Marketing – Joseph A Federico

The Social Media Merry-Go-Round

May 24, 2021May 24, 2021
by josephafederico

–Joseph A. Federico, CEO of Anchors To Dusk Publishing & Media

Some say social media isn’t for them and others have a false and preconceived notion that by simply having a conversation about marketing, that said conversation would quickly degrade into one about advertising and dollar spend. Let me stop right there and say that is absolutely incorrect.

So, what is social media? Why are we fascinated — to the point of being obsessed — with accumulating likes, shares and pins? When and how did this start? And more importantly, where is it going?

We’re not going to dissect the story in its entirety…I’ll save that for a paid consultation or weekend retreat (Yes, I offer those, too…). But for now, I’ll gently dive right in and offer the abridged version.

You’ve heard of Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg. And by now, all these years later, who hasn’t? Facebook — one of the most popular social platforms to-date — started off as a “social” platform that was created to allow college students to communicate with one another, to share campus happenings and build virtual communities with the same cause.

It wasn’t until 2005 — around the time I dove head first into the publishing and marketing scene — that Zuckerberg and his crew had expanded the platform and began allowing the general population to reap its benefits. Wait, benefits? Yes. Facebook opened the floodgates and invited ordinary people to become more actively “social” and encouraged them to “peacock” …to show off and let their proverbial freak flags fly.

Sure, social media may have originally been created for/used to allow people to paint organic portraits of themselves or how perfect home life may have been, or even to allow loved ones to stay in touch…but that was just the beginning. The beast that we now know as social media today evolved at record speed. And most people still to this day, don’t know how to properly navigate through this landscape.

To be on social media is to have access to a special power, to be able to take control of your narrative, to tell the story that’s hidden deep inside of you on your own terms. It’s also up to you to tell the world about your business and how it’s owned and operated. It’s a gift.

Let’s go back even further than Facebook’s inception, and dissect an even more unforgiving platform called Friendster…and Hot Or Not before that. Those social arenas held the basic functionalities of the now-Facebook: Chat, Liking, Sharing…but on a much smaller scale.

Friendster allowed users to request and nurture virtual friendships with strangers across the country. I don’t believe it even had a blog or article section at the time or allowed for organic self-expression. It was a simple tool that allowed people to become “friends” with others, plain and simple.

Now Hot Or Not, that platform’s main objective was to get people to rate others’ looks and decide whether or not someone was attractive. Think of it as a platform where influencers gathered, but they weren’t selling products or signing-up to become brand ambassadors. Platform users were essentially selling themselves…for ratings. Think of Hot Or Not as the grandfather to modern dating applications, such as…well…the list is truly too long and boring to even mention.

Now that a number of years have gone by, we’re facing the dawning of a new age of social media. One of the first rules you have to follow is this: Organic content is now and forever will be king. Long gone are the days when a company would post a coupon, for instance, online and hope consumers would purchase their product or take advantage of said sale. The future is not in sales…it’s in how a brand makes a customer or client feel.

Which brings me to my next point… It’s time to integrate nostalgia marketing into every facet of your social media campaign. Think about how you felt when you purchased your own pack of gum with the allowance you saved up as a teenager. What kind of gum was it? What flavor? Where were you when you popped that first piece into your mouth? Who was around you?

See what I’m getting at? I’m attempting to evoke emotion and to set you up — the proverbial customer — to purchase a product. The landscape within the digital marketing world is changing due to the global pandemic. We want to be comforted and coddled and not to have to think about the detrimental news we see on our social platforms or hear about on television. We want to be happy and it’s up to large brands and corporations to deliver that to us. We deserve that much.

It will be interesting to see how social media will evolve in the next 5, 10, or 20 years and how society will adapt to an entirely new set of rules and regulations. I know that I, for one, am counting down the days.

(Article originally published in The Global Achievers, March 2021)

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Masters of Horror: Choosing the perfect model

February 3, 2020February 3, 2020
by josephafederico

As you may have read in the past – namely for projects such as Voudou Juice and soon-to-be Voudou Juice Origins: Cody’s Story – I have a soft spot for male models. That’s just me being 100% transparent and honest with you, my adoring fans and readers.

