Van Media

Professionalism on Youtube

2011-10-29T14:56:00.000-07:00

I find some amateur Youtube videos to be very amateur. Perhaps I have an overly critical view, but I feel that Youtube is meant for a large audience. Presenters should be somewhat professional, and talk... efficiently, if that's the right word. What I mean is, if a person on-camera is talking, and using way too many casual colloquiums "Like, you know, like, OMG!", and blabbering off-topic, it makes me switch to another video. Whether or not you agree that professionalism is key, we can all agree that you want the audience to watch your whole video.

Last night I was searching for Youtube reviews of a product. Once the person on-camera started blithering, after a few seconds I got annoyed and clicked on other videos. The ones I watched to the end were because the host was speaking efficiently.

Tips to improve your videos:

* know exactly what you'll be talking about
* if you need to, have cue cards off-camera to keep you on-track
* get a program for basic editing, to remove mistakes, interruptions, settling into your chair, etc.
* make sure the room is extremely quiet so the audience can hear your mic

If you would like your videos reviewed, feel free to send me a link!

Tip of the Month: Body Accessories

2011-10-03T10:35:00.000-07:00

Almost everyone has piercings, tattoos, wild hair colour, wild fauxhawks... being creative with one's looks knows no bounds! However, keep in mind that society, as a whole, leans towards conservative. If you're being interviewed on-camera and trying to reach a wide audience, tone your look down if necessary. Cover up tattoos with clothing, flip your hair to hide rainbow streaks, take out piercings if you can, and cover the chest. On the flip side, if the crew interviewing you works for a more liberal station, by all means flaunt what you've got!

For a critical eye on how you appear to your audience, contact me for a review. Reviews of your appearance can be done on-line or in-person.

Tip of the Month: Umbrellas

2011-08-22T14:58:00.000-07:00

Today's tip is in honour of our current weather, which is rain, rain, rain!

When it's raining, if you can't find shade or an indoor place to conduct an interview, you're going to have to stand in the rain. SANS umbrella. Umbrellas add unflattering shade and filter the light shining on your face and head. Even if the cameraman has a light, it can be reflected badly by the colour of your parasol.

Make sure your hair is styled to withstand the rain and resulting frizziness. Ladies, wear waterproof makeup! No powder - the streaks will look like you're crying.

For more tips on how to do well in interviews, contact me.

Up and About

2011-08-03T09:06:00.000-07:00

Waking up early has been successfully ingrained in me. I love waking up at 6:45 a.m. Being up before 7 feels like I've already accomplished a goal, first thing in the morning! The air is clean, the world is quiet. It's a great feeling.

To be up that early, ideally I'm in bed by 10 p.m. because it takes me about 20 min. to half an hour to get to sleep. Lately I've been falling asleep at about 11 or 11:30, so this week I've managed to get up at 7, no earlier. I look back to 6 years ago, when I would be awake no earlier than 10. And that was a struggle for me back then. Now I can't imagine it any other way.

Sign Points to Entrepreneurship

2011-05-04T08:51:00.000-07:00

Got a pretty big wake-up call the last couple of days at my main job, where I work for an employer. The management has seemed nervous ever since we got taken over by a large corporation. I came in late on the weekend, due to a traffic jam, which made my bosses nervous that I wouldn't get a special project done. I worked fast (my hands were shaking from nervousness) and I got the job done early. I actually had plenty of time for a modification, to make the item look better.

The next day my boss came down hard on me, for coming in late and making the other bosses anxious. I apologized for being late, but pointed out that the work I did was fine, on-time, and there were no complaints about the quality of it. Having that talk with her was punishment enough. I guess she felt differently, because I found out through the grapevine that she's ready to put a disciplinary letter on my permanent file. This is an interesting change; 6 years ago, when I was making a bad habit of arriving late, all it took was a small mention from my boss, and I cleaned up my act. I've been striving ever since to be on time for everything, even social events. Now she wants to put a letter, despite that I've been arriving on-time for 6 years, despite the project being done by deadline.

When you're an entrepreneur, you set the schedule. It's important to be on-time, but you set the start time that works for you. When you work for an employer, you are a punching bag for their insecurities.

