On the Air with Lon Schmidt

Quote of the Day:  In times like these, it helps to recall that there have always been times like these. Paul Harvey

This week I was on the air at 3wi FM Talk Radio 95.9 in Baxter, MN, with host Lon Schmidt and DeAnn Barry, director of the Senior Center. Thanks to Krista Rolfzen Soukup, Publicist Extraordinaire, I found myself out of my comfort zone, once again. Similar to that bus ride downtown Minneapolis, then elevator ride up to an observation deck. (See post Adventure Awaits the Daring, or Run! You're going to miss the Bus.) Our new challenge phrase is, "Jump on the bus!"

So, I was trying to be funny with a Twitter/facebook post: Trying to decide what to wear for my radio interview tomorrow. I had some helpful suggestions. One said, "It's radio, wear your pjs." Another said, "They can actually see you through the window, so I'd suggest dressing up." A tiara and evening gown were suggested. I appealed to a local radio gal that I know. She said, "Hoodie and jeans." So, I wore my dress hoodie and a sparkly headband that kind of looks like a tiara. I wore it in the final scene of my play Coffee Shop Confessions. After the performance, Joey Halvorson looked at me and said, "I can't look at you without thinking that you've just been crowned Miss Brainerd."

I was nervous, but it didn't take me long to warm up to the microphone.  DeAnn Barry had done this before, so she was much more relaxed. We'll be performing for the Senior Dinner on Monday, April 9. Call DeAnn at 829-9345 for reservations, $7, ridiculously cheap for dinner theatre. DeAnn offered us free rehearsal space, and our Thank You is to perform for the dinner.

I even made her laugh.

One of the cast members, David Allan Pundt, called in. It was fun to hear his take on his character and my play, calling Sam the "sounding board" for the stories the ladies share with him and each other. Lon encouraged me to set my Midwestern, self-depricating ways aside and brag up the show. He wanted to know where I got my idea to write the play and how I developed the characters (a common question to writers). I confessed that I was a shameless eavesdropper. I also provided the disclaimer that any similarities to real people is purely coincidence (wink). But, really, all the characters are fictional, even Laura's, who is in essence herself, is a fictionalized version of herself as a mother of many.

My message in all of this is to say, You won't get anywhere unless you jump on the bus, ride out of your comfort zone, and dare to do something new.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  Have you ever been on the radio, or tv, or intereviewed for a story for newsprint? How did it go?

Encore performances at the Coco Moon:

Friday, April 13 & Saturday, April 14, 6:30, $5.

Friday is almost sold out.

Coffee Shop Confessions at The Shante in Pillager:

Thursday, April 19 & Friday, April 20, 6:30, $5. Tickets just went on sale.

Contact the venues for tickets.