No way, no how.

It didn’t stop me from practicing that tickle-the-twine jumper for hours on end, but it wasn’t gonna happen, no matter how much I loved basketball.

But through the fantastic program The Journey on the Big Ten Network you and I both get to see what it’s like to be a part of a major college men’s basketball program.

This is my kind of reality TV.

Here’s an excerpt from a recent clip, highlighting the return of Evan Turner to the Ohio State lineup:

I didn’t have access to the BTN when it first started The Journey, or just didn’t see it on the Web, but it is precisely what a rabid college basketball fan in the Big 10 needs – and also includes some similar production elements and compelling behind-the-scenes sights and sounds to what I try to create when I produce a season highlight video for a high school team in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area.

I love the documentary feel to it. It’s compelling to watch. This isn’t just a few highlights set to music. Videos shot with the look and feel of The Journey create and capitalize on the excitement and passion for the team and school. They also humanize the players and coaches, showing them on and off the court in a way that just wasn’t available before.

The episodes of The Journey are really well-done and have a nice pace, showcasing the various story lines from different Big 10 teams each week. Must have quite a large staff to put it all together. Have any job openings, guys?

Simply put, the kind of PR and promotion on The Journey is pure gold.

Every college conference should be doing it – and maybe some more are – especially those with their own broadcast outlets.

Along those lines, I would also argue that the colleges themselves should be kicking out their own weekly behind-the-scenes productions. (A great example is Gopher Basketball with Tubby Smith on Fox Sports North, with weekly interviews with Tubby, player profiles and feature stories).

Why stop at the college level?

State high school leagues and conferences could try it, even on a seasonal or monthly basis to start. Follow teams through their regular seasons, playoffs and the state tournaments. People love the inside the locker room, behind-the-scenes stuff. The coaches I’ve worked with are open to having cameras around 99% of the time because they know that win or lose I’m there to capture the moment and someday down the road they’ll want to watch it again. And, in the case of a season-ending game, that the 17 and 18-year olds celebrating or sobbing in front of me will have a permanent recording of that moment, even if it’s after a painful loss.

And, I’ve often made the case in some previous posts that high schools – some with even more expensive equipment than I have in my digital media arsenal – should be putting their students to work producing weekly programming about their sports, players, coaches…. even just about academics, clubs and organizations.

No, none of those ideas have to be on TV. That’s what the Web is for. Put it on the school’s website, put it on Facebook, iTunes… wherever students, parents and supporters would watch it.

Either hire pros like me – or students learning as they go – and follow the lead of the Big Ten and Fox Sports North.

Why not?

So no reflections the post-Declaration period or Gettysburg, got it?

Here are five moments in my lifetime when the nation turned to presidents to see and hear history:

Richard Nixon – August 9, 1974

In his farewell to White House staff, Nixon ad-libbed his remarks, offering this line of advice toward the end: “…greatness comes not when things go always good for you, but the greatness comes and you are really tested, when you take some knocks, some disappointments, when sadness comes, because only if you have been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.”

Ronald Reagan – January 28, 1986

His remarks on the day of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion are legendary. He famously finished with: “The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and “slipped the surly bonds of earth” to “touch the face of God.”

Bill Clinton – February 17, 1993

In his first State of the Union address – and by far the highest rated of his two terms – Clinton ended with an upbeat challenge that was meant to set the stage for his first term: “Tonight I ask everyone in this Chamber – and every American – to look into their hearts, spark their hopes, and fire their imaginations. There is so much good, so much possibility, so much excitement in our nation. If we act boldly, as leaders should, our legacy will be one of progress and prosperity. This, then, is America’s new direction. Let us summon the courage to seize the day.”

George W. Bush – September 14, 2001

Speaking through a bullhorn with firefighters by his side at the World Trade Center recovery site, three days after 9/11, Bush ad-libbed a line that drew chants of “U.S.A.” at the site: “I can hear you! I can hear you! The rest of the world hears you! And the people – and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!”

Barack Obama – November 4, 2009

On his election night, in Chicago, Obama said: “…out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes we can.”

I wanted to share a promotional video I produced for my part-time digital media business as an example of how a small business can help its customers learn more about the business owner.

In this case the client was a dentist, Dr. Linden Dungy (brother of Super Bowl champion NFL coach Tony) and his Immanuel Dental practice in Farmington, Minn.

His goal was to tell his story… to simply define what his practice is about for prospective patients who will view the video on his website.

But by no means is it a commercial.

