Television appearance!

LegacyUser

I'm normally a very shy person and would be a quite person. I've probably got the chance to appear on live television. Part of me would like to take this offer up but part of me is worried that I'd be made a laughing stock out of due to what's it's about. I've also family in good jobs and I'm afraid it might make them look like fools to.
I'm at a loss of what to do, any advice?

Big Bag of Chips

Without knowing what it's about it's hard to know. But I would say most people aren't half as interested in us as we think. So even if whatever it is is a bit silly/daft, it's hardly likely to have a lasting affect on your life. People tend to forget things pretty quickly. And it would be unlikely to affect your family.

Unless it's Big Brother or something?!

Donal55

Will you be expected or cajoled into embarrassing behaviour?
If not then go for it.

Merkin

Why would you like to appear on TV if you're shy and quiet as a matter of interest? Good idea to maybe think about your reasons for getting involved in the first instance and take it from there. Have you discussed it with your family if you're afraid of the repercussions?

zoobizoo

If it's a reality based show, where you aren't getting paid and there's no non-monetary pay off, what would be your motivation for doing it?

Bambi985

Totally depends on the nature of the programme. Is it linked to your professional life EG joining a panel or interview related to an area of expertise? Or something more personal and social like First Dates?

Personally, I'd be quite private and reserved too. The first one would be a bit scary but I'd do it for the sake of my career and profile. The second one, no way, not a chance. And not because I'd be worried about making a fool of myself or anyone else, it'd be more about not wanting my personal life exposed to the nation like that and for it to be online forever more if anyone decided to google me. No way.

LegacyUser

Thanks for the replies.
The reason I'd like to do it is because often I've felt a little shy in the past about speaking in public and I've done it and generally I enjoyed it and I benefited with me.(I hope that makes scenes)
It's a live TV program so it could go anyway. The presenter sometimes can try and make people look like a fool and the reason why'd I'd be appearing is would be sort of unusual for somebody in my position. (I'd be able to deal with this tough) I know I'm a bit different in my interests and I'm fine with that. I'd be thinking about the online reaction mainly due to my appearance(Something happened in this past and my appearance got mentioned and it did bother me.(my eyes,hair, height, visible mark) this was all verbal tough and it stopped after a while. Knowing the info would be online forever is what bothers me.
I live in a rural enough area and have a sibling in a job and they might get it thrown at time if I did appear on TV but they'd probably be able to deal with it.
I'll probably have a discussion about it with family soon.

Wrongway1985

Do whats best for you TV offers aren't going to come around often. Unless it's way out of your comfort zone but maybe in someways that could be of benfit too.

Not sure bout the comments on how others will see you if they had a go at this, would they fair any better if they had this opportunity? Some people definitely overstate personal outlook I certainly couldn't care if someone googled me unless I'd criminal charges.

JackTaylorFan

OP, if the presemter has a history of portraying his guests as "tools", and given you are already worried about it, I would seriously think twice if I were you.

If your interest is very odd - as you seem to think it is - it's probably some nasty point and laugh Bedlam Asylum type gig like the early auditions of anything ever made by Simon Cowell.

9or10

OP I nearly appeared on TV once. I was due to address a public meeting to defend the company position - which I knew full well was completely untenable. There was a lot of emotion at this meeting and you can probably imagine my joy when I noticed the tv cameras.

Thankfully none of my gibberings appeared in the final cut on tv.

My 2cents - give it a pass

Johnson_76

So long as it is not crimeline give it a go !

JackTaylorFan

Johnson_76 wrote: »

So long as it is not crimeline give it a go !

Lol.. that made me giggle

Merkin

I don't think it's for you as I think your bid to boost your confidence could backfire spectacularly given that it's on tenuous enough foundations as it stands.

Have a look at something like Toastmasters instead which I think might provide you with more constructive and kind feedback.

LegacyUser

Thanks for the advice.
I'm really on the fence on the matter to be honest. Swaying to No to be honest. If I did do it I could meet somebody who I'd really like.
I think I might have made myself sound a bit more nervous than I actually am generally I'm very good at talking in public or in front of a crowd. If I'm being honest my family,people in my area would be delighted for me in general and they would find it a little funny because it is sort off funny. (they be the odd comment/ dig at me)
What would bother me is the online reaction(Twitter/Boards/Facebook/etc) It's even one of these things that could end up on Gogglebox!

Jurgen Klopp

Ah Marty Whelan isn't that bad, make sure to throw us a few quid from your Winning Streak winnings

Ursus Horribilis

TelevisionOffer wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.
I'm really on the fence on the matter to be honest. Swaying to No to be honest. If I did do it I could meet somebody who I'd really like.

As in a romantic partner?

neonsofa

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

As in a romantic partner?

Is it first dates? I definitely wouldn't if it was but it's up to you.

Wrongway1985

Know someone who was on Take me out not sure if thats still going but I know in her case there was comradery between the contestants who were all in the same position, unaware of first dates and its format though tbh.

zoobizoo

If it's First Dates, and you're worried about appearance then I would advise not to do it.

