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WHAT BEING A PRESENTER MEANS
You will be introducing and hosting programmes, reading the news or interviewing people, working on national, regional and digital channels, I will cover the types of presenting and channels in more detail later in this section. There is celebrity status attached to this career, as well as high earnings, but the competition for these jobs is very strong. There is no 'set in concrete' way of getting into this industry, so the first step is just getting in. Later in this advice section you will find details of places where you can get experience, like hospital radio, however a specialist knowledge of a subject is a definite help. The key attribute will always be a great personality coupled with an out-going approach to life. Of course there is always the classic line too, "I was in the right place at the right time". Overall you must stay focused, be determined and be ready for lots of hard work selling your ability.
THE UNIVERSITY IN THE CORNER OF YOUR LIVING ROOM
You can start your career very easily, just watch tv, tune into the radio, as observing presenters in action is a very useful tool, you can watch their on-screen techniques and see how they use their personality or their expertise to make you like them. It also helps you to judge 'what Not to do' as well.
FIRST, YOU NEED AN AGENT! REALLY, SO WHO TOLD YOU THAT?
Most newcomers before entering the industry think that getting an agent is an important first step, however the real truth is that presenter & voice agents tend only to take on individuals who have a reasonable amount of presenting and or voice work under their belt, This doesn't mean its impossible, but you would be better off approaching agents later when you have some proof that the industry will pay to see and hear your work, this is essentially why Presenter Promotions are here; offering the services that can get you seen and heard by the industry decision makers. There could be fame and fortune ahead, but tread carefully as not everyone will think what you want to do is right for them, their programme or production. Indeed, many producers will not entertain anyone who doesn't have a promotional Showreel or Voice Demo.
SOMETHING TO REMEMBER
It's important to remember that there are no magic answers, as I said, this is a high competition - high rejection rate industry. There's no promises, no guarantees, and yes, you can easily earn £1,000 a day and become a recognised personality, but the road there will not be easy. You must prepare yourself in positive way to stand some ground. There are no hard and fast rules, but certainly if you are just starting out, don't approach an agent thinking they can help, because they want to see you working and earning money first. So think carefully before you make any step in this direction.
WHAT PROGRAMME MAKERS LOOK FOR
Natural presenting talent is a must, as is having a personality that is appealing to the type of programmes you might want to present. Producers love presenters who's personality 'gets through the glass', or have a personality that is unique and different to the rest. There is no doubt that uniqueness is paramount, as is an expert knowledge of the area or programme type. You must constantly show enthusiasm, be easy to direct and be able to take direction too.
THE PRESENTERS SHOWREEL
It is generally accepted that no new presenter can get their foot in the door without a showreel. It is essentially a short sequence of clips that show your true ability as a presenter. Ideally it should be under 5 minutes long and show your uniqueness, your personality and on-screen presence. It must be different and portray your special presentation style. Presenting on a showreel that looks identical to everybody else's reel will not help you at all. Presenter Promotions offer a FREE consultancy service held in London to chat about what you might need. There's no obligation and it could save you time and money in the long term. Please take a look.
VOICE TRAINING & THE AUDIO DEMO
Any new voice artist will need a voice demo that shows the range of their voice ability. Three to Five minutes is an average length, but make it interesting and enjoyable to listen to. Put your strongest material at the start as most producers will listen to 20 seconds and decide if they are likely to switch it off or carry on listening. Presenter Promotions can help you create a demo.
THE PRESENTERS EAR-PIECE (TALK-BACK)
When you work in a studio, you will most likely need to wear an ear piece, these made-to-measure devices fit inside your ear, enabling you to hear the directors cues both discreetly and comfortably. These earpieces are moulded to fit precisely and securely within your ear. There are two types of talk-back that you could encounter, Open and Switch. Open talk-back means you will hear cues and chatter from the entire control room, this is not something that a new-comer can usually handle. While switch talk-back is basically where the only cues you will hear are those aimed at you on the studio floor. If you want to find out more about getting your own ear-piece manufactured please see further information on our Ear-Piece page on this site.
