The people of Ireland clearly have great taste, as I was invited to appear on another two Irish radio shows!
The first was the Red Rooster Show on Cork’s Red FM. This was a really fun interview with two very amusing hosts: KC & “Lenny from Blarney”! My part was phoned in using my mobile phone, so I hope the sound quality was good enough. I was asked what the ultimate blag would be, and I said that I would love to blag a holiday, somehow. I hate to think how much buttering up would be required to score a holiday, but I do love a challenge!
The second interview was for Dublin’s Phantom FM. This was a very relaxed interview with Roisin O’Dea about the Silly Beggar concept. I discussed the book’s penguin theme (obsession?). It amused me that when I looked up the station’s website to provide a link, I saw that I was billed thus: “Plus - we’ll be chatting to James Spence, author of “Silly Beggar”, who spent a year getting by on handouts.” I did? My memory must be getting worse! I love this ‘Chinese whispers’ description of the project!
Never let it be said that I’m not a man of my word (see previous post). This morning I was invited on to the Jamie and Louise Show on BBC Radio Wales. As with last week’s Irish radio interviews, I recorded my part in a BBC recording studio in Edinburgh. This was one of the longest interviews I have done - it even took a break half way through to play some music! This gave me time to break out some dance moves, although sadly the listeners were unable to see them.
Probably for the best.
As this was a BBC interview, I was asked to avoid mentioning company names as much as possible. Listening back, you might spot how tricky I found this, given that the book is all about writing to companies! I pretty much managed to avoid mentioning too many brand names, although I had no choice about mentioning Hovis and Starbucks as I was asked directly about them.
This was a fun interview and I’m thrilled that I can add Wales to list of countries I have broadcast to! Listen to the interview on the BBC iPlayer (my interview is about 38 minutes in).
Word of the Silly Beggar project has spread overseas to Ireland. I was interviewed on not just one, but two Irish radio stations! The first was on the national broadcasting corporation, RTE for the Dave Fanning Radio 1 show. Dave and I discussed the book in a light-hearted way, and I offered some blagging tips to his listeners. Listen again to Dave Fanning, RTE Radio 1
The second Interview was for Today FM, one of Ireland’s most popular commercial stations. This time I spoke to the Ray D’Arcy Show. I recorded my part in a BBC studio in Edinburgh this very morning. Unbeknownst to Ray who was recording his part in Ireland, Tiffany, my missus, joined me in the recording studio although she remained silent throughout, so you’d never know she was there. It can be our little secret.
So Scotland, England and Ireland have covered the story. Wales, I’m coming for you next!
Posted by Spencey on Thursday May 21, 2009 Under Printed Press
I was thrilled to find an article on Silly Beggar in my local newspaper, the Dunfermline Press, today. The article, written by readers’ favourite Matt Meade, came about after an enjoyable conversation. Following the interview, Matt had sent me some Dunfermline Press freebies which comprised of: 1 Pencil, 1 Dunfermline Street Map, and a DP Living Magazine. Matt’s article humorously suggests these are the worst items I received!
Most amusingly, Matt suggests that I may become the Godfather of a new blagging movement, revealing how one of my friends, a teacher, encouraged his class to try writing out to companies. He too experienced the thrill of the blag as his pupils received loads of lovely goodies.
As it is the local paper, the article also highlights the Book signing I have coming up on the 30th of May at Waterstones in Dunfermline.
As a direct result of the Daily Mirror article, I received a call from the Chris Evans Show on Radio 2, asking me to go on and talk about the whole Silly Beggar project.
My contribution to the show was a live phone-in, in which I spoke to none other than Rebecca Pike (aka The Fox)! She asked me what made me start this project and about the type of funny messages I had sent to companies. It feels weird knowing that I used the phrase “A deranged giraffe ate my t-shirt” on national radio.
I had been asked to read an email out, which I duly did, but in retrospect I possibly could have edited it down a bit. Oh well. They did ask!
Posted by Spencey on Tuesday May 19, 2009 Under Printed Press
An article about Silly Beggar appeared in the Daily Mirror this morning, under the headline “In the Blag…”
The article reads “Artful Cadger Reveals His Secrets” and focusses on the blagging element of the book. Playing off topical news stories about MPs getting things for nothing, the article begins “You don’t have to be an MP to get stuff without paying for it - you just have to ask nicely, or maybe pen a poem.”
The article highlights some of the best freebies that I received and even gives my Top Blagger Tips!
“Approach companies whose products you genuinely like and tell them why you’re a customer.
Save the cost of a stamp, go online and send an email. Most companies have a Contact Us button on their website.