6:30

2011-04-04T08:12:00.000-07:00

I feel that I've successfully embraced the habit of waking up early. I tried instigating it about a month ago. After a week of setting my alarm before the rooster crowed, my body crashed and I went back to sleeping in. I wasn't going about it properly, and this was reflected by my feeling sluggish, sick, and stressed. About a week or two ago I tried again, using different techniques. I am happy to report that I love waking up early now (hence the title of the post), even on weekends.

Here's what I was doing wrong before:

Went to bed too late: 11 or 11:30 p.m.
Drank coffee as late as 2:30 p.m.
Launched into the task too abruptly; set my alarm too early in the beginning of this exercise

My success now hinges on:

Going to bed at 9, no later than 10 p.m.
No coffee past 1 p.m. -- tea only
Started with an 8 a.m. wake-up, and gradually kicked it back to 6 or 6:30

I feel I have embraced this habit permanently (I hope!) and have reaped rewards for doing this. I can hit the mountain early for snowboarding and not crash or need a coffee; I get tasks done before heading to work, instead of madly trying to do it on my lunch break; my social life hasn't suffered, as I had feared earlier-- I just take disco naps to compensate on the night of an event. I really love waking up early!

Unique Gifts

2011-03-30T12:57:00.000-07:00

Seriously, what is better than giving a gift like this to your clients? This mini bubble-gum dispenser is empty now, because my co-workers pounced on it when I brought in. A perfect mixture of nostalgia, distraction, colour, and advertising!

Re-Shuffling Time

2011-02-09T08:39:00.000-08:00

Lately I've determined what's important to me in reaching my career and personal goals. Reaching them means that certain activities are not conducive to my life. Going out several times per week with friends, constantly eating out, wasting time on too many social media platforms, buying objects that clutter my household.... those activities have pretty much gone by the wayside. I now focus my spare time on either relaxing, or working on my career or hobbies.

It was an impulse that I fought in the past, mostly to fit in with friends who pressured me to act more "fun". It's definitely important to regularly have fun in your schedule, but too much and suddenly you've got less money, you're too tired to work, and you're grumpy to your loved ones. I find being picky about what I do socially, helps me stay on track with my goals.

Looking Young

2011-01-11T11:36:00.000-08:00

Almost everyone wants to look as young as possible. In everyday life, this is a bonus. But in front of the camera, looking too young can hurt your credential with the audience.

Ask yourself: What is the age of the audience I'm trying to reach? In terms of general news media, usually the people watching you are conservative and middle-aged. Note also that that is usually the age range for news staff - anchors and reporters. Your image should match these people. If you naturally look younger, your clothes and accessories can be adjusted to match the audience's mindset. Consult an image specialist to convey that conservative look, yet look up-to-date as well.

Empty Malls

2011-01-06T13:58:00.000-08:00

A few nights ago, idly spending time, I dropped by one of the biggest, busiest malls in Canada. Except it wasn't this particular night. Being January, the hallways were CLEAR. There were signs advertising massive sales and markdowns, but hardly anyone was shopping.

I wonder if retailers are advertising this? Focusing not only on lower prices, but on the pleasantness of shopping with hardly anyone else around? There was lots of parking, I wasn't getting bumped or squeezed by crowds, and salespeople had time to chat with me. Shopping was an actual joy that night!

Christmas and Your Business

2010-12-16T12:36:00.000-08:00

How does Christmastime affect how you run your business? Do you or your employees leave a smidge early each week, to attend parties or get tasks done? I actually work harder now, because everyone else around me wants to leave early to get to social events.

Do you give thank-you gifts to your clients? I am terrible at this tradition. Even amongst my close friends, I almost always don't get around to writing thank-you cards. I fantasize about hiring a card-writing service. Besides not having lots of time, the other problem I have with this task is that I have a really creative mind, so I don't want to just churn out generic cards. I want to hand-make and tailor each one to each special person.

Do you go to all of the holiday events? I am actually going to a sunny, warm beach soon, so while wrapping up loose ends in my business, I don't have time to say hi and meet new people in local networks. But if I was staying home, believe me I'd be attending as many parties as I could!

Flurry of Activity

2010-11-16T12:51:00.000-08:00

I'm very excited with the increased amount of work I have been doing for Van Media. Last weekend I attended a show and met a number of small business owners. I was attempting to increase business by trying to find out if people needed photography done to market their products.

It's funny, I was not intending to buy anything at all. But I walked out of that show with a small handful of products, for myself and for friends. A (pleasing) cost of doing business, I guess!