AUTOCUE & TELEPROMPTERS
If you are going to progress with your career there is bound to come a time when you will be asked to read from an Autocue or a teleprompter machine. This are a unique device that projects the words of the script onto a special screen in front of the camera, that only the presenter can see. Being able to read from an autocue has become an important skill that should not be under-estimated. It is quite likely that if you audition for a television company they will already assume that you have used a prompter before, so be prepared and ideally get some experience first, you won't regret it. See our Autocue Training Course for more info.
JOB INTERVIEWS
Doing well at an interview is plainly very important and it has been proven that around seventy per cent of applicants perform poorly at interview, with obvious results. For a bulk of these people quite simple mistakes were made. Before any interview research the company and its work, this will ensure that you come across confident, well-organised and motivated. Always allow lots of time to get to the interview and plan your route and how you will get there. Make sure you have prepared any material in advance and that you are able to talk about the job you are applying for and always have the answer as to why YOU are the perfect person for the job. Arrive to the interview in plenty of time, dress appropriately as first impressions always count in this industry, give the interviewer total attention and try to stay completely focused in answering any questions that are asked of you. Always be clear and concise in your replies and don't be afraid to ask your own questions when given the opportunity. Be positive about your own abilities and if you cannot answer a question, just say so.
CARE OF YOURSELF AND YOUR APPEARANCE
It's important in this industry not to loose sight of the things that really matter, your appearance DOES. Look at all aspects, for example your hair, does it suit the shape of your face, should it be longer, shorter or even a different colour. Your skin is equally important too, make up can do wonders, but care of your skin is very important, always get advice from specialists and make sure any products you use are right for your own particular type skin type. Bad skin problems like acne should be sorted by a visit to your doctor. Your teeth are one part, that are often scrutinized by the viewers, so nice white teeth, say a lot. there are a number of teeth whitening kits out there, but talk to your dentist and let them advise you. Another important area which needs attention is the clothes that you wear. You should always wear the clothes that suit the programme area you want to present in.
AUDITION GUIDANCE FOR NEW TALENT
There's two types of audition that you might end up attending, there's open auditions that can be very crowded and you might have to queue and get very little time to perform. Then, there's audition by invite, generally a producer is most likely to call you to this type of audition to evaluate your potential and ability. Presenter Promotions find out about new auditions and these are included in our weekly mailing. There's a few things you should always do and first is the research, what type of programmes have they made before, what are they expecting from you, are there names and places that I should know like the back of my hand and always, always appear keen and give the impression like this job will be everything to you. You should already have some understanding of what type of programme or show it will be, so dress appropriately. You are most likely to get a script on the day (probably when you arrive) so make sure you read it aloud a few times and familiarise yourself with the script before your audition. If there's no where obviously private, you can always step outside for a few moments. When you go in, be positive, introduce yourself to everyone, if there's an Autocue, talk to the operator about any points where you my ad-lib, and to the cameraman, ask what type of shot it is, that way you will know how much room you have for your performance. Generally most people are helpful and understand that you might be nervous, but a little conversation goes a long way. If you do make a small mistake, just carry on, if you completely screw it up, you can always ask to do it again, it has worked on many occasions. It always worth having a couple of your own audition pieces in your mind, just in case they want more of you, and anyway auditions are usually short notice and that way you are prepared at whatever the notice.
YOUNG PEOPLE ATTENDING AUDITIONS OR VOICE CASTINGS
If you are young and don't have a great deal of experience please don't put yourself in a vulnerable position, tell a relative or someone you live with where you are going (the exact address), who you are meeting and when you are returning. Ideally take a sensible friend to castings or auditions if you feel unsure. Any genuine company or organisation will not mind and remember you have the right to say no! Do not allow yourself to be pressured into signing contracts on the spot, you should never sign anything without reading it and understanding the fine print.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
They say that practice, makes perfect, something I agree with. There are few places where you can practice being a presenter, but the most obvious is reading a book out aloud, this can help with many things including intonation, phrasing and timing. Another little trick that can help you is to try to memorize a paragraph or two, then read it in front of a mirror or a home camcorder. You can then try (using a stopwatch) presenting the sequence within a time limit.
