I am part of the Eastern US Wx forums. Recently I posted my videos so that I could get some feedback. I got some great feedback from many people.

Work on my hand movements – check
Work on my breathing techniques – check
Work on my fidgeting and head bobbing – check
Work on being “too smiley” – check

I received some really good compliments too. Many people said they’d watch me. Others said I show great enthusiasm for the weather. A few said they liked the bald head. But one in particular didn’t…

I received one post from “Nikolai”. He critiqued me – and he held nothing back. Below is what he said…

You kind of babble too much so you sound incoherent… also, you need hair. This will sound kind of bitchy, but you kind of look like you have cancer without it, and that’s not something people want to see in a newscaster (I know that sounds bad, but let’s be honest–it’s true). It’s not like you’re completely unfortunate looking, either–you would be kind of attractive if you had hair.

So yeah, grow hair (if you’re balding already, invest in hair plugs–they’re essential for male newscasters) and get some meds to calm you down. Uppers tend to have that effect on my friends, although a drink or two does the trick for me, so I’d probably recommend that. But yeah… kind of unfortunate right now but if you get some minor work done and get the nerves under control, you’d be good.

Oh, & re: the smile–you might want to get veneers done. Your teeth are fine for normal people or news people from places that don’t matter, but either naturally perfect teeth or veneers are the standard for major media markets, at least from what I’ve seen. That isn’t a dig on your teeth–they’re not bad… just not perfect, and people really do like perfect teeth.

Thanks Nik… I have never been called a cancer patient so that is a new one. I’ve tried to grow hair… it doesn’t work. All I got from the Hair Club for Men was a receipt for $2,500. Rogaine and Propecia haven’t worked. So here is where I am. Bald and freaking proud of it! Nik also suggested that I calm down a bit, maybe have a couple drinks. Suppose I get an morning job where I have to be there at 3 AM, should I have a couple of shots of JD before I go on the air? Thanks but no thanks. Finally, he suggests I get braces. I have perfectly straight teeth so what are veneers going to accomplish besides put me out of $3,000? Again, thanks but no thanks.

I am proud of the person I am… I don’t need to be fake to get far in life. Nik’s suggestions were “standard for major markets”. Well consider me a change for that standard.

PS. I will be posting a new forecasting video tomorrow. Check it out…