Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of September 17, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:
Host Bulletin, Week of September 17, 2023

Lighting

Your light source should be in front of you so your face is evenly lit. Avoid lighting from behind you or directly above you - they cast shadows on your face.

Props/Objects

Have a plan ready if you want to show additional items. Avoid showing objects impromptu - Zoom will blur it (see below) so it may be cut out from the final video. Instead, take a photo of the item beforehand and submit it to us in accordance with the Graphics Guidelines.

Point-Counterpoint

Thank you to everyone who viewed Saturday's Point-Counterpoint program and submitted questions! If you missed it, you can watch it on Sept 23 at thinktechhawaii.com or on demand at https://youtu.be/cdOFEuJ-YiU. Part 2 will be live on Saturday, October 14 at 12 pm HST: https://youtu.be/r3UPnaBhMvA. It will be moderated by former governor John Waihe'e. Panelists Kristi Govella, Amanda Eliis, Harrison Kim and Suzanne Vares-Lum will cover Japan, Australia / New Zealand, Korea and the Pacific Islands.

Q. Host survey - Do you read our weekly Host Bulletins? If so, please reply “yes”. This will help us evaluate the usefulness of the bulletin.

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 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 9, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of April 9, 2023

Distinguished Guest Election/Survey

Voting opens tomorrow! 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 Lee Sichter, nominated by host Jay Fidell. We also appreciate your response to our Current Events Survey. Voting closes Monday, April 17, and we'll announce the results in our email advisories on the 20th.

Time Management

Please wrap up when the engineer messages you about closing the show. Please avoid asking your guests further questions that will put the show over time. Ending late creates a domino effect that affects other hosts and guests, because they may be pushed to start and end late.

Joining Zoom

Please open your show's Zoom link 15 minutes before showtime. You may have to wait a few minutes for our engineer to admit you to the meeting. If you see one of the following messages when you join the Zoom call, leave the window open and wait for the engineer (the Zoom meeting host) to let you in. If not, email shows@thinktechhawaii.com or call (808) 784-3426 for assistance.

• "Waiting for host to start the meeting.” (Our engineer hasn’t started the meeting yet.)
• "The host has another meeting in progress.” (The previous show is running late; the engineer will start your meeting as soon as possible.)
• "Please wait, the meeting host will let you in soon.” (You are in the Zoom waiting room.)

Fund Drive

Our Spring 2023 Fund Drive, Discovering Our Future, starts at the end of this month, and we are therefore taping short host Fund Drive promos when you come in to do your shows. The engineer will guide you through the process. See the scripts at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EB5WZGeAaTRD49KZ5V7c55frXb_UPSKV8WAonpgsy7c/edit?usp=share_link.

Promotion Tip

Add your shows to your website if you have one. Here's a tutorial for embedding YouTube videos and playlists in your website: https://youtu.be/c74kMCOmP80?t=230.  Embedding allows viewers to watch videos without leaving your website, but you can always post the link by itself if you have trouble setting up the embed code. You can also encourage your guests to add episodes of your shows to their websites. Here are some examples of ThinkTech Hosts' websites with embedded episodes and playlists:

http://RustyKomori.com

https://twowheelrevolution.weebly.com/shows.html

https://hawaiicouncil.org/condo-insider/

https://www.grassrootinstitute.org/hawaii-together/

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 2, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of April 2, 2023

Distinguished Guest Nominations

Click here to nominate a guest from one of your March shows to be selected a Distinguished Guest! Only the first 10 nominations will make the ballot. Nominations close on April 7 and 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 Lee Sichter, nominated by host Jay Fidell for his appearance on "Catching up on Kaka'ako".

Troubleshooting

Need help with your setup? Contact our studio manager Michael Pangilinan. He can meet with you 1-on-1 on Zoom to assist and provide guidance if you have any concerns about tech--your computer, Internet, Zoom, camera, microphone, etc. Email Michael at michael@thinktechhawaii.com to schedule a meeting, up to 40 minutes long.

Beverages

We'd like to keep our productions professional, so if you need to sip your beverage during the show, please wait until you're offscreen. The engineer's Zoom window shows you what's being recorded. If your face is not there, it means you’re offscreen and thus free to sip your beverage.