Truthfully, however, I feel that by choosing a real-life young man to portray one of my wild and crazy characters, the reader will attain a better experience overall – a story of my very own that I’m sharing with the public. You’ll get to vividly envision my words through male beauty. And besides, one of the missions I’m currently on is to push the envelope – through words and through explicit visuals.

So, without further ado, I’m here to announce my newest model, Riley Holley. You have a chance to explore the depths of his creativity and why he is so interested in the horror genre.

Explain why you wanted to model and how this has given you that opportunity:

I’ve modeled before, but chose to go to school for a degree instead of jumping into the modeling world like some of my fellow childhood friends; they now travel the world doing what they love. I couldn’t be happier for them.

But, this gives me the opportunity to jump back in where I left off, trying different styles. For me, it’s not about the money…although, that would be nice. I find it soul-grounding for one to do something they enjoy, yet, challenging at the same time. It gives oneself an opportunity to indulge in bringing characters to life and the manifestation of one’s own concept of emotions and world views.

Explain your background and how these projects, being a book cover model, has given you the freedom to be yourself:

Growing up in the south as a homosexual man, I had limited resources and opportunity due to the biased beliefs of others. Being a book cover model gives me the wonderful chance to express myself and give characters life. The freedom of creativity brings great joy and pride in doing a project like this one.

Being a clinical mental health counseling grad student, I find exploring the darkest parts of the human mind fascinating. Participating in horror book covers allows one to step out of one’s norm, pushing them to let that animal we humans keep in a cage. I find all sides of this concept beautiful and terrifying. Through these projects, I hope to see all sides of the subconscious of ideas flow out in producing nerve-tingling pictures for the viewers’ pleasures. That makes one question the deepest part of one’s character, no?

Why do you love all things horror?

Who doesn’t?! Horror is like the dark subconsciousness of our mind that always wonders, “Could I ever be that evil, vile, bloody and brutal?”

To me it’s like connecting with your alter ego – some being harsher than others – that you’re allowed to let out and to fear of what could be, when we or someone loses control. It makes me feel alive by how it makes my heart race. To be scared is to be alive.

I’ve always been a jumpy person and believe it was my punishment for loving the scare people. It’s a price I must pay, I suppose…

What’s your favorite horror movie and author? Why?

The “Saw” series would have to be my most favorites! This is most likely due to the psychological horror aspect behind it. I have always loved how it took a twist in what I consider to be traditional horror movie form that includes a group of people. I don’t have a favorite author yet, because I just love so many.

How do you feel the horror genre best relates to the LGBT community?

Interesting question… I guess it best relates because our lives themselves are like a horror movie to some extent; there is fear, hurt, blood, death, etc. in the human experience, right? The horrific events that have been taking over in our modern word tie-in to this as well.

And, to be honest, it’s a damn shame there are so few LTBTQ+-genred horror movies and books out there, too. Many LGBTQ+ antagonistic characters in books or movies are terrifyingly absent and to me that is horrifying, too. Why is that?

Similar to a time of witch hunts, our community is driven to shame, suicide, eradication and inner turmoil from the social and cultural norms that have developed based off religious beliefs. If we look back to the past, homosexuality was considered normal human behavior in many cultures.

Religion came into play, with men and armies fighting for power, and it left people who engaged in “abnormal” practices to fend for themselves and be shunned from society’s good graces. They were treated like cattle and seen as not being worthy of life, justice or even safety.

It is possible for social and cultural norms to change over time with the influence of educated, open-minded and reasonable people. I can go on this rant for ages, though…

What do you hope to get out of being a book cover model? Why? How?

I’d like the courage to express the dark side and bring such great characters to life! By using bloody themes and folklore, I hope to feel more comfortable over time. For without darkness there is no light, in between this, creatures shall take flight.

Growing up, what kind of southern folklore or scary story stuck with you the most? Why?

