My book, Silly Beggar: The World’s Stupidest Begging Letters, was featured on Monday’s edition of magazine show The Hour on Scottish Television. The item was the first in a series about blagging freebies. Throughout the week different approaches to acquiring items for free will be reviewed, with my light-hearted comedy approach up first. Other methods they will look at include the Freecycle project and a group called the Freegans who live on things that the every day folks leave behind (wait - isn’t that the Wombles?).
The item was introduced by two very well-known Scottish presenters: Stephen Jardine and Dorothy Paul. My interview is with presenter Vicky Lee, who visited my home to see some of the goodies I received. We discussed the book and I read a brief excerpt (although all the jokes were mostly cut out!). Even the blog you are reading right now was featured.
One viewer very kindly put my interview on YouTube, so please enjoy the link below:
Posted by Spencey on Tuesday Jun 23, 2009 Under Printed Press
It thrilled me to my very socks to discover an article about Silly Beggar in the Weekly News this week.
For those unfamiliar with the work of the Weekly News, it describes itself as a newspaper that thinks it’s a magazine! Packed with real-life dramas, celebrity interviews, an in-depth guide to the latest TV shows and films, up-to-the-minute medical news, puzzles, prize competitions, cartoons, gardening, short stories, The Royal Week, top sports coverage and much, much more.
The Weekly News article talks of my love of tea, buttering up companies, and reveals how the book has several ‘running gags’ throughout, which any one of the companies would not have been party to.
There’s also a picture of me, from the book, holding a magnifying glass to the ‘Slimfast’ logo on my shirt. Unfortunately, the newsprint doesn’t really show the logo very well and it looks more like, for reasons not apparent, I’m magnifying my nipple. Oh well, whatever helps sell the book!
FM 104, Dublin’s Hit Music Station, arranged a phone-in interview with me this morning to discuss the book. I spoke with presenters Jim and Niamh about the book, some of the wackiest blagging techniques within its pages, and the freebies I got my hands on.
Niamh revealed that she had once written to a chocolate company in her youth and received lots of free chocolate. I like her style! They asked me about the impact of the book since its release and we discussed whether it could start a blagging trend!
This was a great fun interview. From what I heard of the rest of the show it sounds like a lot of fun.
Posted by Spencey on Thursday May 28, 2009 Under Printed Press
For the second time in two weeks, I found myself in the Dunfermline Press. This time, however, rather than being interviewed specifically about the book, I was asked a number of quick questions for their ‘On the Spot’ feature. I spoke once again to top journalist Matt Meade and I rattled off answers to his questions, including:
What do you see when you look in the mirror? Something to reflect on
Who would you most like to invite over to dinner? Cookie Monster. Though I suppose I wouldn’t end up with many cookies
What would you do if you won the lottery? Buy a million lottery tickets as you never know when your numbers will come up
The article also highlights the book signing on Saturday at Waterstone’s Dunfermline 12 noon to 1pm.
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.