Reading Text

Avoid reading lengthy resources (articles, 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 bullet points about the resource can be helpful visual aids. In any event, never read more than 60 seconds.

Promotion Tip

Use our resources! ThinkTechHawaii.com is our most valuable resource and is full of information about our platforms and productions. You can send prospective guests a link to our Hosts page, Press Kit, ThinkTech Stats, About ThinkTech, and A Brief History of ThinkTech to let them know more about you and about 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 March 26, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of March 26, 2023

Live Open Forum This Saturday

Join us! Point-Counterpoint Hawaii: Challenges to Public Transportation is this Saturday, April 1st from 12 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.

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.

Show Information

Make sure to 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.  If errors caught after show is streamed, we can edit but with added time and cost. 

Zoom

Help us help you. Please familiarize yourself with Zoom's latest features and updates. Review this tutorial: https://youtu.be/LSUD5le5Y-w. If you need help with setup and troubleshooting, our engineers can assist you. You can read https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362623-Changing-settings-in-the-desktop-client-mobile-app for detailed descriptions. Virtual backgrounds without the use of a green screen are unacceptable. The one exception is the use of Blur, which we highly recommend.

Promotion Tip

Try to connect your episode to current events and popular subjects that people are following. For example, recent Global Connections episode "What Does Moldova Think of the Ukraine War" got over 1,500 views within the first 24 hours.

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 February 5, 2023

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of February 5, 2023

Distinguished Guest Nominations Are Open

Click here to nominate a guest from one of your January shows to be selected a Distinguished Guest! Only the first 10 nominations will make the ballot. Nominations close on February 7 and 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 Neal Barnard, nominated by host Grace Chen O'Neil of "Healthy Planet".

New Advanced Search

Try our new search page! https://thinktechhawaii.com/videos/ It has enhanced power and speed, enabling you to find and view the many thousands of talk shows we've produced over the past ten years. Looking for past shows that may have covered your topic? Checking if your guest has been on previous shows before? Researching your own past shows? Now even easier to search!

Joining Zoom

Please open your show's Zoom link 15 minutes before showtime. You may have to wait a few minutes for our engineer to admit you to the meeting. If you see one of the following messages when you join the Zoom call, leave the window open and wait for the engineer (the meeting host) to let you in. If not, email shows@thinktechhawaii.com or call (808) 784-3426 for assistance.

• "Waiting for host to start the meeting.” (Our engineer hasn’t started the meeting yet.)
• "The host has another meeting in progress.” (The previous show is running late; the engineer will start your meeting as soon as possible.)
• "Please wait, the meeting host will let you in soon.” (You are in the Zoom waiting room.)

Show Quality

Check to make sure that your guests are well-prepared before the date of the show. The engineer may stop and restart the show if anyone's audio or video is below standard. These disruptions impede other hosts and guests, because shows after you may be pushed to start and end late. If the quality of your show is really bad, the show may have to be rescheduled or canceled.

Promotion Tip

Engage with other users to increase your visibility on social media. You can like others' posts, share them, leave comments, and reply to any comments you receive. This creates friends and relationships with potential guests and viewers. This kind of engagement is much more effective to promote your show and ThinkTech.

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of November 13, 2022

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of November 13, 2022

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 Cyber Bunny, nominated by host Wendy Loh of "Taking Your Health Back". We also appreciate your response to our Current Events Survey. Voting closes Thursday, November 17, and we'll announce the results in our email advisories on the 20th.

Last-minute Guests

Reminder: we cannot accept any last-minute guests to your shows. They create problems for our staff. Your full list of guests and their information should be on your Show Information Form by the 10:00 pm HST deadline. This ensures that our staff and your guests have enough time to prepare for the episode.

Zoom Chat

Keep your Zoom chat box open 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 during the show or a break.

Zoom Backgrounds

Blurred backgrounds create a special depth-of-field effect, and they help viewers focus on you instead of what's in the room around you. Please use the blur function in Zoom. If you have a green screen, you can use one of the blurred backgrounds we have prepared (see https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12f2IAFFdYX-lS7JMoq5RIaaa5ZnMHg80?usp=share_link). You can also send us a picture of a background you like and we can blur it for you.