Not many southern folklores buzzed about my family during my upbringing. But growing up having Native American blood in my family, my grandmother would pass down stories. Such stories would be about burial mounds and how they were sacred, and also how the Blood Wolves of the great Native War protect and harm the families of all bloodlines.

One other thing that was prominent in my youth were dream catchers; but dream catchers can be a terrifying spellbinding tool as well, so one must be careful with whom they receive it from. Weaving spells are used in creation of dream catchers, so one’s own subconsciousness can be embedded without the casters knowing. Those are the few that have stuck with me throughout the years.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I want to say thank you for this opportunity and for allowing me to explore myself through such works. This is a wonderful chance to grow and explore while completing what the spice of life really is all about.

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Kaden Roach: Using Instagram to Impact

January 25, 2020January 25, 2020
by josephafederico

I can achieve anything I need through God’s grace and the understanding that I am enough through what God has. Growing up, I knew I had always wanted to make a difference in the world. The ability to leave an impact on someone’s life through my existence is so powerful. That’s why I started to really focus on growing my Instagram (@kadenrroach) to reach as many people as I can.

In high school, I was fascinated with performing and having people know my name. That’s all I wanted at first, to be noticed. I was involved in choir and show choir. I sang in talent shows, danced all over the town, and eventually became dance captain of our school group. These performing skills really shaped me into who I am today. Throughout my time in high school, I just wanted to be famous, but now that I look back, I realize that I just wanted to impact as many people as I could. Since I was performing at the time, that’s how I would make my impact.

Will TikTok be bigger than Instagram?

I would then further my impact through social media. I became so influenced by models and magazines. I decided that was my next move to make an impact. There was nothing I would have loved more than to model for an agency and be on the cover of a magazine; I wanted to show the world that a small South Dakotan boy could make it big. I would go around town and take pictures with my camera with my brother, and I still do. Then, I’d take these fun pictures and post them to my Instagram. After a while, some exciting things started to happen: I had brands like Starbucks, Target, and Alive! Multivitamins start following me. I even got to do my first sponsored post with LIFEWTR. Today, I still am trying to grow and continue to work with more brands. It is such a rewarding and fun feeling.

As much as I still love to do that, I got another rewarding feeling through motivational books and helping others. This made me discover my passion to become a life and health coach. I recently went through a hard time, and God and motivational books were there for me. They helped me so much, and I would love to return the favor and change people’s lives with my book one day.

25 tools to boost your Instagram!

I am currently getting certified as a life and health coach through the Health Coach Institute in Idaho. My goal is to inspire people and help them along with some of their hardest journeys. Through God, I know that this is all possible. I then combined all my passions and have turned them into one.

Now, as my Instagram is growing, I write motivational messages along with the posts to help inspire people. As I am learning through my life and health coach journey, I am taking that knowledge and using it to help as many people as I can. I have done posts on taking a mental health day, sleep, drinking water, and even a nice one about what Thanksgiving truly means. As my passions continue to grow, I wish nothing but to make an impact through modeling, singing, writing, and using Instagram as that platform to do so.

Launch your small business now!

I have opened my mind up to loads of things this past year and it has helped me tremendously. One of the most important things I have learned is that I am enough. I learned that I have what it takes. I am strong enough, capable enough, and worthy enough. No one else can hold that same magic that I have inside of me. No one can see the world like I see it, and to be able to bring out my views and share them through these creative ways is powerful. No one else is going to fulfill your dreams until you start believing in yourself. That’s what I have done this year. I have learned to believe. I am ready to take my education and continue to make that impact on the world.

The world can be a dark and sad place, but if I can brighten it up a bit, then that is the most rewarding thing. You must show people that the mountain you were assigned can be moved.

That’s how I am using Instagram to make an impact.

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Potential Social Media Suicide

November 22, 2019November 22, 2019
by josephafederico

Potential Social Media Suicide: My reaction to Arielle Pardes’ “I Am Immeasurable: My Life Online – Without All the Metrics”

I’m sitting here, on my “off” day today – a day after a partner’s holiday party, a long yet productive work week, one where I hustled my ass off to close a contract with an amazing talent – and finally had time to peruse an issue of WIRED…from March 2019!