Summer to Fall

2010-11-01T14:39:00.000-07:00

This morning I was reminded, as I pushed piles of fall leaves off the sidewalk, that the beginning of a season marks a time to push forward with our businesses. Many entrepreneurial colleagues are trying new ways to drum up new clients. Some are innovative -- creating information booklets targeted to specific clients -- some are not so effective -- mass mailouts.

On the former point, I know someone who saw a need for a pre-fab product, to save money, time, and hassle for his clients. He is developing his idea further by chatting with veterans in the industry. He has also printed up manuals for clients, which he has dropped off for them to peruse. This guy has the hard-working attitude and unique ideas, which will help him develop a small business venture.

For myself, I have decided to push for a larger networking base. I have renewed my interest in attending social events, and meeting new people. I will admit I had been working mostly behind the scenes, shoring up budget details and technicalities. It is now time to venture out again, taking time to say hi and see what others are up to.

What is a new push that you are doing this Fall, for your business?
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Looking back at summer 2010, this was one of the photography projects I worked on:

This wedding was shot at Van Dusen. It was not too sunny, but there was enough light that I could just use a reflector. Shooting with these clients was easy, considering I had joined them the week before the wedding, to scout locations.

From one season to the next, we can all look back and see if changes need to be made, to improve our work.

A Summer Office

2010-08-16T13:03:00.000-07:00

With the incredible heat in our city lately, I have often wished that it wasn't a social faux pas to bring my laptop to the beach. I'm sure it's for the best that I'm disconnected and enjoying people and nature. However, sometimes the efficiency expert in me creeps up and says, "I could get so much work done just sitting here."

I will admit, my perfect office would have a 360 degree view of the water and sand, plus a nice cooling breeze. Some sangria would replace my hot coffee.

What do you envision to be your perfect summer working environment?

Privacy

2010-08-01T11:00:00.000-07:00

I've been receiving junk mail from Shaw almost once a week. It is never directly addressed to me. Instead, it says "Current Occupant". I emailed Shaw and asked them to take my address off their list. Their response was, if it was not directly addressed to my name, they could not do that. It was something I could only do via Canada Post.

Call me dumb if you like, but although I know that there are ways to take onself off junk mail lists, I really don't like going through the trouble. This does, however, put Shaw in a bad spot in my mind. They have now made an impression as a company that does not care about the environment, by constantly sending me offers in the mail. I don't watch cable television, and my internet is provided very well by another company.

Make Money with your Camera

2010-06-23T21:13:00.000-07:00

On July 9 between 5 and 7 p.m., I will be teaching a workshop in Vancouver entitled, "Make Money with your Camera". Drawing from my career experience in News, I'll teach participants how to use their cell camera, camera, or video camera to record news-worthy items, and then get it to the media to make money.

Topics I'll cover include:

how to shoot great video or pictures
legalities of shooting an incident
how to submit your pictures or video to a newspaper or t.v. station
how to get paid for your footage

I have a diploma in Broadcast Television from BCIT. I have worked on-air for local news stations, and I have been editing news stories for a decade.

The date is coming up soon, so please register quickly to avoid cancellation. Course fee is $75. If you have any questions about this workshop, feel free to email me (scroll down to bottom of this page).

Let Me Out

2010-06-21T11:12:00.000-07:00

As previously posted, I do not enjoy it when people at networking events "vulture" upon my business card right away, without having asked in-depth about my business. I usually suspect they want my card for spam purposes, and sure enough I am currently getting haunted by a business owner I met at an event last month. I have been added to her mass email list, and am constantly getting updates about her networking events. Her last email was a plea for people to inform her if there were any opportunities for her to get hired for her services. I guess work is slow for her. Unfortunately, in the email there was no option to get out of her email list. Most good business owners supply that option, so for her to not do so is bad email etiquette, in my opinion.

Above the Rest

2010-06-10T10:25:00.000-07:00

Looks like a major coffee chain is trying to save lost business: http://twitpic.com/1vhi2q

We have so many coffee shops in this city. How can each store make theirs stand out from the vast ocean of cafes? I know that other types of businesses are trying to link their store to a current cause. For example, I passed one beauty salon that had posters asking people to come in and sign their anti-HST petition. It honestly almost made me stop and turn around to sign (I was hungry and just continued to steam home). Another hair salon was featured in their local newspaper, because they are sending hair trimmings to the States to help clean up the oil spill. Even though that salon is out of my way, I seriously considered going there for a trim the next time I was in that area.

