It’s a New Day

I took a few days off work recently and decided to try a few new things. So I got tickets to be part of the studio audience for New Day Northwest, a daily talk show with host Margaret Larson.

I arrived at the King 5 studios around 9:30 in the morning. The other audience members and I were seated and coached on how to be enthusiastic clappers. Sounds minor, but it’s important for the energy in the studio and with how television audiences perceive the events.

The show had a lot of fun segments. A cooking demo, a musical performance, an interview with Jessica Queller, writer for Gossip Girl, Gilmore Girls, and Felicity, about her new book, Pretty is what Changes. We heard from a health advisor, and we got the latest beauty scoop from the New Day beauty correspondent. Every audience member got a free Selma Hayek lipstick. I love mine! It’s so creamy and natural. Score!

We were encouraged to ask questions to an expert negotiator. No one else had any questions so I took one for the team and volunteered. I was taken backstage and mic’d, and then placed in a seat front row center. Larson tossed to me (I think that’s how they say it in the biz). She said “Now we have a question about negotiating the price of a car from audience member Jean White.”

I asked my question, listened intently, and was done. It was fun to interact with the host and guest. After the taping, I met Margaret. She was so attentive and kind. She’s a busy woman and meets people all day, but she took time to pose for photos and field questions. She even complimented me on my choice of shoes (nude open-toed sling-backs).

The show is taped “as live” starting at 10:30 in the morning, which means there are no do-overs or “take-twos.” The breaks between segments are longer than a commercial break, so the show catches up with itself and it ends being aired in real-time. When I got home and checked my DVR, there was the show. I’d already been on the air.

If you ever have a free morning, or don’t know what to do with out-of-town guests, I recommend booking tickets (they’re free) for New Day Northwest. The host is fantastic, the guests and segments are eclectic, and there are usually freebies. In addition to the lipstick, I won a raffle and scored tickets for the gondola at Crystal Mountain.

Have you tried anything out of the ordinary lately?