If you’d read my article from last week, you’d know that yes, I’m still a slow reader. I don’t have as much time as I’d like built into my schedule for creative synapses to get a workout with such activities as reading, or let’s say, for instance, working on (three!) novels. It’s reality, and I have no choice to be alright with that…for now.

I digress…

So, I’m extremely engrossed in the ever-changing world of social media, and am attempting to situate myself as the “Social Media Guy,” that as I began to type this up, I caught myself before I added a slew of pound symbols to words I’d normally identify as keywords on social media platforms. Need more sleep, much?

Jumping right in, I was mortified at first when I began reading an article by Ariel Pardes. Oh Jesus, girl, why would you want to go silent on social media? was my first thought. So, without further ado, I’m going to share a snippet of said piece, then add my two cents to close this thought out.

Pardes boldly starts out by saying, “Social Media is a death carousel, and by the start of the new year, I wanted off. National policy and news stories continued to be steered by the tweets and retweets of @realDonaldTrump. A photo of an egg had surpassed 30 million likes on Instagram. Children were eating laundry detergent and setting themselves on fire in exchange for followers. The phrase ‘late-stage capitalism’ was appearing everywhere.”

I rolled my eyes immediately, but then, similarly to the women in the meme where on one side, she offers a grotesque face, then on the other side, her eyes widen in contemplation, I was suckered in. Okay, missy, what have you got to offer?

First off, Pardes isn’t the first journalist, or even social media manager for that matter, to threaten to leave social for good. From March to this month, now November, social media content has gotten even worse. Starting with laundry detergent (Okay, that was gross…but if it was a marketing stunt, even I have to admit there was something clever there, and those little squares do look tasty… Oh please, as if you hadn’t thought about it before!) to detrimentally expensive political content that’s being questioned daily, social media content is easy to get caught up in and sometimes, is hard to hop off on a high note.

Pardes continues, “So I purged. Not the social media accounts, but the numerical machinery powering them. Likes. Retweets. Views. Followers. Subscribers. The metrics by which the words, photos, videos – what’s known, in toto, as content – are made valuable. I installed a series of browser extensions that promised to leave the content intact but expunge those boldface, sexy, ubiquitous numbers that cluttered and dominated my feeds.”

I’ve been taught, and self-taught, and educated on the fact that content requires to reap likes, retweets, views, followers, and yes, even subscribers. To this day, I tell clients, “It’s not about the numbers, but…it’s about the numbers. You feel me?” Then I proceed to offer explanation on how my team and I plan on attacking an evolved voice and grow a persona from the ground up.

However, there is something so say about the notion of simply sharing content – unfiltered, organic, personal content – for the sake of sharing content…not to get likes, retweets, views, followers, or even a paid partnership. That’s a refreshing idea to mull over, don’t you think? If we simply lived our lives on social the way we so desperately think we live them from day-to-day, we’d be much happier.

But, then how would capitalism work and run its course? The Kardashian-Jenner crews of the world would be nothing, because although I think they, and other celebrities, linked-up with smart managers and run tight business models, there’s no substance once the iron curtain gets peeled back.

And let’s be honest, do we really want to hear blasé opinions and see makeup-less appendages not holding cans of popular beverages? No. The world of social media would fall to ruins within days.

I digress again…

So, Pardes, right… She manages to explain how she dropped the numbers and says, “My guide to denumeration was Benjamin Grosser, an artist and assistant professor of new media at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Grosser builds little UX hacks for liberating Facebook, Twitter and Instagram from the hegemony of hearts, notifications, and follows. Install one of his extensions, log on, and you’ll find the room looks the same – but the curtains and crown molding have disappeared.”

So, is Grosser the “great and powerful” OZ in this situation?

Personally, I don’t buy it. We live for justification. And, admittedly, so do I. We’re too deep down the rabbit hole.

Please like and share this article. It will help me to sleep better tonight.