Which poses the question: how can a coffee shop make itself newsworthy, and stand out from the rest?

No Time for Hobbies?

2010-05-24T13:17:00.000-07:00

Starting a new business can take over your life. (I think I just typed the biggest understatement ever) As recently as a few years ago, I recall having so much free time that I was bored. I also remember that my days were lazy and relaxed. My hobbies were: letting afternoons and evenings slip by while reading a book; learning to cook and bake; hanging out and playing with my cat; shopping for clothes and accessories.

My best friends also recall how much fun I *used* to be. We went out several times a week to eat 3-hour dinners, watch movies and concerts, and dance all night until the clubs closed.

I think what's happened is that now, my idea of fun has changed. I still love to dance, I just don't necessarily close out the clubs anymore. Instead of spending hours and money shopping, I spend time fixing old clothes or re-working them. I can now afford to take vacations more frequently, to exotic places. I love simple evenings at home, cooking a wonderful dinner and leisurely eating it in the sun. When weather permits, you'll find me at the beach, indulging in the simplicity of a drink and a couple of friends.

The hours I used to have indulging in lazy hobbies have been taken over by technology: email, editing, photography, and so on. Sometimes, I look back and miss my old bachelorette life. The trade-offs are a wonderful relationship, a comfortable home, and more money in the bank.

How do you find time to indulge in hobbies?

Business Cards

2010-05-17T14:38:00.000-07:00

I have a pet peeve when I network. When I meet a stranger at a business event, the first two questions are almost always, "What's your name?" and "What do you do?"

My pet peeve is when, after finding out what sort of business I run, this person immediately asks for my business card. I know it's likely so that they can add me to an email list of some sort. I assume this, because they want my card before asking thoroughly what services I offer, or even disclosing what business they run.

After meeting lots of people all night, I tend to have no cards left. I should be practical and always carry a pen with me, but what to write on? Bar napkins just don't look professional.

When a person seems truly interested in my business, trading cards is acceptable. But when a person pounces on my card within 10 seconds of meeting, I get annoyed.

Mother's Day

2010-05-09T11:50:00.000-07:00

It was a sad newstip to see, but a necessary and very potent one:

WINNIPEG

Native Women's Association of Canada is having Mother's Day march to honour missing & murdered aboriginal women.

The mainstream public do not normally link Mother's Day with this devastating issue, but the NWAC was right to link it with this day. Many victims were mothers; it certainly made me pause for a moment, amid the worries of planning dinner for tonight, figuring out what flowers to buy, wondering what gift to bring.

It also brought clarity and sombre to my anxious mood. The children of these aboriginal women don't get to think about today the way I do.

Makeup

2010-05-01T13:13:00.000-07:00

This one's for the ladies.

On a makeup forum, a woman posted a photo of her makeup, intended as her look for a job interview. I personally thought it looked great, but many respondents suggested she tone it down, asking her to lean towards a more conservative look.

The makeup was not particularly outrageous, and I would have worn the same look if I was to be on-air or meeting a client. It got me thinking: is the younger generation not as outrageous as we think they are? Is being conservative still a mainstream idea?

Prolonging the Hurt: HST

2010-04-23T12:40:00.000-07:00

Gordon Campbell's Liberals have a big mess on their hands. They're convinced the HST will help B.C., but a lot of the province's citizens couldn't disagree more. A lot of people in my circle are willing to drive out of their way to sign a petition. Even this morning, while being driven to a job, my taxi driver referred to Campbell -- with many bad words. Apparently the HST will raise taxi fares, amongst many other services (I have to pay even MORE to my hairstylist?).

Campbell's government has done some good work in the province, but the HST overshadows everything. If Campbell would just suck it up, and yank off the band-aid quickly i.e. announce the cancellation of imposing the HST, it would hurt a lot less than slowly peeling it off.

Dress the Part

2010-03-08T15:25:00.000-08:00

I have a personal interest in fashion. I know many people do not, and that's fine with me. Sometimes I feel my passion is "petty", when I hear my nagging voice say, "You should be more concerned about real issues, not about what shoes to wear today."

