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In the Spotlight: Tim Kretschmann of Pageant Cast |
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Tim Kretschmann is a radio show host who has launched TKPN, an Internet radio  network that includes a half-hour weekly program dedicated to beauty pageants called the PageantCast, found online at www.pageantcast.com. The PageantCast has recently celebrated its first anniversary, and Tim has interviewed three past Miss USAs and many other pageant titleholders. The PageantCast continues to bring in new listeners each week.
We turned the tables on Tim and asked him the questions for a change… because inquiring pageant people want to know! Here is our In the Spotlight interview with Tim Kretschmann of Pageant Cast...
PP: How did your podcast “Pageant Cast” get started?
Tim Kretschmann: For 17 years, I was the host of a Milwaukee German radio program called the "Stimmung Stunde." I would interview local German-American clubs and promote local events. One year, I was at Milwaukee's German Fest (an excellent event, I should mention--come see us sometime!) and saw Miss Milwaukee. A friend of me told me that was our local Miss German-American Societies, kind of a county fair type of pageant. I told him he was wrong and, with tape recorder in hand, proceeded to interview her and learn quite a bit about MAO.
I noticed immediately how easily the interview went--pageant participants TRAIN to interview after all! I started having young ladies from local MAO pageants on the radio show regularly to discuss their platforms...but I knew it didn't really fit the format of a German-American radio program.
Then, I discovered podcasting. With the studio I already had in the house and the phone rig I had developed for calling German recording artists for interviews--I went to work. The timing coincided nicely, as well, for a friend of mine was Miss Wisconsin (MAO) and going to Vegas so I could cover Miss America on my trip. That was very exciting!
PP: Have you ever been really nervous before an interview, and if so, with whom?
Tim Kretschmann: I'm always nervous about interviews. You never want to say the wrong thing! I will admit, though, my interviews with Shandi Finnessey, Chelsea Cooley, and Lu Parker (all past Miss USA's) were very exciting and I was a MESS before those interviews. Each of them were fantastic to me and helped put me at ease.
PP: You have a good deal of knowledge about pageants and have spoken with many titleholders. What one piece of advice would you give to aspiring beauty queens?
Tim Kretschmann: Who said I have a good deal of knowledge about pageants? I learn each week that I don't have a clue! I think the only way people really learn about pageants is by being in them--and that is a theme I hear repeatedly in the interviews. Be yourself. Prepare but don't program. Don't worry about the competition. You hear these over and over again in the interviews with successful pageant titleholders. I guess my advice would be to listen to the PageantCast each week and hear from the ladies that have achieved this success and use their advice! (Shameless plug there, but it had to be done!)
PP: Has your view of beauty pageants changed since you began airing “Pageant Cast”, and if so, in what way?
Tim Kretschmann: I'm not sure I had any real preconceptions before getting involved. The first pageant I ever went to live was an MAO local that I was also judging at! I guess my opinion has remained that this is every bit of a sport as football or baseball except when people see an aggressive competitor in this sport, they try to demean that competitor. That's just strange.
The one thing that continues to strike me is how insider pageants are. Take the Miss Wisconsin MAO system for instance. If you check their website, they give you the date of the local pageants, but not the ticket prices, location or times. Why? I think they believe "everybody" already knows. As someone that has recently become a fan, you have to, as directors, make more effort to reach spectators outside of family and friends. Go to a local football game--yes, the parents are there; but so are general "fans." Even the local high school production of "West Side Story" has just regular citizen community support behind it. If pageants are going to survive, they need to broaden this base.
Maybe I have that attitude because I became interested in pageants right when ABC pulled the plug on Miss America, but I think there is some validity there. This is not all the director's fault, either. There are only so many hours in the day. Yes, the director should have all the important information on the flyers and website--but the young ladies involved need to get the word out on the street. Contact the mayor. Talk to the police chief and fire brigade. This one is major: call the local radio stations and newspapers. Most local municipalities have small "Super Saver" type newspapers looking for good, wholesome news to fill their column space between ads for ice cream at the local grocery store. Help them fill it with photo opportunities at appearances and granting interviews. Promote attendance at your pageants! Remember to give the date, time and place whenever you mention the upcoming pageant--never be at a loss for that information. You would be surprised how many pageant competitors forget the time, in particular, of their pageant because they only know when THEY need to be there.
 It's great to sell tickets to your family and friends, but get the community behind you and you have a built-in audience for your events for years to come. Trust me that I push PageantCast at folks that have no interest in pageants much harder than folks already interested in the program. That's viral marketing at its best.
By the way, I'll give all the directors a marketing tip I've used on occasion. This one is free for your readers on PageantPeople.com: if you want more, you need to listen to the show! Go to your local bookstore and find the beauty magazines that young ladies interested pageants will likely read. Particularly if you find "Supermodels Unlimited" or "Pageantry" magazines--this works great. Bring along your flyers and drop them between pages of magazine, just like those subscription cards they always have blown into the magazines. You reach your target audience and get people interested in your pageant. Can you get more targeted than that?
PP: What was the most memorable interview you’ve ever conducted, and why?
Tim Kretschmann: I have to say I've had plenty, but Shandi Finnessey was probably the most memorable because she was my first Miss USA on the show. She was absolutely lovely. We had some real time restrictions with her--we had to do the interview about two weeks before she gave up her crown. She was already being declared one of the better Miss USA's and she was just so easy to talk to.
PP: Tell us about your upcoming plans or projects.
Tim Kretschmann: One thing we are working on is some more "Conference Calls" that may include seminars or reunions. The plan is to put these on and then take portions of the calls for use on the show. We're still working out the logistics of what would work well this way and what won't.
I have a number of trips that I plan on taking this year to cover various pageants. In July, I hope to cover the Mrs., Miss and Teen International pageants again, if they will have me, in Chicago. I also hope to travel down by you guys in Orlando to see the International Galaxy Pageants. In August, I'm going to Beauties of America in Myrtle Beach--that was a highlight from last year and I really don't want to miss it.
In October, I'll be judging in Austin, TX--I'll let you guess what pageant it is!
Tim Kretschmann was the host of a Milwaukee German Radio Program, the Stimmung Stunde, for 17 years and recently retired from that volunteer position. Tim has been a volunteer and participant in many of the largest German-American organizations in the city of Milwaukee (including German Fest), and in 1995 organized a national convention in Milwaukee . In February 2000, in conjunction with his 10th Anniversary in broadcasting, Tim Kretschmann Day was proclaimed in the County and City of Milwaukee.
Most recently, Tim has launched TKPN, an Internet radio network that includes a half-hour weekly program dedicated to beauty pageants called the PageantCast. It can be found online at http://www.pageantcast.com. When Tim isn't broadcasting, he is a Senior Commodity Specialist for We Energies.
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