We worked together to create a concept, interview-style, that would allow people to get an understanding of who Dr. Dungy is, his demeanor, the strong emphasis he places on faith in his practice, his desire to simply promote the importance of good dental care, and to stress his team approach at Immanuel Dental.

I’ve posted Dr. Dungy’s promotional video for Immanuel Dental on Vimeo (in HD) and here on YouTube:

You may be aware that Tony Dungy wrote a children’s book based on his brother Linden. You Can Do It was published in 2008. It’s all about Dr. Dungy, as you read in the publisher’s description:

Tony Dungy’s little brother, Linden, is a third grader who is having a bad day at school. Linden is the youngest of the Dungy family and the least motivated because he hasn’t found “it.” In a family where everyone seems to have found their special talent, all Linden knows is that he wants to make people happy. With encouragement from his parents, a helping hand from his older brother Tony, and inspiration from God, Linden learns that if he dreams big and has faith, he can do anything!

Whether the economic times are tough or not, one thing is clear… most of us still need a haircut once in awhile, right? I don’t know about you, but I still have to wait in line for my monthly cut every time (I’m a guy, no need for appointments).

If you work at or manage a barbershop, hair salon or spa, have you seen your schedule stay the same, or slow down? My guess is you’re making it through these months okay.

You’ve got customers, but are you more than just a place for them to go to get a haircut, manicure, etc…?

Sure, they trust you for their hair and beauty needs. But do they look at you as a service provider or a partner? Do they rave to their friends about your service and how you treat them?

If you answered yes to that, great… keep reading. If you answered no… keep reading.

Here are five ideas for video podcasts for barbershops, beauty salons and spas:

1. Who’s doing the work? Introduce your staff, profile their experience and their personalities, etc…
2. Highlight some new styles, new spa treatments, etc…
3. Hair “success stories” of your customers. A before and after look at a bride, prom-goer, etc… with a video interview testimonial.
4. Unique customers. Who are your regulars? Let’s hear from them!
5. What makes your business different? A sports-themed barbershop? Mother/daughter employees, etc…

Beauty is about looking good, right? Use video to make your business look great. Showcase the personality of your staff and commitment to customers that your business provides.

Computers, PC or Mac, tend to give you trouble from time to time. So, who do you call if you can’t solve your problem by yourself? A pro, of course. How can a computer repair pro stand out? With a video podcast, of course.

Consumers need a quick way to determine that a particular “geek” can actually fix their computer’s issue, quickly, without keeping them offline for too long.

Here are five ideas for video podcasts for computer repair businesses to put on their websites and iTunes:

1. A series of videos showing computer owners how to do simple maintenance on their operating systems, hard drives, software, etc… so they won’t have problems pop up in the future.
2. Define a common computer problem and show people step-by-step how to fix it themselves. They’ll remember you gave them this freebie when something out of their control happens the next time.
3. This ties in to #2, but you could solicit computer questions from viewers/customers and then show how you would diagnose and fix the problem for them. Questions also could be basic, like how big of a hard drive do I need to store videos, photos, etc…?
4. Compare software for anti-virus protection, etc…
5. Highlight some websites that offer comparisons of computers and customer reviews.

Computers aren’t going anywhere. People will need to get them fixed from time to time.

Video podcasts allow the tech-savvy repair business to demonstrate expertise, trust and credibility. During my last go around with my Dell, I tried looking for a low-cost repair shop in my area to support a fellow small business, but I was astonished to find very little on their websites that would make me want to call them. So, I didn’t. If those sites would have had some video, they would have won my business.

This post is aimed at health club management, both the big chain clubs and the small franchise, looking to attract and maintain members.

How can a professionally-produced video podcast help?

Here are five ideas for video podcasts for health and fitness clubs to put on their websites and iTunes:

1. A series of videos featuring personal trainers demonstrating the proper way to use the “machines,” free weights, how to warmup/stretch, etc…
2. Profile your personal trainers, what are their specialties, what’s their story?
3. Profile your members, what are they trying to improve about their fitness, who has a great success story (Think NBC’s “Biggest Loser”).
4. Showcase a fitness class (Pilates, yoga, etc…).
5. Explain the process to join the club, assess body fat, how to establish a fitness/nutrition plan to improve that assessment.

This list could really go on and on. Health and fitness clubs have no excuses not to use video. Just like their personal trainers don’t want to hear excuses from the people they’re helping to get fit.

