Well, I have to share this with you. A couple of weeks ago I did my first podcast. Having never done anything like this before and knowing that I am not good at this sort of thing, I nervously agreed to do the podcast as I am trying to promote my new book...no darling it's called BAD ORGANISATION by Wendy Darling (me) and as all book shops are closed I decided to take this opportunity to promote the book. I'm even thinking of getting a sandwich board and walking the streets. No maybe not!
So, when my new PR department, well Sophie, suggested the podcast I jumped at it. I was going to Zoom, all on my own, in the kitchen. I have to tell you that I do generally always get things wrong, which is why my book is called BAD ORGANISATION! I didn't read the brief. I heard PODCAST, AMERICA, WORLDWIDE EXPOSURE...just an informal chat with someone called Sheila. The time 8pm. Well of course, I thought, that's 2pm LA time...
SO, I spent the day preparing for the event. I washed my hair, which is out of control, choose the right outfit, it had to be fashionable, must give the right impression. Created a simple background, got the lighting just right, a little dimmed I decided, so that my wrinkles don't take over the screen! Difficult at my age, but one has to try to keep up appearances!
So, by 7 I was ready, well sort of, and decided to have a G&T to calm my nerves. Made a list of things that I wanted to be sure to squeeze into the podcast if possible. Just checked in the mirror to look at my image, make up OK. No lipstick as when you get older your lips seem to wizzel up..don't want to do Botox yet. But then the hair! I had bought a heated gadget from Boots earlier in the day. The package said, 'delicate curls in an instant.' It didn't work and so I tried to spray water on to the ends and to crunch it up, so it was casual, well it got worse, one side was straight the other side looked as if I had been in a rainstorm. There were bits poking out and it looked really dreadful. Scissors that’s the answer, so I chopped the long bits off and the bits sticking up and gave myself a fringe! Poured another G&T...looking in the mirror I realised I looked like a mad woman, but as it was nearly 8 I had to sit in my place and link up with Sheila, so too late to do any more fiddling, but as long as I flick my head about a lot nobody will notice...
I sat glued to the screen waiting to be told what to...Sheila appeared on my screen. She had a pretty face and a lovely smile. I had sent her some notes before the meeting, and she was trying to read them at the same time as introducing herself to me..I wasn't clear if we were 'on air' yet so, with lots of flicking of my hair I cautiously asked if we had started the podcast...not yet Sheila said...I'm reading your notes. Then Sheila looked at me and said...today we are chatting to an amazing lady called Wendy, I think you will be fascinated by her life. We must be 'on air' I thought...flick hair...
Well, the conversation was a mess, Sheila jumped from one subject to another. She picked up on the part in my book about partying with Princess Margaret and asked if I was royalty. "No, of course not, I was just there, in her crowd." Sheila then turned to 1950's and my life as a mannequin. I decided at that point that Sheila had not read anything about me and we flitted from one subject to another. Finally, I thought I would tell her about my life as a dress designer and mentioned all the American stores that I sold my collections to, like Sax 5th Avenue, Sheila said immediately "Oh that's Goldman Sacs, I've heard of them. "No, I said that's a merchant bank!" I realised sweet Sheila had no idea what I was talking about. At this point I thought we should try to end this futile conversation and I said something about meeting her when I was next in LA, Sheila said that one day she would love to go to America! "Where are you speaking from now Sheila?" A pause then she said "Nottingham!"
I gave a final flick of my hair and switched off the zoom thing...
For information and links to the podcast, click here.
