First Calls: The Thrills, The Spills, The Horrors

[AndrewVDill]

Made my first call last night (Paul, calling in from The Iron Monkey). Although it won't make anyone's Hall of Fame (except mine), I felt ok about it. I saw Tom at the party afterwards and thanked him for being so nice for my first call. He told me I did great, not because I did, but because he is.

BEST SHOW FOR LIFE!

Well done, Paul.  Glad you had the guts to do it...the rest of us were wimps.  At one point Purple Shirt put a ringing phone in my hand, but I got spooked.  Someday.

[DS1077]

I won't own up to which it was specifically, but I made my first call this summer and I kind of choked, both out of nerves and because Tom's voice sounded incredibly different over the phone, which got me confused.  Anyone else experience this?

[snogrog]

Someday I'll call again...someday...

[fonpr]

I won't own up to which it was specifically, but I made my first call this summer and I kind of choked, both out of nerves and because Tom's voice sounded incredibly different over the phone, which got me confused.  Anyone else experience this?

I've found he sounds bigger and closer on the phone.

[Christina]

I won't own up to which it was specifically, but I made my first call this summer and I kind of choked, both out of nerves and because Tom's voice sounded incredibly different over the phone, which got me confused.  Anyone else experience this?

Yeah. I'm actually not super-nervous about talking in public or anything like that (trust me, I massage, maintain, & groom plenty of other neuroses - I ain't bragging about not having this one), but it's disorienting holding a convo over the phone w/a person whose voice you're used to hearing over the radio - that public voice is suddenly speaking and responding to things you are saying. I had the same thing with AP Mike too when I would start out the call. I think the first time I called I barely remembered to say hello to him before he put me on line to Tom.

[Pastor Josh]

I was several calls in before my nerve subsided enough that I remembered to be polite to Mike, and not just ask to be transferred to Tom.  I've come to think of talking to Mike as one of the best parts of calling in.

[oncegompedtwiceshy]

I'm calling tomorrow.

[fonpr]

I won't own up to which it was specifically, but I made my first call this summer and I kind of choked, both out of nerves and because Tom's voice sounded incredibly different over the phone, which got me confused.  Anyone else experience this?

Yeah. I'm actually not super-nervous about talking in public or anything like that (trust me, I massage, maintain, & groom plenty of other neuroses - I ain't bragging about not having this one), but it's disorienting holding a convo over the phone w/a person whose voice you're used to hearing over the radio - that public voice is suddenly speaking and responding to things you are saying. I had the same thing with AP Mike too when I would start out the call. I think the first time I called I barely remembered to say hello to him before he put me on line to Tom.

My experience with Mr. Scharpling has been very similar to Auntie's.  Mike, however, is another story.  His voice and demeanor are so similar to one of of my oldest (not in years) friends, I felt quite comfortable with him immediately.

Until.... he started asking me if I used to call and just talk to him, not go on the air.  He said the guy was from Florida and sounded just like me.  I still think he may be messing with me.

[put_it_away]

Haven't call yet - not sure when/if I will. First off, I will need to listen to the show live. Right now I'm podcasting it. If the topic is one I feel I can contribute to while remaining Hard G, then I will.

I know I'd be nervous as hell, though.

[dave from knoxville]

Haven't call yet - not sure when/if I will. First off, I will need to listen to the show live. Right now I'm podcasting it. If the topic is one I feel I can contribute to while remaining Hard G, then I will.

I know I'd be nervous as hell, though.

You're missing all the hot music, new guy!

[Pastor Josh]

Haven't call yet - not sure when/if I will. First off, I will need to listen to the show live. Right now I'm podcasting it. If the topic is one I feel I can contribute to while remaining Hard G, then I will.

I know I'd be nervous as hell, though.

My first call was cold.  I wasn't listening live yet, but I wanted to call in.  That got me hooked.  I don;t think Tom minds as long as you are, in fact, contributing something.

[chuck from cedar rapids]

Someday I plan on calling in myself. I'm a new listener (I am finally caught up on all the podcasts and listened live for the first time last week) and definitely want to contribute to the show. I suppose my biggest fear is accidentally overstepping the "hard G" boundary.

[Dan in Chicago]

My first and so far only call, went fairly well until someone kept calling my house phone over and over until Tom told me to pick it up and hung up on me. I never forgave the person calling.

[mackro]

I mentioned that this past week's show was my first call on another thread.  So, quickly, I will add that, even though I had been a college radio DJ for 7 years (from 1990 to 1997), I wasn't prepared for being a nervous wreck when I knew I went on the air on The Best Show.  I winged it, made things awkwarded, then gomped.  Now i know.

But yeah, that first call is important, because you realize how prepared or unprepared you really are... even if you've been in front of live audiences regularly or not.  Unless you're a seasoned stand up comedian (or comediANNE), just buck up and accept your likely fate the first time.

[scratchbomb]

I mentioned that this past week's show was my first call on another thread.  So, quickly, I will add that, even though I had been a college radio DJ for 7 years (from 1990 to 1997), I wasn't prepared for being a nervous wreck when I knew I went on the air on The Best Show.  I winged it, made things awkwarded, then gomped.  Now i know.

But yeah, that first call is important, because you realize how prepared or unprepared you really are... even if you've been in front of live audiences regularly or not.  Unless you're a seasoned stand up comedian (or comediANNE), just buck up and accept your likely fate the first time.

well, if you were a college radio DJ, you shouldn't be nervous calling up a high school radio station...