The time anyone should care about what they wear, however, is when they will appear on-camera. If I had a penny everytime I saw an interviewee showing up wearing the rattiest clothes and hairdo ever.... and I'm not talking about an economically poor person, or someone working a dirty job in the field. Those subjects, I can understand their outfit, and it fits. I'm talking about politicians, managers, representatives of organizations. In my opinion, there is no excuse for these people to not wear clean clothing and shoes, and take one minute in front of a mirror to fix their hair, wipe crumbs off their beard, correct smudged makeup (or take off some).

Hey, hey... don't kill the messenger here. The lens is a harsh critic. It only takes minutes of self-care to diffuse its analytical eye.

When Are You Off?

2010-03-02T12:50:00.000-08:00

I am not a full-time entrepreneur. I do it part-time, while maintaining part-time employment for a media company. I almost never have a day off, unless I leave town. Even then, it's hard to resist the pull of occasionally checking email or voicemail.

A year ago I thought about buying an HTC touch phone, with a data package. At the time, I only accessed the Internet when I was at a computer. It looked like a great idea that I could check messages while in line at the store, or waiting in an office for an appointment. My friend reminded me that once he bought his HTC, he lost privacy. He has never had a day when someone didn't try to contact him. If he wants down time, he has to turn his phone off, otherwise his email signal starts pinging.

I never bought that phone. What do I do on my downtime? Read. Slowly savour tea. Play guitar, or with the cats. Chat with someone in line at the store.

Has your choice in technology affected your downtime?

Gastown House

2010-02-23T08:38:00.000-08:00

The Olympics are bringing unprecedented amounts of people to downtown Vancouver, and they are shopping. Business is really good if you're situated along the corridors of Granville or Robson. The poor older uncle, Gastown, is left on the outside looking in.

Until innovative entrepreneurs came up with the brilliant idea of naming their community "Gastown House", in light of the other Olympic houses that have sprung up in the city. How is this "house" better than Molson House, Heineken House, or Canada House? According to the people handing out the Gastown flyers:

no lineups
lots of beer from around the world
room to walk on the sidewalk
unique shopping: Canadiana, vintage, local designs, brand names
lots of restaurants that represent countries around the world
parking

These guys were brilliant, sliding up beside the main event and making a name for themselves. Yet they didn't overstep boundaries and outright copy the Olympic houses. Brilliant!

Perspective

2010-02-16T12:01:00.000-08:00

Moguls skier Jennifer Heil won Canada's first medal last weekend. It was silver, not the gold that a lot of Canadians hoped for. But she still happily accepted her bouquet on the podium. Why?

Because she WON silver, she didn't LOSE gold. People need to remember she fell short of winning gold by TENTHS of a second.

Lesson: having a fresh perspective on things can make you instantly quotable in the media.

Olympic Effect

2010-02-09T16:02:00.000-08:00

Have traffic re-routes affected how you are doing business February - March 2010?

During the Vancouver Olympics, I am using transit and walking. With the right weather gear, it is really pleasant to do so in downtown. There's art and music playing everywhere. It's also fun helping people not used to the transit system figure out what train they're supposed to take.

How is business going for you during the next few weeks?

TV Colours

2010-01-31T17:01:00.000-08:00

It's a good idea to have an outfit ready, in case of a last-minute television interview. When a newsroom calls and wants you to speak on-camera, they usually give only 45 minutes to an hour notice.

When putting an outfit together for this type of situation, take note of the colours. Clothing to avoid includes too much white or black (unless it's a shirt underneath a blazer, for example). Stripes or small zig-zag patterns do not translate well to video; they create unusual wavy lines, which distract viewers. Anything excessively shiny may end up looking terrible. Muted, conservative colours are best.

Look in the mirror before meeting the crew as well. Is your hair sticking up? Any crumbs on your face? Ladies, wear some makeup, but don't pile it on, or else you'll end up looking like a clown.

For more tips on how to prepare for an on-camera interview, email VanMedia (contact information below).

Back to School

2010-01-21T09:42:00.000-08:00

Ever notice, when looking for new work opportunties, that a new technology or skill pops up repeatedly? For example, when looking around for videography gigs, I often see HD or Blue-Ray terms pop up. For photography, clients want special lighting, Photoshop-ing, and website-ready pictures.

There are easy ways to upgrade your skills. The Vancouver School Board's Continuing Education program runs year-round. Some businesses hold private courses in the evenings or on weekends. It's easy to learn at home as well, with the plethora of on-line tutorials and manuals.

