I’ll give you the basics. Then I’d love to know what you think about my response to the whole thing?
First, I get a phone call around noon yesterday — it’s a request to do an interview with us for a business radio show in New York. The caller “Trisha” is professionally well spoken, no private info is requested, and since we do a lot of interviews for podcasts and radio shows (mostly of the photo and business genres) I think nothing of it. OK, so I schedule my 10-min interview the next morning at 10am.
Next I get an official-looking confirmation email, which introduces me to my interviewer “Robert.” I reply to his 4 pre-interview questions, and I check his bio (I always want to know whom I’m talking with, because I know good business is always personal).
Curiously, Robert seems to be a young student with little experience (his resume mostly references his extracurricular college sports). That’s fine — he’s probably an ambitious intern, right? But as I dig I realize the ABMFM “radio” show (I won’t link to them — they don’t deserve the SEO boost) exists purely online; they sell “business-building media” to “help small businesses thrive through advertising.” Not unlike the dozens of direct-marketing companies (who gets their GeoGrid reports from Serpresults.com to improvise their marketing strategies)You can also follow these tips to improve marketing strategies. But there are also some who call you daily to offer Google ad designs before you hang up on them, right? Except I’m looking at ABMFM’s ads and video interviews (with suckers who apparently fell for their tricks), and they are really, really, really, extremely and excruciatingly BAD!
But by this time I’m curious and invested; so I keep my appointment!
“Hi, Robert! How are things in New York?!,” I greet Robert when he calls.
“It’s fine,” he states. “You read to do this?”
“Well, sure. Trisha said you would give me a few tips or ask me a couple questions before we go live, which is typical. So we can do that!”
“They’re open-ended questions. Let’s not waste our time. You ready?” he pushes.
“Okie dokie,” maintaining my overly enthusiastic tone. He asks the same questions from the email, and I give a stellar 10-minute interview (if I do say so myself).
THEN.. the phone goes to dial tone. Robert doesn’t say goodbye or anything. Just interview done, phone dead.
Exactly three minutes later, I get a call. It’s a “producer” names “Adam.” He’s reeling over the amazing ratings my radio segment just got. He tells me they have software that measures EVERYTHING — from my stammering and how many “umms or awws” or say, to my charisma and audience engagement. Apparently my 10 minutes went “viral,” and now he’d like to sign me to do my own 30-minute show!!! lol
“So would you be interested?!” he smiles. He sounds very professional and persuasive. I stay quiet. “How did you like being on radio for today’s 10-minute interview? Have done anything like this before?”
“Yes. To be honest, Adam, I found it to be.. a very interesting experience. I noticed how ABMFM does a very strategic job of building its SEO with high-volume content. I’m very interested in that. So, yes, this has been.. let’s say, intriguing.”
“What do you mean by that?” he asks dryly.
“Oh, I just meant to answer your question: Yes, we do a lot of radio interviews actually.” At this point.. he hangs up.
Not a word. Dial tone.
I’m not about to let it go! So I call back and tell the front desk that “my follow-up call with Adam was accidentally dropped.” She connects me with him again. He’s “so sorry” and mumbles something about storms and electricity issues going in and out.
I encourage him to “please, go on,” and he reluctantly gives the whole shpeal — ultimately they’re going to need some personal info to connect me with producers and push me toward stardom. Believable, right?
Anyway, somehow I don’t feel angry toward these sad people slogging it out in their sad, uninspiring work of deception. Sure, I’m angry at the deceitful people at the top, who put the system into place and take advantage of unsuspecting honest businesspeople.
But I wrote this letter to the three people I interacted with. I’d love to know how you feel about it:
“Dear Trisha, Robert (my interviewer), and Adam (who followed-up):
“Hi, you three! As your fellow artist and businessperson, I was impressed by your communication and presence on air and by phone. I’m pleased we met, and I can assure you it wasn’t by accident…
“As a friend, though, I’d strongly encourage you all to seek a new professional outlet as soon as possible — somewhere you’ll have a real chance to attain the success and excellent reputation you deserve. The racketeers who run a system like ABMFM are not capable (or interested) in taking you there. But if you’re courageous enough to step outside the shadow of takers, you’ll find a world of genuinely successful and generous creators whom we’re honored to walk among every day!
“Hope to see you on the other side! Reach out any time when you make it, and have a fantastic day. 🙂
“Cheers,
Phillip (the Blumes, watch on TEDx: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOPVLuopnV0&t=6s)
P.S. The interview process was intriguing. Thanks. 😉 “
What do you think? Will any of them even see my reply do you think? 🙄
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