I've done both recorded and live TV to promote things but I would never put myself in the position of being edited in a way that wasn't positive or that revealed my personal life.

There are plenty of ways to meet people that don't involve risking a reputation on an editor's whim.

Bambi985

I actually am good friends with a few producers on that show, the selection process is always carefully considered and the matching is done in a very thorough way.

All the same the seducing goes on over months with phone calls and call-backs and meeting several members of the production team and if you're halfway interested and they think you'd be a good candidate, they will continue to pursue you until you give a firm "thanks but no thanks". So whatever you decide, do it quickly, in the next day or two if possible. There's none so dogged as a TV producer :pac:

And don't forget it's an entertainment show. If you're not used to seeing yourself on TV, it might be uncomfortable for you to see them hone in on some awkward and uncomfortable moment for the sake of a bit of TV comedy and you have absolutely no control over that.

I'd never in a million years consider it, even if I was long-term single and had exhausted all avenues, but that's just me. My private life is my private life and I come from a family that wouldn't enjoy that kind of exposure.

JackTaylorFan

TelevisionOffer wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.
I'm really on the fence on the matter to be honest. Swaying to No to be honest. If I did do it I could meet somebody who I'd really like.
I think I might have made myself sound a bit more nervous than I actually am generally I'm very good at talking in public or in front of a crowd. If I'm being honest my family,people in my area would be delighted for me in general and they would find it a little funny because it is sort off funny. (they be the odd comment/ dig at me)
What would bother me is the online reaction(Twitter/Boards/Facebook/etc) It's even one of these things that could end up on Gogglebox!

Oh it sounds like that horrible dating show - where judgmental women hit a light when they dislike you - yeah avoid, OP. You won't meet anyone worth while on there. The show always has a point and laugh guy too - please don't do it that to yourself.

retro:electro

Op said it's live tv so I doubt it's First Dates. It could be something like The Ray Darcy show where they do a segment kind of like Tinder format where a candidate chooses someone to date out of a selection of people.

Casey78

Don't know why the op can't just tell us what show it is.

neonsofa

anna080 wrote: »

Op said it's live tv so I doubt it's First Dates. It could be something like The Ray Darcy show where they do a segment kind of like Tinder format where a candidate chooses someone to date out of a selection of people.

I'd never make a good detective! Good spot!
Op though, speculation about the show aside, the fact you are asking for advice on it indicates that there is a reason why you're apprehensive. I wouldn't ignore that.

LegacyUser

It's not first dates Ireland.
I'm going to try and find out out what will be expected of me in more detail before I make my mind up. I think the payment basically is a night in a hotel(I'm not fully sure of that tough)
Thanks again.

Mr. Incognito

Don't do it. I speak from experience.

All reality TV is only entertaining if the person is made a show of.

They leverage people's ego for free and make a clown of everyone on it who appears to have tacitly accepted this.

OP, if you suffer from anxiety, then it might not be the best option to go on a show in which you might have no ability to control how you're portrayed.

LegacyUser

Thanks for the advice!
I've probably made my mind up that I'm not going to do it. I can't really see anything good coming out of it. I'll let ye know if things change in the future!

leggo

I've done a fair few TV things in the past. Never really had an overall bad experience but there's a definite downside there. First up, what you speak of with regards to people making comments on social media, yeah it's a thing and if you can't resist vanity searching yourself then it's something you have to keep in mind. It's part of being on television these days. I can laugh at comments about myself, even the ones designed to be hurtful, but I've a thick skin. If you've stuff you'd rather not see mentioned (and keep in mind that the stuff you'll read is the stuff you never even noticed and it'll just add to your list of insecurities) and you're worried it'll do damage, don't do it on that basis alone. You'll end up picking up a complex or two you never even knew you had.

Secondly: the experience. It's not as great as you think it is. Like the experience of whatever show it is will be a fun night or two for you as a change of scenery, but in terms of everything else, it's not going to change your life in any meaningful, positive way (unless we're talking Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and you hit the jackpot like). Realistically, if it goes great you'll get some temporary attention and validation and feel great about yourself for the 24 hours people give a ****, then you'll go right back to how things were before. If it goes badly, the issues resulting from that will stick around for much longer.

Lastly: the hassle. The main reason I shy away from doing a lot of work with TV shows now. People who work in television are used to dealing with attention seeking contributors who'd do ANYTHING to get on TV, so they can push them around and dictate their schedules and be quite rude and pushy in doing so, feeling jumped up and entitled on their own self-importance because they work in television so that's the most important thing in the world. If you've very real things going on in your life, like work, family issues etc that may lead you to be inflexible or just not care as much as these people do and have the time to put into it, it's going to be a pain while you get tutted and sighed at and harassed over email for not working off their schedule. I hate it and I just don't care enough about the supposed 'upside' to deal with it anymore.

In summary: being on TV is only really a great thing if your one goal in life is to be on TV and get attention (positive or negative). It doesn't sound like you're one of these people. So while it could still be a great, unique experience, the downside is very real too and worth considering.