Promotion Tip

Have you shared the link to your last show? You can text and email the YouTube and Vimeo links to your network - family, friends, coworkers, colleagues, and anyone else who would be interested. Feel free to use our template for sharing show links: https://thinktechhosts.blogspot.com/p/email-template-for-sharing-links.html

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com. 

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of October 2, 2022

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of October 2, 2022

Distinguished Guest Nominations Are Open

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

Host Meeting 10/21/22, 9:00 am HST

Our first virtual host meeting since last year!!  All ThinkTech Hosts are invited to a 45-minute Zoom meeting Friday, October 21, 9 am HST, to review productions and plans, share information and tips and get together with long-time and newer hosts.  Please save the date. You’ll receive a link and agenda before the meeting. We look forward to seeing you (virtually)!

Graphics

Permission forms are required when submitting graphics (except for the exemptions listed on the form), so make sure to send them in the same email or at the same time. We may not be able to accept late graphics or permission forms; they are due 10 pm HST the night before the show. If you need any help figuring out the form, let me know at hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Audio

Please familiarize yourself with the audio settings in Zoom. The most important ones are speaker and microphone selections, volume sliders, background noise suppression, and echo cancellation. Do not shout or yell during the show - it creates inconsistent and uneven audio.

Promotion Tip

Need help with potential guests, topics, and questions? Create an email address 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 other platforms. Peter Rosegg made thetwowheelrevolution@gmail.com for his new show "The Two-Wheel Revolution".

Please regularly review past Host Bulletins and other resources - it leads to better shows.

Questions, contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of August 14, 2022

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of August 14, 2022

Distinguished Guest Election/Survey

Voting is open! Thanks to everyone who made nominations. Click here to cast your ballot for our ThinkTech Distinguished Guest. Vote only once, but feel free to share the link. Our Distinguished Guest for last month was Khendum Gyabak who appeared on "A Nation of Immigrants," hosted by Chang Wang. We also appreciate your response to our Current Events Survey. Voting closes on August 17 and we will announce the results in our email advisories on August 20.

Content

Ask guests concise questions and follow up on their answers. If there is more than one guest, address every question to a specific guest. You may need to interrupt if 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 discussions.

Joining Zoom

If you see one of the following messages when you join the Zoom call, leave the window open and wait for the engineer (the meeting host) to let you in. You can email shows@thinktechhawaii.com or call (808) 784-3426 if you have any trouble connecting.

• "Waiting for host to start the meeting.” (Our engineer hasn’t started the meeting yet.)
• "The host has another meeting in progress.” (The participants from the previous show are still chatting.)
• "Please wait, the meeting host will let you in soon.” (You are in the Zoom waiting room.)

Connection Solutions

Having connection issues? Try rebooting your router and modem once a month to keep them running smoothly: https://www.allconnect.com/blog/reboot-your-modem. You can also try:

• Connecting your computer to Internet via Ethernet
• Rebooting your device
• Using your smartphone as a hotspot (if available on your phone plan)
• Recording in a location with better wifi

Promotion Tip

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

Questions, please contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of July 31, 2022

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of July 31, 2022

Binge ThinkTech

Starting Sunday, July 17, ThinkTech introduced its new binge-worthy event “Our Special Sunday Collection” featuring shows covering a unique topic of the week. Shows are selected from our videos over the past nine years (including our very first videos), airing 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Last week's theme was the crisis in Ukraine, and this week's theme is gun violence and policy. See our Stories of ThinkTech post for more information. Enjoy!

Weekly Advisories

Our Weekly Advisories are now published on Mondays, the same day that we broadcast the Top Five and Staff Pick of the week. The broadcast times are listed in the ThinkTech Daily. We strive to celebrate the Top Five and Staff Pick winners and showcase their shows through the broadcast day on Mondays.

Virtual Backgrounds

When you don't have a green screen, virtual backgrounds don't work at all - they result in distracting artifacts around your head and shoulders. If you do have a green screen, you should wear clothing that distinguishes you from the background, and avoid white or seersucker clothing. Ideally, please use the Blur function in the Virtual Backgrounds video settings in Zoom. Blur will help us achieve better and more consistent video quality. In any event, please refrain from leaning back and forth or swiveling in your chair during the show - this also creates distracting artifacts. Note that changing your proximity to the mic will mess up your audio signal.

