We can visit you at any time. But, in general, a BFBS filming visit is usually more successful when it's tied in with a families Sunday lunch or a weekend or evening Bar-B-Q. It works for the simple reason that there's lots of partners and children around, and most seem willing to record a greeting.

  That said, if your unit isn't planning a families event in the foreseeable future, we can still come and film. The best time is a weekday late afternoon/evening, usually from 4pm to 8pm. Ish! It means that children are back from school and mums, girlfriends and other loved ones are home from work.

  Please give us a bit of notice, say two or three weeks from contacting us to the visit itself. This is important for the next tip.

  Advertising. It will help enormously if you could put word out by advertising the event in your unit's newsletter, Welfare Office or HIVE. And if you have two or three weeks notice this should give you time to do this. Also, drop us an email and we can send you our BFBS logo which you can use in any literature you produce. (You'll be surprised at how many wives and girlfriends turn up unaware that they are going to be filmed or that the message will be broadcast on BFBS Television.)

  We need a quiet room to film the messages; to record in a large hall with a Sunday lunch going on in the background would be too noisy and intrusive. Please don't put us in a corridor or broom cupboard! (If it's taking place on a summer's day, we can happily film outside.)

  Have a think about the backdrop behind the person giving the message. A filing cabinet or peeling wallpaper isn't ideal. Try to find us somewhere half decent or maybe grab a plant and regimental picture from somewhere. Of course Christmas Messages are perfect with a tree and plenty of tinsel!!

The messages themselves are actually quite short and brief; usually about twenty to thirty seconds. Basically, it's a 'hello, message and goodbye!'. Unfortunately, we can't film greetings that might be a minute or two in length. There's no need to script anything beforehand; impromptu ones work the best. Of course, if a little girl wants to show daddy a picture she's drawn as school, that's absolutely fine.

We will ask parents and adults to sign Release and Consent Forms. This is necessary as we are filming children, although we actually get everyone to sign them even if there are no children present. But don't worry: you won't be signing away your house or car!

Just so you know, we also film messages to families living overseas from serving personnel in theatre. If one of our reporters is out in Iraq or Afghanistan, they will offer to record some there.