Auto dealerships selling new and used cars – and offering service and auto body work – are certainly struggling in this economy. Sales are slow. Dealerships are being shut down. And we’re all aware what the auto manufacturers in Detroit and elsewhere have been trying to do to survive.

Yet, I aim this post at the auto dealers anyway, with the advice that video podcasts can and should be an important element of a dealerships marketing efforts – now, next year, and beyond.

It’s about rethinking long-followed marketing strategies and tactics. That full-page newspaper ad every Saturday might not make as much sense as it used to. But an affordable video podcast on your website does.

Reach out with video to your prospective customers now. Reach out to your existing customer base now. Build your brand. Always.

Here are five ideas for video podcasts for auto dealerships:

1. Highlight the newest vehicles on your lot. Show them what you have in stock and say what they cost. But don’t do this. (It’s a nice effort, but it’s obnoxious “old school” auto advertising and will remind people of the car commercials they hate to watch on TV).
2. Take the vehicles on test drives.
3. Explain the steps in the auto buying process. Explain financing vs. leasing, etc…
4. Basic auto care advice or show how your repair experts solve and fix various issues with the vehicles brought in for service.
5. My perennial favorite: Customer testimonials.

Auto dealerships are filled with experienced salespeople, right? Then start “selling” the dealership with affordable, professional video podcasts, not just the vehicles on the lot and on the show floor.

Even in this economic downturn, people are still eating out. Maybe not as much. But we’re all still hitting a restaurant once, twice or more a week.

It’s the convenience, isn’t it? We “don’t want to cook,” or there’s “nothing in the fridge,” and so on.

So here’s a question for restaurant owners… from the corner deli to the exclusive eatery… When families, couples and singles start thinking about where they’re going to eat, are they thinking of your restaurant?

A video podcast for restaurants can “serve up” customer awareness and loyalty in ways you haven’t even tapped into yet. Here are five podcast ideas:

1. Meet the… chef, owner, hostess, waitress, waiter, etc…
2. Show-and-tell your menu favorites or new additions. Use your chef or most video-friendly waitress, waiter or hostess
3. “Bartender school” – Have your most video-friendly bartender share some common or not-so-common drink recipes
4. A day/night in the life of a… chef, hostess, waiter, waitress, bartender, valet, bouncer, etc…
5. Customer testimonials

If I don’t ever step into your restaurant how will I know what its personality is? Or, how varied and delicious the menu is? Video that highlights your restaurant on your Web site sits me down at one of your tables and makes me want to come check it out.

When I worked in TV news, I helped plan a weekly home and garden segment in a newscast that was year-round, which focused on a variety of services from some popular businesses.

The ideas for a video podcast in this area are endless, but in the spirit of this series I’ll give you five to get you thinking:

1. Have a knowledgable host/employee give advice on topics like spring planting, perennials, annuals, fall preparations, lawn care, etc…
2. Show-and-tell on large yard landscape projects
3. Explain types of trees/plants best suited to your climate
4. Show off holiday decorations
5. Customer testimonials

If your online presence for your nursery or home and garden center is important to growing your business, a regular video podcast that demonstrates your expertise will keep your customers coming back to your Web site – and your store!

These days, none of us take for granted that we have a roof over our heads. We may not really “own” our homes, but they are ours. And how they look, from the outside and inside, is important to us.

Many of you have undertaken building a new home from scratch, or remodeling or completing the home you bought. Others reading this may be looking to make improvements to their homes in order to make it more desirable to a would-be buyer in this buyer’s market.

This post is aimed at the businesses that can do the construction and remodeling work for you, to let them know how vital a video podcast could be to their efforts to convince you that they are the best for your job.

I’m talking here to the both the large builder and the smaller company, and the one-man contractor. Are you interested in a video podcast that would position your business as the expert in home construction or remodeling in your market? Think, “Tim the Tool Man,” only with less mistakes on the job!

Here are five ideas for a video podcast for home construction/remodeling businesses:

1. Show-and-tell your best work, “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”-style. Shoot video from day one on a new build (or a remodeling job) and track the progress from start to finish
2. Show-and-explain how to do common projects, decks, flooring, base boards, etc…
3. Show how to use common and unique or new tools
4. Showcase a new development, reveal the plans for the neighborhood, show off the model home
5. Customer testimonials

The success of TV shows like “Trading Spaces,” “Flip This House,” and “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” prove there’s an appetite for this kind of video.

If you’re skilled at what you do, why wouldn’t you do a video podcast to show future customers that you have what it takes to build or remodel their home?