WORKING WITH MICROPHONES AND RECORDING YOUR VOICE
Firstly, remember to speak into the microphone. This may seem rather obvious, but you would be surprised at the number of people who have difficulties doing it! When reading from a script it is very easy to end up looking directly at the script and speaking over or across the microphone. This results in a thin sound that will do your finished recording no justice.
WHAT ARE PLOSIVES?
These occur when a high air pressure is suddenly released from behind the lips, when close to a microphone. For example, when a 'B' or 'P' is pronounced. This sudden burst of air pressure produces a transient that translates into a loud audio 'pop'. Although these can be reduced by the speaker, to remove/reduce them, a 'pop' shield is placed between the the speaker and the microphone.
THE PROXIMITY EFFECT
This manifests itself as an increase in low frequency response as the distance between the sound source and the microphone diaphragm decreases. Basically, the closer you are to the microphone, the warmer you will sound. This can be used to good effect if the piece needs an intimate voice with tonal depth. A distance of 3-4 inches gives a good warm sound, whereas 6-7 inches will allow a more natural tone to be recorded.
DROPPING IN
This allows a portion of a script to be re-recorded over an existing section. For example, a four paragraph script has just been recorded. It is perfect, except for a small mistake in the last paragraph. By dropping-in at the end of the third paragraph, it is possible to re-record the last paragraph onto the end of the successful section. To allow drop-ins to be successful, it is important that you are in the same position, relative to the microphone, throughout the whole script - i.e. for both the initial read and the drop-in. It is therefore worth remembering the position that you were in between the various takes. This ensures that the tone of your recorded voice remains consistent throughout the script. Even slight position changes can upset the tonal effect of the recorded voice.
NEED HELP TO WRITE SCRIPTS?
When writing scripts, the following should be noted:
1) Sentences should be short and punchy.
2) Paragraphs should be brief and easily understandable.
3) Vocabulary and grammar should be suited to speech and not be evaluated within a written context. After the script has been written, it may be beneficial to highlight key words to enable you to recognise quickly where added emphasis is required.
WHEN READING A SCRIPT
When reading a script, the following should be noted:
1) Keep the delivery enthusiastic at all times.
2) Emphasise key words so that the listener does not need to concentrate too hard to enable the important information to be easily extracted.
3) Diction should be clear and accurate. Although regional accent is acceptable, sloppy diction is not.
4) Use inflection to guide the listener through the piece. An intonation rise at the end of a sentence tends to suggest a continuation of the current paragraph, whereas a drop usually signifies a paragraph end.
5) Allow your own personality to show through the script. Do not try to imitate another voice or personality.
6) Stay relaxed and in control of the script. Tenseness can raise the voice pitch to an unnatural high and can also upset the overall flow.
7) Remember the audience - whether its one person, or a crowd! Most voice work requires an intimate 'one person' audience. So, try to picture an image of someone that you are broadcasting to, as this will help you focus your talents to the right area.
8) Above all don't try to be a broadcaster! Being yourself is of the utmost importance.
VOICE EXERCISES & RELAXATION TECHNIQUES
There's some down-loadable exercises and relaxation technique PDF's on our Voice demo page that will help relax your voice before you go into a studio.
PRESENTER COURSES & TRAINING
There are many courses out there, my best advice is to talk with them, meet them and ask to see what they have done before. Most newcomers do courses because they assume the finished showreel at the end of the course will be good enough to sell them, it rarely is and often will do you an injustice. Do you really think that a producer wants to see you learning to do the job? As I said above, you are an individual, so your showreel should be too. The best advice is to go to one organisation - just for the training and then find a showreel production company to advise on a showreel, this way your showreel will not look like the last persons and other previous course participants. Indeed, this is a common poblem too, as many producers have said that when they see a certain scene they know exactly what they will see and for some of them, what will be said. This type of showreel may then not be viewed fully by the producer and consequently eliminating you from the job or casting.