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Launch Your Small Business This Fall

November 18, 2019November 18, 2019
by josephafederico

So, here I sit in my humble little apartment in Morristown, staring outside at (what’s left of) the leaves and baking homemade pumpkin bread. The work weeks seems to get longer and longer, as do the days around the northern hemisphere during this time of year, and I have to fight off the urge to crash in my pajama set from J.Crew all day and sip holiday-flavored beverages from Starbucks.

Alright, let’s be honest, for those of you who know me (which I hope is a lot more after interacting with this article), I can’t sit still for the life of me. So, although, yes, I am trying my hand at being a bit domestic today, here I am, tapping away at an inspirational article about small business.

I had picked up Entrepreneur’s Startups this past April at the Atlantic City Airport as I was headed to the Carolinas to visit with family for the Easter holiday. The usual was packed in my carry-on bag: earbuds, all of my unfinished manuscripts, several pens, a change of clothes in case my luggage got lost, and horror-genred books. What I didn’t have was any reading material that pushed me, really forced me to look into the (sometimes harsh) mirror of entrepreneurship. I was on a journey to explore the unknown…facts I didn’t know about the world of small business.

And although the fact of the matter is, admittedly, I’m a slow reader, I truly did soak up all the trade secrets and have been applying them to my own experience (or sometimes, lack thereof) from Entrepreneur’s Startups. Which leads me to my next trick: sharing them with you, my amazing and eager readers.

For the sake of saving some time, I decided to jump right in and offer some of my own advice, starting with the section of the magazine entitled, “Start Your Own Business: This is When to Launch,” and it may be found on page 30 of the publication, just in case you’re following along.

The editors start off with a bold statement. They say, “Starting a business doesn’t have to be an all-or nothing commitment. The key is to map out a plan that puts your company on track to succeed.” Now, I must say that yes, you should have all your I’s dotted and T’s crossed before thrusting yourself into entrepreneurship; be sure to have investors lined-up should you require that assistance, and assure your finances are in order should your endeavor head south for whatever reason. However, I disagree with the statement that your business venture “doesn’t have to be an all-or nothing commitment.”

I’m sure you’ve spent months or years agonizing over the “the next big thing,” right? Choosing logo colors and writing out business plans are half the fun, but executing a small business is no small feat. I suggest applying the “ride or die” method to your dream. Use proper caution, but head right to the top floor.

Within the middle of the page is expert advice offered by the editorial team and business expert Arnold Sanow. They say, “Does all work and no play make entrepreneurship no fun? Some entrepreneurs who run part-time businesses based on hobbies, such as crafts or cooking, find that going full-time takes all the fun out of the venture.”

Business expert Arnold Sanow states, “Going full-time turns an adventure into a job.” Well yes, I do agree that entrepreneurship may not be for everyone. However, I must say that your business venture must, must, must start with a passion of yours. What sparks your soul? Are you a professional that feels stuck in a dead-end job?

Those are some questions you must ask yourself before deciding to take your passion project full-time. Over the years, I have met the most passionate people who have taken their crafting business, for instance, or their spice of life in the culinary arts, and brought their dreams to life. Now, again, that’s not to say they haven’t faced some form of trial or tribulation to the road of success, but it’s worth it in the end.

“If the road to success is meant for everyone, then I don’t want it,” is one of my personal inspirational statements. And truthfully, I loop back with myself from time to time and assure I’m following my truth.

One of the statements that I wholly agree with is the following: “There are a number of investigative factors to consider, such as the competition in your industry, the economy in your area, the demographic breakdown of your client base, and the availability of potential customers. If you are thinking of opening an upscale beauty salon, for example, evaluate the number of affluent women in the area and the fees they are willing to pay.”

In Morristown alone, there are approximately 7-9 marketing and public relations agencies. However, after heavily researching my location and observing the needs of my potential target demographic, I found out that each of the agencies, although labeled as “marketing and public relations,” offers something completely different from one another. And the kicker was that none of them offered social media and persona building services. That’s when I took a leap of faith and jumped from part to full-time. I felt I was satisfying a need people and/or companies didn’t know they needed.

