I
wasn’t planning to do a Part 5 of finding the right Podcast, but
alas I’ve had a few approaches come through over the past two weeks
or so which will result in likely several more emails over the next
few weeks over terrible pitches in Podcasts.
First
one, this one came through on Bandcamp which does give you the option
of emailing the act via Bandcamp.
I
won’t name the gentleman with this approach, and will cut several
details of where he lives and what his books are and a few personal
details.
“I'm fifty-six and I live in V****** , B***** C******, C*****, eh? About
three years ago, I hit emotional-bottom and reached out to God. Since
then, my life has changed in the following ways: I'm no longer
addicted to sugar.
My
weight has gone from 235 lbs. to 170 lbs. I work-out regularly:
weight-lifting, yoga and daily, long walks.
Most
importantly, I've been pursuing my dream of becoming a professional
writer of creative fiction with more passion than ever before. For
me, at least. Now? I have close to sixty books on-line. If you Google
Indigo Books and search J*** L****, you can check them out. Recently,
I was interviewed by D**** on his D****** With D**** podcast. It's on
YouTube. I have around five thousand Facebook friends and I'm in
hundreds of Facebook groups. I've posted a link to your awesome
website on my Facebook profile page. Thank you for your time and
consideration. Warmest Regards, J***! “
Problems
with this approach? I actually remember this gentleman as he
approached with the same message back in August or so this year I
recall and upon researching him at the same time, it appeared that he
had wrote over 60 books in 3 years. Being married to a novelist, I
know from experience how much work goes into a novel not 60 in 3
years or so – that is a pace that is worrying and when I read a few
extracts it showed, they were badly worded, badly structured – bad
stereotypes of female characters – well, there was nothing good
with it.
As
soon as the message came through I sent a polite message declining
why I wasn’t interested in chatting to them only to get the extact
same message as before.
I
sent this email in response this time
“Thanks
John for the message;
You
originally approached me in August this year I believe, and you have
just sent me the exact same message as you did then, and I wasn't
interested then and my answer stays the same now thanks but no
thanks.
A
gentle reminder is to perhaps research the Podcast you are wishing to
appear on. If they turn you down once, and you send exactly the same
message again a few months later will not make them want to bring you
on and it also looks quite unprofessional.”
I
expect to hear from this gentleman I suspect in the Spring of next
year, maybe next year and he’ll still be peddling the same old
rubbish as before, and no doubt I’ll have to be somewhat more
forceful with him bordering on the rude I suspect.
