Oh my….talk about a crazy week last week.

So I’ve been working hard to finalize the development of my new product.
Note: I will be sure to build a little blog about to show you photos and video shortly…but anyway on with this short story…

So I’m working tirelessly with China every night after I come home from work to perfect my product—while the DRTV company I’m working with conceives ideas for the commercial… They tell me, when we have a draft script we’ll be sure to pass it by you… Excitedly I wait.

Until last week I get a call from the producer on my cell… Hi Karen, I have a draft script I’m sending over for your review. Great, I say…. she reads over the phone, my smile grows and grows… and then she says, “so we are shooting the commercial tomorrow if you want to drive to NJ to be on set”. Tomorrow? Tomorrow? Um, I work FL as a marketing executive, I plan 3 years out and she says tomorrow. Anyway I say I’ll be there on way or the other. Oh yeah and she leaves off saying, ‘bring a shirt in case I decide to put you in front of the camera’. Um, OK I say.

Hang up. Must work the rest of the day visualizing my wardrobe and leave for the first time in 2 years at 5pm on the dot.

Come home, let the madness ensue. Call boss, take day off. Next, nails, run to salon. Do I go with color, clear or french…..hmmm she didn’t say, what would they want. Classic french, yes I’ll go with the french. French pink or french white (lady says in Chinese action), uh…french neutral. Go home. Eat. Brush, put crest white strip on. Floss. Pick shirt, pick another shirt. What the hell I’ll take this suit, and this shirt. OK so I traveled with about 20 outfits in the car, is that a problem? Which earrings? Hmm… studs, no pearls, no a little bling… I’ll bring ‘em all. Necklace, you know it, bring 3. OK, now how do I get rid of forehead wrinkles and 5 pounds tonight? Ummm, can’t be done, move on to shoes…open toe, heals, I’m 5’4 do I want to be 5’6 on camera, um…little heal yes I’ll go with a 2 incher…
Do I do my own makeup, will they have a makeup woman? I’ll apply and take? I’ll pack cleanser, eye makeup remover and all my makeup in case they want to redo… Camera check. iPod Touch of product development photos check (in case CEO is there, I can show my hard work to date.) No pimples this week, thank goodness, then what would I do? And she is so lucky I was just back in NY over easter and had my hair highlighted (a tragedy avoided for sure). Fit in a quick yoga stretch. Breathe. Pack all. Sleep, ok try to sleep.
This is what happens when a type A personality gets 5 hours notice that she may be part of a Direct Response TV commercial…

So my husband is nice enough to also take the day off and drive me to NJ from PA… he should be there too anyway with all the product development support he’s provided me over the past 8 months. Keeping me sane and calm. Umm yes I realize from the paragraph above it might not look that way. Anyway, coffee, car, hit road at 7. Arrive at 9am, park across street first to pee, hate to walk into places and say a minute later, ‘Hi where’s the bathroom?’

Go in, meet team, start calming down.

They are all so nice, local, casual set. Crew of about 7. Immediately they continue shooting… the producer is doing a wonderful job to capture great product shots! Love her ideas. She thanked me for the advance script and F&B sheet I sent to her (remember type A personality here).. Spent all day on set. Great to see 18 of my products in one place. Take undercover photos. Break for lunch at noon (I eat the dry cereal I packed, no need to eat a big spread before TV debut). She tells me to write an intro. and ending to frame the commercial. I give a blank stair..she says aloud her ideas and I basically write them down…

They give me a shirt. Um yes I brought twelve and they gave me a blue one they had in wardrobe. My own makeup but they tell me more blush, more blush… They spray my hair. Cough. Lights on, on and rolling… No teleprompter. I introduce myself as the inventor and introduce the product. I do it again, and again. Again and again. Shouts come my way, more smile, less eyebrow Karen, slower, faster, energy, you seem angry now, slow down, speed up. Anyway I did about 20 minutes of takes, wasn’t nervous but have no idea what the final will look like or if it will get used at all.

The day ended around 4pm. I thanked the producer with a journal I wrote and published this past year….gave back my borrowed shirt, took a photo with the actress and hit the road.

Both my husband and I were so glad we didn’t miss it, what an opportunity to watch the product I invented, patented, developed and help name come to life on camera!!! Hey had I not took off work I would have never been stuck in front of the camera. Again don’t know if my portion will make it or be left on the cutting room floor but if you guys see me in your living room you’ll know how it all went down….

I’ll be sure to keep you all posted.

PS Looking back I’m glad they only gave me a 5 hour notice, otherwise most likely I’d have spent money to professionally whiten my teeth, buy a new outfit, get my hair cut in the city, get the mani/pedi just because and stress… It all happens for a reason, can’t wait to read the end of this book. This chapter was definitely a fun experience!