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. Science@SOEST excelled in this.

Promotion Tip

Use our resources! ThinkTechHawaii.com is our most valuable resource and is full of information about our platforms and productions. You can send prospective guests a link to our Hosts page, Press Kit, About ThinkTech, and A Brief History of ThinkTech to let them know more about you and about ThinkTech. You might also let them know that if they appear on your show, they may be eligible to run for Distinguished Guest.

Questions, please contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of May 22, 2022

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of May 22, 2022

Distinguished Guest

Our new Distinguished Guest is Theresa Y. Wee, President/Owner of the Wee Wellness Center. She appeared on "Taking Your Health Back" with ThinkTech host Wendy Loh discussing how to get back on track to better mental and physical health. Thanks to those who nominated guests and voted in this election.  Our Distinguished Guest program is going well.  Nominations for our next DG election will open on June 1.

Zoom

Try to join and have your guests join the Zoom meeting 15 minutes before the show, not only to compare notes on content, but to work with our staff to deal with any number of production issues that may arise.  We do need that time with you to prepare all participants for the show and to get decent production values.

Virtual Backgrounds vs. Blur Background

The blur background function looks very professional with its special depth-of-field effect, and it helps viewers focus on you instead of what's in the room around you. If you prefer a virtual background, then be sure to have a green screen to avoid distracting video artifacts.

ThinkTech Stats

To help promote your shows, we've created a ThinkTech Stats page at https://thinktechhawaii.com/thinktech-stats/ which will be periodically updated.  You can also use the information on our website pages:

About ThinkTech
A Brief History of ThinkTech
Press Kit

Promotion Tip

ThinkTech is for everyone! You can send the links to your show to family members—siblings, parents, kids, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc., and others you may want to stay in touch with. They will presumably like watching you and catching up with you, and share the videos with others in the family and their own networks.

Questions, please contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of May 15, 2022

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of May 15, 2022

Distinguished Guest Election/Survey

Voting is open! Thanks to everyone who made nominations. Click here to cast your ballot for our ThinkTech Distinguished Guest. Vote only once, but feel free to share the link.  Our Distinguished Guest for last month was Anthony Chrisco who appeared on "Taking Your Health Back", hosted by Wendy Loh.  We also appreciate your response to our Current Events Survey. Voting closes on May 17 and we will announce the results in our email advisories on May 20. 

Joining Zoom

If you see one of the following messages when you join the Zoom call, leave the window open and wait for the engineer (the meeting host) to let you in. You can email shows@thinktechhawaii.com or call (808) 784-3426 if you have any trouble connecting.

"Waiting for host to start the meeting.” (Our engineer hasn’t started the meeting yet.)

"The host has another meeting in progress.” (The participants from the previous show are still chatting.

"Please wait, the meeting host will let you in soon.” (You are in the Zoom waiting room.)

Graphics

Graphics from social media and search engines are not necessarily in the public domain, so please do not assume they are ok to use.  Works in the public domain are usually labeled as such. Let us know if you have questions about a third party graphic. If it is not in the public domain, we need permission to use it.

Holidays

Mark your calendars!

ThinkTech’s 2022 Holiday Party and Annual Awards Ceremony is returning to the Laniakea YWCA for an in-person event (subject to changes in public health) at 5pm on Wednesday, December 7, 2022. We look forward to seeing you all there - it’ll be a great reunion. 

Here is the schedule of our holidays through the end of the year:

We are open and operating on Monday, Oct. 10 - Columbus Day
We are closed and not operating on the following days:

Monday, May 30 - Memorial Day

Monday, July 4 - Independence Day

Monday, Sept. 5 - Labor Day

Thursday, Nov. 24 - Thanksgiving

We are closed and not operating during our ThinkTech winter break:

Monday, Dec. 19 through Thursday, Dec. 29

Our regular operating schedule resumes on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023

Promotion Tip

Popular guests make for more popular shows, so reach out and try to get them on your show. Well-known guests tend to have larger followings. You can use the ThinkTech image (see below) in your email signature to impress those you want to recruit.