If you are intending to attend a course check things like the length of the course, who teaches, the cost, number of people on each course, what is the success rate and find out if you can speak to previous course participants. Overall, there is only so much that can be taught on a course as numbers and time always work against you. By the way there is no-one on this earth that can teach 'talent', so look for trainers who will really teach you the best technique, offer realistic feedback and tell you where you are going wrong, as this will help you to continue learning even when you finish the course. Go in with the questions you need answers to. One of the biggest problems is courses can be expensive and if don't know if you are cut out to be a presenter, then you could waste hundreds of pounds. Presenter Promotions run a taster course, that is inexpensive, but gives you a more defined idea of how you need to progress. It gives you a chance to be a presenter for the day, to see if you like it. We offer honest opinions, and one to one tuition with loads of advice and tips to improve your presentation ability.
Your showreel is your passport to getting an interview, or your next job, so cutting costs here is a kiss of death to your future career. Remember you want the person viewing your demo to continue watching, so don't make it easy for them to press the stop button. If you are unsure of a companies reputation, please feel free to contact us at Presenter Promotions. We have an excellent grapevine and are always hearing about who does a good job and who doesn't!
AGENTS
As I said earlier no agent is likely to take you onto their books until you have some work under your belt, so be warned that you are very likely to get a frosty reception if you send an agent a training reel. Its best to get out there and sell yourself at first to small digital channels or video producers (See our Contact File), then go to an agent with some credits to your name, it usually does the trick as they like to know that you have already earned money in the industry. It makes you much more sellable and with agents it is all about money. It can be said that with the right experience a presenter can achieve great heights when coupled with the right agent. Alas, this is not the case for everyone, most agents will not consider taking a presenter on, if they cannot prove their worth. A great showreel or voice demo is useful in this situation. If they like your reel and have room on their books, you then have a chance to say to people "Talk to my Agent". Meanwhile, when you are first starting out the best advice is to get as much experience as possible, most agents respond better to those with paid work under their belt, they will then know that the industry will pay to see you perform. This way you can walk into an agents office and feel confident that whatever job is offered to you, you can handle with ease. Agents do come into their own when it comes to negotiating for money. If you get offered a job and are unsure what to ask for then get a business minded family member to negotiate on your behalf. Sometimes Casting Directors are employed to supply a certain type of presenter who fits the bill of a programme or broadcast, this includes presenters and voice artists for television productions, films, commercials, corporate productions and radio programming.
CONTRACTS
At some point you will be in the position where you need to sign your life away! A contract, it could be between you and a company for work or between you and an agent. Always, always always read it, then read it again, then let someone who you trust read it too. In this industry there will never be a shortage of people who want to pull the wool over your eyes, rip you off, take your money and run or any combination of the above. Just remember where you read this, as I hear many stories from unfortunate individuals who have suffered. The key is to step carefully, don't rush in too quickly and keep a cool head until you are certain this is the right deal for you. Also, if its an agency contract, make sure there isn't a clause that allows the new agency to take money from work that you find yourself. It might sound strange but it crops up an a regular basis.
PLACES WHERE YOU CAN KICK-START YOUR CAREER FOR FREE:-
I mentioned earlier about places where you can get more experience as a presenter and voice artist.
HOSPITAL RADIO
Ideally you should get as much experience as possible as a presenter. A good place to start is your local hospital radio station, they always need help and would be very pleased to get someone as enthusiastic and determined as yourself. You will learn a lot there, ad-lib for one, microphone technique, talking to people on-air and of course being an on-air personality! Many a well known presenter started their career here. Dale Winton, Noel Edmonds, Philip Scholfield, Gloria Hunniford are some good examples. If you want to find your nearest station check out this site: Hospital Radio Association.
LOCAL CABLE TV CHANNELS
Another opportunity may be to see if your local cable TV station has any local programming going on. They would most likely use volunteer presenters and voice artists. The biggest problem you may encounter is the need for a demo that shows what you are like in front of the camera or behind the microphone, in fact you will be lucky to find anyone who will entertain seeing you without one.
WORK EXPERIENCE
If you are fairly young you might do well by just simply contacting your local radio station. They rarely say no, particularly if someone is offering a spare pair of hands! Don't expect to get on air, but you will see how a station works and find out how to forward your career in radio and the media industry in general.