The times are a-changing -- and fast. Keep your skills up to date and you won't lose!

The New Year

2010-01-18T15:27:00.000-08:00

January of any new year is exciting, for goal-making reasons. It's a reminder for you to look at where your career is headed, and what steps you will take this year to make things happen.

Dust off old to-do lists from 2009; review the steps and see if you took them. If yes, congratulations! If there are steps leftover, determine which ones you can and can't do. Understand your time limits, and cross off any unecessary tasks.

What's in it for me?

2009-12-25T13:33:00.000-08:00

Did my Christmas food and gift shopping at Walmart. I know my enviro-friends will read that statement and gasp. "No! That corporation is evil! They sell mass-produced goods at cheap prices, which takes up space at landfills. Boo Walmart!"

I could have shopped at a less controversial competitor. The pricing is about the same. But it's convenient at Walmart. They have food, and it's pretty good. For gifts, the selection was large and the pricing competitive. The biggest plus of all: there were lots of cashiers. The other store, you're lucky if half the cash registers are open, meaning long lineups every time I shop there.

The moral is: if you want people to follow your philosophy, make it convenient for them. Make the experience and outcome a pleasant one, and the customers will come.

A Third Party

2009-12-20T16:45:00.000-08:00

One of the hardest things an organization has to do is reach an audience that is resistant to your message. Although this may turn out to be a lucrative market, how do you get them to listen in the first place? Utilize the power of a third party that they trust.

Figure out who the key players are, and if you think they will resist your message, try creating a relationship with their allies first. Then the people you're really trying to target can receive a soft introduction to your organization, via a trusted ally.

Gift of Time

2009-12-07T14:34:00.000-08:00

The media is reporting that a lot of consumers are cutting back on spending this Christmas. Personally speaking, I think it's great! I think it's about time we focus less on material giving, and more on what really matters: family, friends, and neighbours.

We need to revive an almost-expired tradition: the business lunch. Why not take a favorite client out for lunch, instead of talking only via phone, as a holiday gift? They would probably appreciate the casualness of a daytime meeting, as most people's evenings are full of Christmas events.

P.S. If anyone wants to take me out, I love lunchtime meetings!

HST to B.C.

2009-11-28T12:48:00.000-08:00

This week, Canada's Federal government will vote on legislation that would allow B.C. to go ahead with the HST. We can expect sites like Twitter and Facebook to heat up with debate on this.

Now is a great time to write about and comment on how the HST would affect your business. You might even try sending an email to your local media containing your thoughts on this new tax. Who knows, a producer or reporter may come across your commentary and want to interview you!

Listen to Yourself

2009-11-21T13:00:00.000-08:00

An "audio tic" is like a 'facial' one: you say things, unbeknownst to you, when you are trying to figure out what to say next. You also don't realize you have it until you listen to a recording of yourself on-air.

I learned the term when I hosted a radio show years ago. Another host, waiting for his turn in the booth, said, "You know you have an audio tic, right? You like to use the words 'right' and 'okay' when pausing."

I listened to my 'cast, and he was right. It was embarassing, because I sounded like an amateur. Since then, I improved my read to the point that the audio tics were rare.

Do your audience a favor and listen to yourself!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow

2009-11-14T12:36:00.000-08:00

The local mountain is opening very early this year, and many city dwellers anticipate a cold, crazy winter based on last year's outcome. Now's the time for your business to jump on people's hopes and fears. Are you celebrating an anticipated heavy fall of snow? Or are you in a business to help out those that hate the white stuff?

Framing your business in a way that is highlighted by the current "hot topic of the day" can make your press release stand out amongst the hundreds the media are inundated with.

Emblems

2009-11-08T20:16:00.000-08:00

As Remembrance Day nears, poppies are popping up everywhere on-screen. Even Prince Charles and Camilla are going all-out, sporting TWO red blooms on their jackets.

Which leads to a brainstorm of opportunity: why not wear your company logo year-round? It can be a large button on your collar, or a shirt with a symbol of your company or passion. Don't wear a hat, however. It's a distracting prop.

Even if it consists solely of lettering on the back of a top, don't miss an opportunity to wear it. News camerapeople frequently take behind-the-back shots of interviewees, while a reporter looks at the subject, silently nodding (it's for b-roll for editing later in the edit suite).