Questions, please contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of April 24, 2022

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of April 24, 2022

Fund Drive

Thanks to everyone who has made donations, recorded promos, and otherwise promoted our Spring 2022 Fund Drive. Please continue to promote the drive; we've been posting about it in all our advisories, livestreams and social media. To make a donation through PayPal or with a credit card, please click here. Or send your check to ThinkTech Hawaii, 1164 Bishop Street, Suite 603, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. Thanks so much.

Graphics

We have designed a new automated Permissions Form for all photos, graphics, video clips, audio files and live music (excepting host and guest logos and headshots, websites and graphics from our staff) you want to use in your shows. You can find the form at http://thinktechhawaii.com/graphics-guidelines/.  The permissions on the form will help us minimize the risk of infringement, appeal from claims of infringement, and allow us to use these materials on other productions.  

Zoom Update

Zoom recently updated to version 5.10.3. Please install it by (a) clicking on your profile picture in the Zoom app and clicking on Check for Updates, or by (b) downloading Zoom Client for Meetings at zoom.us/download.

Troubleshooting Video and Audio Problems

Please keep your chat box open and check it regularly. The engineer may message you about production issues.  You may need to take a 1-minute (or longer) break to resolve them. Here’s a script suggestion for breaks: https://thinktechhawaii.com/hosts-guests-2/script-suggestions/. If we have to edit the show afterward, it will take longer for us to upload it and distribute the links.

Promotion Tip

Use our resources! ThinkTechHawaii.com is our most valuable resource and is full of information about our platforms and productions. You can send potential guests a link to our Hosts page to let them know about you, and you can send them a link to our Press Kit to let them know about ThinkTech Hawaii.

Questions, please contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Week of February 20, 2022

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

Host Bulletin, Week of February 20, 2022

Zoom

Help us help you.  Please familiarize yourself with Zoom, its features and updates. Review this tutorial:

If you need help with setup and troubleshooting, our engineers can assist you.

You can read https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362623-Changing-settings-in-the-desktop-client-mobile-app for detailed descriptions. Virtual backgrounds without the use of a green screen are unacceptable. The one exception is the use of Blur, which we highly recommend.

Intros

Introduce each of your guests at the beginning of the show, regardless of their status or frequency, in case there are new or unfamiliar viewers. But please keep it short and to the point. See the script suggestion for intros on our website:

Welcome to [NAME OF SHOW] on the ThinkTech Live Streaming Network Series, broadcasting from our downtown studio at Finance Factors Center at the core of Downtown Honolulu.

I’m your host [NAME OF HOST].

Joining me today are [NAMES AND AFFILIATIONS OF GUESTS].

The title of today's episode is [TITLE OF EPISODE].

Host Bios

Have you seen the hosts page on our website? https://thinktechhawaii.com/thinktech-hosts/ It’s very impressive. But some hosts are still missing. Please send your picture and 100 word bio as soon as possible to shows@thinktechhawaii.com. Not only is it a great resource for guests and viewers to learn more about you as host, we also use it to promote you if selected as Host of the Week.

Distinguished Guests

Starting in March, and every month thereafter, hosts will be able to nominate one of their guests from the preceding month to be named a ThinkTech Hawaii “Distinguished Guest.” We will send each host a link to make that nomination. The slate of candidates will be the first ten nominations made.  We will include a ballot in our Email Advisories so people can vote their choice from that slate.  Voting will continue for one week.  The guest receiving the most votes will then be announced in our ThinkTech Daily and all our other platforms. We will also make a short video showcasing the winner for our entr’acte, overnight and social media platforms.  This will be a great way to celebrate our guests.

Promotion Tip

After your show, text and email the YouTube and Vimeo links to your network - family, friends, coworkers, colleagues, and anyone else who would be interested. We made a template for you to use: https://thinktechhosts.blogspot.com/p/email-template-for-sharing-links.html

Questions, please contact hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Promotion, Breaks, Guests and Zoom

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

For this week's Host Bulletin, we'd like to give you some tips for improving your shows.