HONESTY
Its always best to be honest and frank about this industry, so please do not think that anyone is trying to put you off, but this business is very hard work, it takes time, perseverance and stamina and that's just to get your foot in the door! So do not expect an easy ride, but as a general rule determination always pays off in the end! The industry looks very glamorous from the outside, which is why it attracts lots of people when the jobs come up, but don't let that put you off. If you are the sort of person who can't stand being rejected, then this is NOT the right business for you to be in, its full of rejection and sometimes very little praise.
SO WHERE CAN YOU FIND WORK IN THE UK?
The key to finding work (apart from having great talent) is really about how good you are at selling and networking. There are a number of places to explore, but always be realistic with your ability, and climb the ladder slowly with the guarantee of reaching the top. Running before you can walk never really works out, as many a failed new-comer has found out to their own disappointment. If you want a weekly list of current job vacancies you should check out The Presenters Club.
TYPES OF PRESENTING & JOB ROLES:-
A slightly more in depth look at what's needed to work in these areas of the industry.
WORKING IN CORPORATE & PROMOTIONAL VIDEO
The Corporate and Promotional Video Marketplace is an area where they will take a chance with a newcomer. If you have a good showreel then this area of the industry could offer you your first break and maybe paid work. Likewise the new Satellite and Digital TV stations have helped launch many new presenters & voice artists, so these too should be on your list to mail your material to. This is a great area for you to start approaching with your CV & Showreel. These companies are all in a position to help you achieve your goal. It's a good starting ground because there's usually more time available during shooting and voice dubbs. Consequently, If an error occurs it is easily re-shot or re-recorded! Working in this area will help you to learn your trade and also give you lots of additions to your showreel or voice demo. It is also worth remembering that some of these companies are now producing programming for the major T.V. networks. If you send your showreel to a company if you send it unannounced is also wise to include a self-addressed envelope if you want it returned.
HOLIDAY CAMPS, RED OR BLUE COATS & CRUISE SHIPS
There has been many a presenter who started their career at Holiday camps like Butlins and Pontins. Des O'Connor, Shane Ritchie and Tom O'Connor are three great examples. It gives you a chance to learn the trade whilst doing the job and teaches you how to work in live situations with large audiences. Working as a 'redcoat' (so called because of the jackets Butlin's entertainment team members traditionally wore) is an acknowledged route into the industry - many famous names have started out that way, however its hard work, you'll need to have lots of physical and mental stamina and good communication and social skills. You might be compereing or choreographing a show, devising competitions for children, bingo-calling, organising outdoor and indoor games etc. Working on a cruise ship can be hard work too, it has the added bonus that you travel a bit more and meet a wider range of people. The work is much the same as red coats, however you should be much more multi-skilled.
AUDIO PRODUCTIONS & COMMERCIALS
Companies who produce commercials or similar audio products like message on hold services are also good starting points. This can range from voicing a radio commercial to becoming the voice behind the station ident or maybe you will be the recorded voice on-line for the many telephone advertising companies. Ideally, to get their attention they will need a voice demo that contains samples of your past work or maybe a specially produced demo. If you don't have one and would like to know how to go about obtaining a demo, then visit our training pages on this site.
PRESENTING ON THE MAJOR TELEVISION NETWORKS
The BBC, ITV, C4 & Five. Network television is by far the most difficult area to break into, the competition is always very tough and if you are able to get an audition for one, you can guarantee sharing the queue with some well known names and faces! But don't be put you off, many a producer has gone for a confident newcomer. Another area of network television that recruits presenters is the presentation department, they always need voices for trailers and promotional items, they also need continuity announcers to link the programmes. These come in two types, in-vision and out of vision. The later is more common, In-vision is used mainly at night or on Children's TV. If you do get auditioned and offered the job you won't have trouble finding an agent either. The biggest problem you will encounter is finding out where and when these top jobs are available, an agent (if you have one) should find out where they are happening, otherwise it's down to ringing around on a regular basis and keeping your ear to the ground. You can of course subscribe to The Presenters Club, which gives a weekly breakdown of all presenting work currently on offer.