Now, toward the end of the article in Entrepreneur’s Startups, the editors state, “If you’ve got your heart set on a business that traditionally requires a full-time commitment, think creatively: There may be ways to make it work on a part-time basis. For instance, instead of a restaurant, consider a catering business. You’ll still get to create menus and interact with customers, but your work can be done during evenings and weekends.”

Again, I do agree with the “take it slow” method when necessary, however, I suggest adjusting your daily commitments against how much passion you’re willing to put into making your dream a reality. Ask the questions, commit to a schedule and launch.

Have any questions or comment regarding the article? Not sure where to start when it comes to small business ventures? Being in the social media and marketing industry for over 12 years, Joseph A. Federico is the go-to agent for all of your small business needs. Contact him today by clicking here, or head to JosephAFederico.com.

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I Don’t Feel Like Marketing

April 30, 2019April 30, 2019
by josephafederico

So, I was listening to the Scissor Sisters on Spotify, driving home and taking calls from prospective clients, and “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’” comes up on shuffle. And it came to me, the perfect idea for a blog on the importance of constantly working toward your goals in this digitally-connected world we live in.

The title of my blog is, “I Don’t Feel Like Marketing,” and I can truthfully tell you, I’ve been there, too! Some days, the creative bug just doesn’t want to bite, and you’re lazy AF. Who’s with me? I can smell the wood burning in those brains of yours and see those lips curl. Admit it… That’s completely normal, but, marketing is a must and strategy planning neverstops. Sorry.

DO IT

Marketing is a 24/7 job, even if you don’t have the means to hire an agency to run a strategy for your company. The show must go on, and marketing demands don’t discriminate.

So, why is marketing so important, anyway? Here’s a breakdown…

By creating an airtight marketing strategy for your business, it can help in assuring that your products/services are fully developed, and that they meet the needs of your target audience — which, in turn translate into customers and clients.

Developing said airtight marketing strategy doesn’t just happen overnight. It takes research, time management and a lot of commitment.

Are you hustling to keep your brand afloat?

SMALL BUSINESS? SO, WHAT?

Without clients bringing you a steady revenue stream, your business is dead. That’s just a cold, hard fact. In order to attract and retain a hefty list of clientele, your brand, your team, and you yourself, must thoroughly understand the importance of a strong marketing strategy. Strangers on the net are more likely to choose your competitors because of their social media presence, because they’re solving for: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How.

Truthfully, smaller and medium-sized businesses just don’t place importance on the power of marketing and what it can do to increase their visibility and secure revenue streams. They all-too-often see marketing as a chore or just another expense, and don’t do anything about it. Let me be clear, marketing is very, very different from advertising and sales. Very different.

So, let’s recap for a moment… Your competitors — the ones actually getting business in your market — are solving for 6 things:

Who — describes the business within a snackable statement

What — the items or services offered to the public

Where — the location of the company

When — their hours of operation

Why — why they started their company; mission statement

How — how they’re going to deliver to their customers

NOW IT’S CRUCIAL

Building your brand from the ground up is no easy feat, but it’s crucial for any business, and the marketing strategy is the foundation to structure first. Consider asking additional questions to assist you and your team in building an iron-clad strategy:

Why am I going into business?
What am I attempting to solve for when it comes to my customers’ needs?
How is my business different from my competitors?

Once you flush out the answers to the questions listed above, your strategy will come to you more easily. Then, you will be set to create a stellar content calendar, and share concise posts across all social media profiles, such as Facebook and Twitter.

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Talking About Being on Television

August 23, 2018
by josephafederico

Many years ago, I’d met a young man named Scott; he was a regular at a local club I used to frequent during my “wild” days. He eventually settled down and began dating a fine young lad by the name of Mike. So, long story short and into the realm of synergy we go, I eventually met Mike’s mom, Doreen.

I drove to Doreen’s humble abode in New York State one fine afternoon, flowers in hand, to discuss energy and life path choices, and we really hit it off. She was such a beacon of light and positivity, that she did wonders for my self-esteem at the time. And little did I know that Doreen was well-connected to all walks of life – from world travelers to queer artists and everyone in between.

