Live! and Learn

As expected, I've come up with an awful pun for my first blog. Yes, my learning took place during a live shot. What wasn't expected, however, was the actual live shot.

9 p.m. - I came back to KOMU yesterday thinking I was the audio operator for the 10 pm newscast. Little did I know that I would be on the other side of the camera.

9:10 p.m. - When we received info about a natural gas pipe explosion, I asked if I could go. Actually, I asked the director Gordon Davis if I was "expendable". It turns out I was.

9:15 p.m. - Jill Glavan and I headed out to the fire. Driving in our live truck, we headed in a general direction, and the orange haze showed us the way.

9:45 - 10:10 p.m. - After rolling through what seemed like every county road Boone and Howard county had to offer, we found a cozy spot next to one of our competitors, KMIZ (KRCG was MIA).

10:11 p.m. - Kyle Seever had already done a live phoner (which was really good), and he was at the ready to set up the live truck. Cate Kelly and Justin Kelly Redeker pulled up right after Jill and I did. They saw the fire from Olive Garden when their news noses smelled a story.

10:25 - Within 15 minutes of arriving, we were on the air. The shot went fairly well, even though there were some slip-ups.

That was the live part. Here's the learning:
10:32 - We find out more information. I want to go live again.

10:33 - I find out we don't have enough time, even though I ask for 20 seconds. Upon hearing this, I overreact and rip my earpiece off in disgust. All this is in front of the camera, mind you.

10:34:23 - The show ends. The anchors recap the story, and finish the show. I'm still steaming.

-----

10 hours ago, I would have a completely different train of thought about my actions. At first, I felt justified. "I had more info." "A story like this is rare in our market."

Now, it seems more cut and dry. I should not let my emotions get the best of me, especially in front of a camera. And, more importantly, I should not show up the producer, especially if it's something out of his/her control (and last night definitely was).

I'm not a robot. I love the pressure. I yearn for the big story. But acting out doesn't solve anything, and it doesn't prove that I'm a professional.

Lesson learned.. and lived.. "live".

-----

Shout outs:
Jill Glavan - Great job tweeting! And good slideshow. No one will ever know it was your first time with a camera.
Cate and Redeker - Thanks for field producing! Thanks for your comment after, Cate. Haha.
Kyle Seever - Nice push into the flames. Good work.
Jim and Angie - Pros.
Beth - Thanks for getting all the info on KOMU.com and working OT.
Production - Thanks for filling in for me, Gordon. The show looked great.
Randy - Great instincts sending out the live truck.
Lisa and Holly - Thanks for working the live shot in. Hopefully no hard feelings about the end of the show. You made the right call.

Best,
-rt