Promotion

To reach a wider audience, try promoting your show before and after your scheduled episode through email and social media. Encourage people to sign up for our Daily Email Advisory on thinktechhawaii.com. After the show, share the YouTube and Vimeo links with your friends and associates. Mention us in your social media posts, too! 

facebook.com/ThinkTechHawaii

twitter.com/ThinkTechHI

instagram.com/ThinkTechNews

More information about promotion can be found on https://thinktechhosts.blogspot.com/search/label/Promotion

Breaks

Breaks are optional, but you and your guests can use them to gather your thoughts or fix any video or audio issues. If you plan to take a break during a show, it should be about halfway through the show.  Let the engineer know so he or she can be ready when you say “we’re going to take a short break now.” Breaks are around one minute long. Here's our script suggestion for breaks (which is found on our website):

Before taking the break:  “Ok, we’re going to take a short break now. I’m [NAME OF HOST]. This is [NAME OF SHOW] streaming live on ThinkTech Hawaii. We’re talking with [NAMES AND AFFILIATIONS OF GUESTS] about [TITLE OF EPISODE]. We’ll be back in a minute, so stay tuned for more of the story.”

After returning from the break:  “We’re back, we’re live, I’m [NAME OF HOST].  This is [NAME OF SHOW] streaming live on ThinkTech Hawaii. We’re talking with [NAMES AND AFFILIATIONS OF GUESTS] about [TITLE OF EPISODE].” 

Guests

Generally speaking, it is better to avoid having immediate family appear as guests of your shows unless they are directly linked to the subject you are discussing.

Zoom Updates

Please update Zoom regularly. You can do this by (a) clicking on your profile picture in the Zoom app and then clicking on Check for Updates or by (b) just going to zoom.us/download. Then during the show, please use the blur virtual background. It looks very professional with the blur depth-of-field, and it helps viewers focus on you instead of what's around you.

Thanks so much for your cooperation. If you have questions, please contact Hayley at hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Important Dates, Guidelines, and Website Announcement

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

For this week’s Host Bulletin, we’d like to alert you to some important dates and guidelines.

Fund Drive

Our Fall 2021 Fund Drive, ThinkTech Gives Thanks, is starting on November 1. Please reach out to guests and friends, promote it on social media, and donate. We have promo scripts for you to record before/after your shows. View our Host Bulletin about it at https://thinktechhosts.blogspot.com/2021/10/bulletin-on-host-promos-for-fall-2021.html. 

More information will be found in our Daily Email Advisories. Here's our first post about it, which was included in Friday's Weekly Advisory: https://storiesofthinktech.blogspot.com/2021/10/thinktech-fund-drive-its-october-and.html

Daylight Savings Time

Daylight Savings Time will end on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021. Hawaii time stays the same, but clocks for most other time zones will move an hour backward, so the time difference for them will be 1 hour less. Please keep this in mind when scheduling guests.

Videos

If you want to use videos, they should be 3 minutes maximum. If you want to use a clip from a larger video, please provide the start and end timestamps. Send us the video as an mp4 or mov file by email or a file-sharing service such as Google Drive, Dropbox, WeTransfer, or OneDrive. If you do not own the video, please make sure you have permission from the copyright owner to use it.  The permission form is in the email guide we send you and in the guide on the website: https://thinktechhawaii.com/graphics-guidelines/

New Host Website

We have created this new website for our esteemed ThinkTech Hosts. It contains many resources that will be helpful to you, including all Host Bulletins, Zoom Meetings, show information rules, and sources for graphics. We'll be adding pre-recording instructions to the website as well. Please let us know if you have any suggestions.

Thanks so much for your cooperation. If you have questions, please contact Hayley at hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Holidays, Graphics, Video Quality, and Ramp Up

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

For this week’s Host Bulletin, we’d like to answer some questions and review some policies.