Butter them up - you’ll be surprised how far a lot of unashamed flattery goes.
Do something to catch their attention - an elaborate story, a strange tale, a picture or a poem.
Say something funny. If you elicit a laugh you’re halfway on the road to getting a freebie. But at the same time try not to sound like you’re taking the mick.”
This is a great result. All the publicity up to this point has been through the Scottish media, so it great to think that a UK national paper has now run with the story.
I couldn’t ask for a better article with brilliant silly photos, which, um, Mirror the silliness of the book.
My first ever book signing took place on Saturday, in Borders Books, Fort Kinnaird, Edinburgh.
Borders had set up a display at the front of the store with loads of copies of the book. They had blown up one of the letters featured in the book to A3 size because, funnily enough, it was addressed to them! Yes, some time ago I had written to Borders, Fort Kinnaird, Edinburgh requesting freebies! So it seems appropriate that their store should be the first on my signing tour.
They had promoted the event well with posters advertising my appearance, and throughout the session, they put announcements out that I was in store signing copies of the book.
It was great to meet so many people interested in the book and the concept behind it. One person in particular amused me - no matter what I said, he simply repeated the words “yes, yes - silly mental crazy”. I’m not sure why. It’s possible they were the only English words he knew!
I received a lot of very positive feedback from customers who loved the idea of the book. Although most requested that the book was signed to them, many asked me to sign it to their friends, describing it as a perfect gift. Who am I to argue?! By the end of the session, my table was almost sold out and the staff invited me back to sign again around Christmas time. I will most definitely be there.
Today is the official release date of Silly Beggar. It brings me enormous pleasure say that it is available *now* from all good book shops!
How exciting to think that this side-splittingly hilarious, beautifully-crafted and, um, humble book will be adorning the shelves of book stores up and down the land.
Over the next few weeks I will see this for myself as I participate in a wide variety of promotions and author events here in Scotland (see sidebar for details).
I hope you can join me, and if so I look forward to seeing you.
I made a guest appearance on the Macaulay and Co show on BBC Radio Scotland this morning. The good people at the Beeb were excited about the concept of Silly Beggar and invited me in for a chat with legendary funny man Fred Macaulay. Never having been on radio before, this was a slightly nervewracking experience for me, but I had a lot of fun once my initial inner-terror had died down. I must confess I did ‘um’ and ‘erm’ throughout the interview. In fairness though, I do speak like that normally.
…after a few beers.
In addition to my own interview, throughout the show, there was a call-in feature where listeners were asked to get in touch to share the best items that they had received as freebies. There were many incredible examples and it was reassuring to note how many people out there love to get their hands on a good give-away!
The highlights of the interview were when Fred threw me a Macaulay and Co tee shirt (sweet - another freebie successfully blagged), which I thanked them for and then cheekily asked what the eBay value of it was. I was also thrilled when Fred read a brief extract from the book, selecting one my own favourites.
Missed out on the fun? Fear not! The BBC iPlayer allows you to ‘listen again’ (for seven days), Go on - treat your ears to the Macaulay and Co show. The Silly Beggar bit takes place in the last ten minutes of the show. Enjoy!
Posted by Spencey on Wednesday Apr 29, 2009 Under Printed Press
Imagine my surprise when I opened today’s Daily Record to discover myself splashed across the centre pages!
The Daily Record, one of Scotland’s national newspapers ran a fantastic article all about Silly Beggar, including excerpts and images from the book.
Under the Headline “Cheeky Begg@r”, it reads: “Skint James Spence sent emails to some of Britain’s biggest companies trying to blag freebies… and it paid off”
“JAMES Spence graduated, got married and then bought a house all within a matter of months. As a consequence he was broke, He said: “Cash-wise, I was just breaking even - and this was long before anyone had heard of the credit crunch.” Instead of sitting and feeling sorry for himself, he decided to do something about it, and have some fun at the same time. James, from Fife, embarked on a campaign to bag as many freebies as he could from some of the biggest companies in Britain, including Blockbuster and Starbucks. His new book, Silly Beggar, charts the emails he sent to companies and the replies he received.”
“Silly Beggar, The World’s Stupidest Begging Letters By James Spence Published by Aurora Metro Press on May 14 priced £11.99 and available at www.aurorametro.com”
The article then gives some (shortened) examples of a few of the letters appearing in the book. But why take my word for it? Here’s a link to the article on the Daily Record website. What a great start to the promotion of the book, two weeks before it’s even released!
The people of Ireland clearly have great taste, as I was invited to appear on another two Irish radio shows!