PRESENTING NEWS TRAVEL & WEATHER
The news and weather are two of the most regular items on television. Most newscasters know 'news' inside out and have a good background in Journalism. Newscasters all tend to work up from reporting grades, many of these are recruited from local radio news departments. You must have good writing skills too. If you want to be a newscaster get a job on a local newspaper, work through local radio and then to a regional TV news department. The weather is similar story although, we always feel that weather presenters don't know what the weathers doing, believe me they all have to know the weather inside out! All weather reporters have been trained by the Meteorological Office in Bracknell. Presenter promotions get lots of tv & radio journalistic type jobs and weather presenting vacancies, which appear in our weekly job mailing.
PRESENTING ON DIGITAL, SATELLITE, CABLE & INTERNET TELEVISION
Digital, Satellite, Cable & Internet tv are some of he latest companies to the industry. Generally the presenters they use are quite 'new faces' to television, this is with some exceptions to the 'named' personalities who may appear on these channels. These companies are always ready to greet & help newcomers, in fact your showreel will be given a much better reception too. As with terrestrial television they also need continuity announcers, promotional voices and hosts for their game and magazine shows. Internet TV is also starting to take off too and with it comes unique programmes, these all need presentation and voice staff. Presenter Promotions get regular job vacancies from these companies, they appear in our Weekly Job Bulletin.
VOICE-OVER WORK
The world of voice-overs can be a lucrative market if you can break into it. Most of these companies will readily listen to your demo and make comment. Some will put you on their books, what this means is when a client asks for a certain type of voice, the agency let them hear all the voices in that style! If yours fits 'hey presto' your in, if not it can be a long wait, but don't get disheartened your break will come probably when you least expect it. You may find some companies reluctant to accept your demo because you don't have enough experience or sound like a beginner or quite simply they do not have the resources to handle more voices, if this happens suggest to the company that they keep you on file for future voice selection. If you want to explore the voice-over marketplace you should look in the Voice Training pages on this site for lots more information and advice. If you already have a demo, but cannot find the work, then our Presenters Club lists regular voice-over vacancies every week.
TV CONTINUITY WORK
You will all have heard these type of links. . . "And tonight on BBC 1", "The sparks are flying around Jerry Springer, thats next!". All television channels have continuity announcers who link the programmes. This is a specialised job and can be very rewarding too. If you want to explore this area of the industry you will have to have a demo containing your links. These cannot be copies of what you have heard already, as ALL Continuity Announcers WRITE their OWN scripts. If you cannot do this then it will be an up-hill struggle to get established. If you are interested in being a continuity announcer, then check out our Continuity page of this site for more information on getting a professional continuity demo, where you will be produced by Network ITV's announcer David Mitchell.
AUDIO BOOKS
Audio books or as they are more commonly known 'Talking Books'. This is by far one of the most difficult areas to crack, the work almost always seems to go to very well known names, who have done hundreds of titles before. However, there are many companies who use newcomers and will listen to your demo, pass comment if necessary, and keep your demo on file for future reference. This is not a rare situation, so long as you make sure your demo contains the right material. Do not send them a demo that contains radio commercials as this will not tell them what they need to know. A good voice demo for promoting yourself in this area will contain just your voice with maybe one or two sound effects and maybe a little theme music in the background. The recording should be around 5 minutes in duration and show different styles of reading and character voices.
MULTIMEDIA & INTERACTIVE CDs & DVDs
There are many companies who produce interactive DVDs or similar multimedia applications. This is an expanding industry and they know that a professional voice or presenter within their presentation can do wonders. Often it is just voices that they need, however they do use presenters who present the whole event. So send a demo or showreel that they can keep on file for future reference, the more varied the better.
PRESENTING ON INDEPENDENT RADIO
Independent Radio has launched many a famous presenter, they tend to be more adventurous than their BBC partners in Local Radio. They expect that you will have a great music knowledge, with a good personality and voice to match. Most of those recruited have some radio experience behind them, either in Cable Radio, Local RSL Radio stations, Hospital or Shop Radio, some have started out by simply presenting traffic reports. We have a full list of independent radio stations in our Contact File. It's also worth pointing out that many of the local independent radio stations have volunteers working at the station. It is an ideal way of getting your nose in the door and seeing what is available. Programme Controllers are usually happy to listen to demos and give opinions, so they are worth pestering. There is never a shortage of Radio job vacancies on our weekly job list.