2021 Broadcast Schedule

Regular schedule: 

Monday, Oct. 11 - Columbus Day

Thursday, Nov. 11 - Veterans Day

Closed (building holiday):

Monday, May 31 - Memorial Day

Monday, July 5 - Independence Day

Monday, Sept. 6 - Labor Day 

Thursday, Nov. 25 - Thanksgiving

Closed (ThinkTech winter break) - no live shows

Monday, Dec. 20 - Thursday, Dec. 30

Regular schedule resumes:

Monday, January 3, 2022

Clips and Graphics

When you or your guest send in graphics, please follow https://thinktechhawaii.com/graphics-guidelines. If you did not create these graphics yourself, we expect they will be in the public domain, available under a Creative Commons License, or you will have the necessary permissions to use them.  If there is any question about a given graphic, please be sure to send it to us a full day in advance so we can check for copyright issues.  Please let us know how you got each graphic so we can list the owner in our credits page if necessary.

Tip - You can download free stock clips and graphics from the following sites:

• Pixabay
• Pexels
• Mixkit
• Coverr
• Unsplash
• Burst
• Kaboompics
• Stocksnap
• Canva

Tip - You can buy stock clips and graphics from the following sites:

• Depositphotos
• Pond5
• Adobe Stock
• Alamy
• iStock
• Shutterstock
• Getty Images

Video and Framing

Make sure that you and your guests are centered and keep your heads 3/4 the way up in the frame and maintain this position throughout the show. Don't lean back and forth or swivel on your chair - this affects the audio and looks unprofessional. Change chairs if necessary. Keep your camera steady at eye level and look directly into it. Please install the latest version of Zoom, restart Zoom and set the virtual background to “Blur." When you do, please wear something that distinguishes you from the background and avoid white or seersucker clothing.

Ramp Up

Covid-19 is still an ongoing issue, so we are not planning to have hosts and guests return to the studio for the balance of the year. We will let you know when we will be opening up the studio again. Stay safe.

Thanks so much for your cooperation. If you have questions, please contact Hayley at hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Underwriters, Reactions, and Equipment

Dear ThinkTech Hosts:

For this week’s Host Bulletin, we’d like to review some policies and recommend some essential equipment. 

“Sponsors” vs. “Underwriters”

We are supported by tax deductible donations from underwriters.  Sponsors more often pay for advertising time or space. We do not have any sponsors.

Reactions

When you react to your guest's comments during the show, avoid nodding and saying "I agree" too much. It's too repetitive, and it's more interesting if you vary your gestures and expressions.

Green Screens

If you use a green screen, please make sure that it's well-lit to avoid any artifacts. Choose a background with some contrast and color, but not too much where it becomes distracting. We can send you potential backgrounds to use, or blur your selected image as a background.

Equipment

Please get equipment that ensures that you will have clear audio and video. First try wiping your lens and lighting yourself better.  If your audio or video is still below standard you may want to get a separate USB camera and microphone.  Check out Logitech and similar brands at Best Buy, Amazon or B&H Photo. You can also call Jay 780-9254 and he will give you suggestions.

Thanks so much for your cooperation. If you have questions, please contact Hayley at hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.

Bulletin to ThinkTech Hosts - Ticker Announcement and Show Prep

Dear ThinkTech Hosts,

For this week’s bulletin, we’d like to review some things you should do while preparing your show. We’re also adding a ticker to our broadcasts.

Graphics

If you or your guest are going to submit graphics, please review our ThinkTech Hawaii Graphics Guidelines, at thinktechhawaii.com/graphics-guidelines. You may submit up to 15 graphics per episode (including individual slides and pages). They should be in jpg, png, mov, mp4, ppt, mp3 or wav format. Please label images with a number and descriptive words/phrases. Please also avoid wordy graphics - these are hard to read on a small screen. If necessary, highlight the important language.

Video & Audio

Check the video and audio of you and your guests before the date of the show. You can go on the free version of Zoom, record a test show, and play the recording back. On the day of the show, you and your guests should join the Zoom meeting 15 minutes before show time so our engineer can address any audio or video issues.  Please prep your venue for video, framing and sound quality, and remind those around you to avoid noise or disruptions during the show.

Ticker

We’re adding a horizontal ticker at the bottom of the screen that scrolls the shows that are scheduled for that day along with other upcoming events and newsworthy items. It’ll be onscreen starting this Tuesday. Is there anything else you'd like to see us include on it?

Thank you so much for your cooperation. If you have any questions, you can contact Hayley at hayley@thinktechhawaii.com.