Last updated on May 17th, 2021 at 11:00 pm
A couple of weeks ago, some friends had asked me what it was like being in the CityLine audience. I hadn’t really thought about it by then but spent some time afterwards putting it into words.
And here’s the result:
What do you get when you mix an audience that’s 94% female, free exercise balls and a connection to social media in only the loosest of ways?
For me, this was the April Fools’ Day episode of CityLine.
Suddenly, a Wild Opportunity Appeared!!!
When you put your goals out in the open, sometimes the universe will step in to help you out!
Back in January, I’d posted The 2013 100, a list of 100 goals I’d like to accomplish this year. One of them was #69: Help my Mom get tickets to CityLine and/or the Marilyn Denis show. When I wrote it, I didn’t think that it was realistic. There’s an online lottery system to get tickets to either show, and with the Greater Toronto Area’s population of more than 5 million, I figured the odds were slim.
Until a friend suddenly tweeted me this:
Clicking the link in question brought me to a proposition that piqued my interest:
Are you passionate about blogging? Social media obsessed? Constantly tweeting, uploading pics, or pinning that recipe or DIY project that you’re dying to try?
We’re looking for 5 fantastic food or DIY bloggers/social media junkies to be a part of our studio audience, here in Toronto, on March 25. If you want to be part of the fun, please email submissions@cityline.ca with the following information:
Email us your name, your blog URL/social media account links, and why we should pick you to be in our audience! Please also include a contact email address and phone number, as well as the name of the lucky guest (must be 18+) you’d like to bring along with you. Be sure to specify ”March 25 show” in the subject line.
Good luck and we hope to see you soon!
Now if you haven’t guessed from this blog, I like to write. I’ve been fortunate enough to have started writing (successful) grant applications for youth centres at the age of 12, so I’ve approached making proposals the same way for almost 20 years—some fact, some funny, but always compelling. This is what I came up with:
I’ve been deep into social media for a few years now, with no signs of stopping. I eat, breathe and sleep social media, finding ways to keep active in between the rigours of my day job, side projects and maintaining a healthy marriage. My life wouldn’t be the same without social media, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’m energetic, enthusiastic and always willing to try new things. I’d be a great addition to your audience. Promise.
…and it worked! With the tickets locked down, I got to make one of the Mom’s dreams come true, and I can’t lie—that feels pretty good! With an outfit picked out and my Mom ready for her television début, CityLine was in our sights!
The CityLine Experience
The CityLine experience was a… bizarre one. They had the foodies covered—Jason Parsons was there to teach us about some fresh meals to make for the spring; Leigh-Ann Allaire Perrault and Janette Ewen’s tips on what goes in a handyperson’s toolbox covered the do-it-yourself crowd… but where did the social media junkies fit in?
The only signs of social media at the taping where the tweeps I’ve gotten to know over the years (and some new ones!), and the Twitter handles they added to guests’ names when they were on-screen. My Mom enjoyed it thoroughly, getting to meet Tracy Moore, and she’s always a fan of freebies (when I still lived at home and my Dad and I took the same route downtown, if my Dad brought home a freebie and I didn’t, I’d be in trouble!)—but social media’s about more than just a Twitter shout-out and letting them join an audience for a taping.
The people I’ve met who’ve really made social media part of their lives want to work with brands. We want to know the ins and outs of what brands do, and how to communicate what we’ve learned in interesting ways. Free stuff is nice. Doing things that others might not easily access is nice. But inviting people who get social media presents an opportunity that brands sometimes fail to recognize. We want to tell your story. We want to introduce you to our audience.
All you need to do is ask.
Look Under Your Seat, Folks!!!
Free Greek yoghurt (given to a co-worker), exercise ball (given to our tenants) and copy of This is 40 in hand, I’m still glad I got to experience being part of a TV studio audience—I always dreamed of being on Oprah, but you know what?
This is a start.
’til next time,
8 replies on “The CityLine Experience”
Casey, I love your blog! I was also wondering how the social media aspect tied in, but it was fun, and Tracy, Leigh-Anne and Janette were lovely to chat with! I’m so happy you were able to bring your mother in for this experience. 🙂
Thanks, Sandy 🙂
And yeah, my confusion didn’t deter from the experience — just felt that I couldn’t write this without talking about it.
It was really good that they were open to interacting with the audience!
Love this, Case. So awesome.
Thanks so much, mi amiga 🙂
I was glad to do something fun with my Mom 🙂
I think there’s a LOOOOOONG way to go before brands find ways to maximize how to use Social Media personalities to both of their benefit. The early influencer created a dynamic of “give me free things and I’ll pimp you out” without understanding what they were getting behind. Sadly now brands equate SMPs with “give free things, get good word.” There’s so much more to flesh out. Hopefully folks like you will be at the forefront.
That’s where I’d like to get — the point where bloggers’ individual worths are recognized; their individual skills and abilities used to match with whatever the brand’s trying to accomplish.
You’re right in that the relationship with influencers used to be one thing, but the shift is definitely happening — bloggers treating themselves more like businesses; bloggers who have full-time jobs and don’t salivate over the thought of free drinks and dinner whatever’s coming next is on its way.
We won’t be where it all needs to be just yet — but we’ll see what some hard work and relationship-building will do to make that happen, though.
So glad you could join us for the taping, and thrilled to hear that you and your lovely Mom had a great time. You’ll have to join us again soon 🙂
XO
L-A
Thanks for stopping by, Leigh-Ann 🙂 You’ll be very happy to know that I went right out and bought a racheting screwdriver set and new hammer after your segment — we got a new IKEA armoire recently, and built it in record time with some better-quality tools 🙂
May our paths cross again!