PRESENTING ON BBC RADIO
As you will know there are lots of BBC Radio Stations - both national, regional and local. The Managing Editors of these stations tend to look for those individuals who are at home with lots of speech work and can handle interviews with ease. Often, they choose people who have news experience, journalistic qualities and alike, although many have worked their way up the ladder by starting as a reporter for the station. BBC Local Radio have a very strong following and lots of volunteers working with them, maybe if you really want to work at a local BBC radio station you could offer your services? Don't expect to go on air, but who knows what might happen in the following months.
CORPORATE & AFTER-DINNER SPEAKING
It is usually accepted that you will have a good deal of experience to offer and an ability to control and present in 'live' situations. Many artists make a career from 'Speaking' however, it isn't as easy as it appears. You will often be expected to know the background of a company like the back of your hand, as often you will be representing that company on the stage and almost appearing to know personally all of the companies management and staff. You must be good with names and have an excellent memory for faces and events. Agencies will only be interested in you, if you are offering something 'special' in the way of 'knowledge' or 'professional' background.
OTHER HELP THAT YOU MAY NEED DURING YOUR CAREER:-
Just in case you get stuck for an answer, heres some more advice
GETTING COPIES OF SHOWREELS/VOICE DEMOS
There will come a time when you need copies of your showreel or voice demo. The immediate temptation is to either borrow your friends machine and do VHS copies yourself, or burn CD/DVD copies on your computer, it saves money, but the quality and maybe your presentation may suffer. There is nothing that says more about you when a well presented package is sent to a producer or director. Many producers will get fed up watching a showreel if the picture breaks up or the sound is distorted or low level, it puts the concentration on a duff tape instead of your performance. The same goes for PC disks that don't run on Macintosh computers, you could be putting yourself in a position where you are not seen, simply because you can't be seen! Need I say more? To help get the best image make sure you copy from an original or digital master. If you want a good price ask for over 50 copies. We can duplicate both CDs and DVDs and also VHS's from your master tape or disk, see our Duplication page for full details, which also includes handy artwork templates for disk and cover artwork.
PHOTOGRAPHS
As a presenter, you will want anyone who you haven't yet met to think, "you look great". You cannot do this without good clear photos that really say..." This is Me!" Choose your photographer carefully, try to see their work first and check things like how much experience the photographer can offer in the area you want to work, are contact sheets supplied or are they digital images, will they be colour or black & white? How many photos will you take during the session, how long will it take for me to receive the finished prints? Who owns the copyright? (which is very important, as you may need to ask permission everytime you use the photos). Take your time to choose the right person as its your personality that needs to be seen so you must feel that who-ever you choose will capture your unique personality perfectly. There's a sample of images on our Photographers page, see what you think.
REPROS & PUBLICITY
When you have finished prints choose the ones that most represent YOU and get some repros made from them. Repros are litho printed versions of your photos and from a cost point of view are good value for money! There's no point in sending photos to a production company and then asking for it back. You need them to keep your photo so they can refer to it at a later date! If you need some produced look at our Repros page for more information.
YOUR CURRICULUM VITAE (CV)
If you put your own CV together remember to keep it short, sweet and to the point. Long CV's get a bit tedious, if you can read it in just under a minute then its about right. Try to focus your CV to the company you are sending it to, for instance if you want to work as a children's presenter send a big and bold CV so that it has impact and a young appeal, likewise if you are applying for a serious news position or corporate video then make it more formal and relevant, also including information that they would like to see. If you are very new you won't have much to say, so best to put together a short profile of yourself, rather than an in-depth CV type list. If you are really stuck and don't know where to start, we can help with our CV or Profile Production service.
DIARY SERVICES
There are companies who will keep your diary for you and take telephone messages, when you are working. They do charge a fee, but if you don't have an agent they are the next best thing. I recommend that you make contact and check out who could cater for you the best. When you start to get busy you will probably wonder how you ever managed without them.
NEED MORE HELP OR ADVICE?
Then please feel free contact us where we will do our very best to give the best advice we can.
© 2006-2012 Colin Cobb/Presenter Promotions. All rights are reserved. Unauthorised copying, reproduction or transmission of this information may not be made without written permission. Any unauthorised act in relation to this information may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
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