19-Jun-09 Turning the tables on Terry Ferdinand

Terry Ferdinand of Bishop fm is a good friend and supporter to many MySpace artistes. His weekly Folk Show and Folk Up Front programmes have always been popular and we wanted to somehow say thank you for everything he does. So we thought, how better to say thank you then to turn the tables. We would interview Terry and get behind the 'legend' that is Terry Ferdinand!

We had been planning and scheming for a number of weeks:

• before Terry and Catherine went on their trip to France we'd set the date for them to come to dinner after their return
• we'd been in contact with previous Folk Up Front interviewees and other specific MySpace friends requesting quotes/questions... we also asked the first few to respond for permission to use a music track in the 'show'
• we'd prepared a 'draft working script' to ensure we got all the quotes and questions in
• we'd prepared all the quotes and questions and music mp3 files and loaded them onto our netbook
• we'd printed off an aide memoire from the draft script

They day arrived and we prepared the Blue Room, microphones were set up in readiness, recording software primed on the PC (in the dining room), netbook poised and at the ready, everything tested, listened to and listened to again through our Bose PA system to try and make sure there would be no surprises and that everything could be heard clearly and recorded properly.

Netbook, microphones, Bose, watch and script at the ready!

At the duly allotted time Terry and Catherine arrived (yes - actually on time!) and, while pretending to be showing Terry and Catherine our new digital CamCorder, we sprang the surprise! True to his nature of being a good sport he immediately agreed to the interview.

Needless to say we were more nervous than he was, and probably sounded a bit 'wooden' as we asked questions, pressed playback buttons and read out some quotes and questions... but Terry was great, very supportive and encouraging as always. One thing's for sure - we'll leave interviewing and radio presenting to Terry and co... don't think we could take the stress on a regular basis.

Much relieved that we actually had secured a recording we relaxed over dinner (Val having worked her usual magic in the kitchen), washing it down with good wine and good conversation... wish we'd been that relaxed while recording! Then we retired back to the Blue Room with coffee and chocolates - Terry asked if we'd mind if he videod us (for JoAnne) singing a couple of songs and, although we don't make a habit of performing after a meal, we were only too happy to oblige... will, the videos of 'Different Dreams' (with Terry providing some interesting vocal accompaniment) and 'Louise' ever find their way onto YouTube? Who knows...

Many thanks to Terry and Catherine for being such good sports - and many thanks to everyone who helped us by submitting quotes, questions and music. Now we have to find time to sit down and edit it all into a listenable show... wish us luck.

Links
jiva website
jiva MySpace
Terry Ferdinand MySpace
Bishop fm website