By Kimbugwe Muzaphal
“Who the hell is making this young man suffer?” This immediately struck my mind when I turned on my TV and saw this timid fledgling young man, looking hesitant in the face of the camera and struggling to leave a mark on an audience that was evidently not about to see him any different from weak and scared. Amateurish! Hmmmmm, No!
As I sat back in my couch and wondered why he was being humiliated, I realized that this young man made me laugh on many occasions even when he elicited many points of criticism. As opposed to other TV programs that I had seen before, this was different. I was never at any moment compelled to immediately switch stations as I always do when the show is “bad”.
This particular one excited my sense of compassion. My “BAMBI” instinct was pulled out at its peak. This was a young man whose show I was ready to see grow. Though not short of criticism, the next day it was me glued to my TV ready to see how this presenter was faring.
I braved the bad background images, the disorganized movements, the pronunciation mistakes, and the funny dress code and so on. There was however a twist; the more I watched, the more I was ready for a change from “bambi” to “wow”; call it the “bambi-wow” effect.
It now became my initiative to understand and to find an excuse to lay upon my mind for any loophole. This show had to grow and this guy had to be the best. He had now turned into “my presenter” and his show had now become “my show”. His weakness I was ready to understand and his strength I was ready to appreciate.
Hadn’t it become our struggle? Sure it had; there was just no way out.
Was I wrong to have believed in this guy? No! Am I wrong to say that Douglas Lwanga has set the mark as a TV presenter so far? I bet I am not.
Together with him, we slowly rose from rags to roses; a growth to which I bear witness.
This, I say is what makes a stunning presenter be it on radio or TV. I would bet my head if there is ever an immediately stunning presenter and if any, I would say it’s a drop in the ocean.
As a presenter, you are a medium and your show is a product; this product you sell has no boundaries and it doesn’t matter on which TV or radio you are to sell this product. What is therefore important, is for you to establish a link of loyalty with your audience. You must have the ability to make them understand you, relate with you, feel with you, belong with you and move with you to prowess.
Ever wondered why it’s easy for a good presenter to switch channels and stay good? That’s why! They have mastered the art of presentation and that’s in the ability to win the people’s hearts regardless of other factors.
Nonetheless there are those that fail even when talented but why? The very one mistake that has made many presenters fail is excitement. They are quick to “think shine” and this makes them lose the “bambi-wow” link with the audience. The Baganda say that “akwata empola atuuka wala”, in other words, one by one makes a bundle or better yet, patience pays but pains. Why rush to think you are already there at the top yet you are not? Just don’t rush and crush.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: If you ever get a chance in the face of the camera, what makes you are the people that never see the camera but rather see what in you comes out of the camera and with this they must relate. If they do, you are deemed for stardom, if they don’t, need I mention that you will fail?
Well, “Success in life is a matter not so much of talent or opportunity as of concentration and perseverance.” ~C. W. Wendte