Skip to present day – a few months ago – and I received a group message on Facebook. It had been from Doreen, and she copied two other gentlemen. She gave a short, sweet and somewhat vague introduction, then left the conversation shortly after. It was her style to set an intention then leave the group to do what they may.

One gentleman, I never connected with, and the other was Eric Faria. He immediately private messaged me on his own regarding his line of work – which is in television and running a talk show – and wanted to know more about my debut novella and also inquired about me being an upcoming guest.

Having labeled 2018 as “the year of continued opportunity,” I immediately jumped at the chance to reply with a “yes” and gave Eric detailed information regarding my first self-published book. He responded quickly and set-up a conference call to discuss it further.

About two weeks later, Eric called me and we hit it off right away. We shared our special stories about how we’d met Doreen – the proverbial glue that cosmically brought us together – then he conducted a pre-interview in order to learn more about what I’d bring to his talk show as an upcoming guest. Well, it went swimmingly, to say the least. All I had to do then was pick a date and time of my appearance. I was ecstatic – not only at the thought of being on television, but also because I’d been given the chance to take advantage of a unique opportunity t0 share my newly-evolved, authentic self with people I’d never met before.

If you know me, you probably know the story of how I was on the once-popular children’s television show, “Romper Room,” in the 1980s for my third birthday. I was a special guest that day, and thanks to the technology of the day and to my brain for filling in the gaps, as we humans tend to do, I recall it being pretty fucking special. I mean, come on, it was the day of my television debut.

And, if you read one of my older blogs, you would have gone on another journey with me – one that took place last summer… a journey of being in my first feature-length film. That was an experience to say the least… You really should check it out sometime – both the blog and the film.

Right, so, yes… Once I solidified plans to travel to Mamaroneck, New York, I began working on preparing for my spot on “I Am” with Eric Faria. My assistant interviewed me in the style similar to how Eric interviewed his past guests. It did wonders because there was no way I would have gotten through a full hour of taping without some preparation. And let’s face it, I always like to put my best foot – in this case, best face – forward.

The day of the taping of the show came and I felt like a star. I got a fresh haircut and gave myself a manicure. I even took it very easy that Friday, assuring I ate light and sat by the pool to get last minute sun for that extra glow. I was beyond ready.

Later, I left for New York with plenty of time to spare, just in case I got lost. The trip over the G.W Bridge wasn’t too treacherous; I had RuPaul, Jennifer Lopez and other pop stars to keep me company along the way. By 6:50pm, I made it to the studio. I took a deep breath, pushed the “lock” button to my car, and walked away with pride.

The nicest people greeted me and led me to the green room. There, I cleared my throat, checked my hair, and conducted facial exercises to assure I’d speak with exceptional diction. Then, Eric came to greet me and walk me to the studio itself. It was just about go time.

Once I was in my chair, staff powdered my face and mic’d me up, then did a soundcheck to assure the acoustics were where they were supposed to be. Before I knew it, I heard a woman say, “Three… two… one…” She pointed in my direction and began rolling. On went the plastered smile and I shoved the nervous butterflies away for another day. “Hi, I’m Eric Faria…” were the last words I remember coherently hearing for the better part of an hour.

GULP.

Before I knew it, the second of three segments had been in the can, and we were about the film the final one. Now, I’d been fine up to that point… but, for some reason, time slowed down during the third segment, and I became aware of my surroundings. “Shit, I’m on television. Don’t freak out,” I told myself several times. I only had a few minutes left before the camera crew yelled “cut.” I snapped out of it and finished up with gusto.

I blinked and it was over… one full hour of discussing Voudou Juice, publishing, and the ins and outs of being a writer. What a trip. The staff took my mic off, I posed for a few promo shots with Eric and was sent on my merry way. To say I was riding high the next few days would be an understatement. I was proud of my accomplishment, my preparedness and, well, even prayed that the editors would cut out a bit of my on-screen awkwardness.

My video and podcast should be released soon for you all to enjoy. If my words touch at least one person out there in TV land, I’d consider it a great success.

Signing off…