that it will be discovered by even more people.

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of April 16, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of April 16, 2023

Introducing Your Show

When you introduce your show, tell your viewers who you are, full name and affiliation of your guest, title of your show and connect your episode to your series (and current events, if possible). Then the engineer will cut to the stinger. See our script suggestions for openings at https://thinktechhawaii.com/hosts-guests-2/script-suggestions/.

Proofread

Always triple check your show information before submitting it to us -- especially the title, tagline, and guest names and affiliations. This information is sent to thousands of people and is included in the video itself. Of course misinformation or misspellings appearing on the screen is embarrassing and not professional. It's very difficult and costly for us to make corrections after the show is published. And sometimes, it is just too late to make any corrections.

Recurring Guests

If you find yourself repeating the same guest more than five times, consider rethinking the purpose of your show. Bringing on the same guest over and over can limit the information offered to the audience, which can hinder the growth and development of your show. To viewers, repeat guests may be boring and lead to a loss of credibility. Focus on bringing new guests to diversify your show and provide viewers fresh content. Consider whether your regular guest can either become a co-host with you or act as a substitute host when you are unable to host a show.

Self-Advertising

As you know, ThinkTech dedicates time and effort to promote every show, host and guest on our various platforms to advance our mission of raising public awareness. We also display the websites for you and your guests from the Show Information Form you submit.  Our mission does not include commercial promotion or advertising. Connect your show to current events and the world we live in. For example, discuss how the plastic ban affects business. Refrain from hosting strictly promotional shows.

Promotion Tip

Your views will depend in large part on how well you describe your show in your show information. Write a compelling description that includes relevant keywords and phrases, so you can provide viewers with a clear understanding of what your video is about and make it easier for search engines to find and recommend your content.

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows. See our equipment suggestions at https://thinktechhawaii.com/equipment-suggestions-2/.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.