I help content creators take the hassle out of live content by using the cloud. | Broadcast TD | vMix and Vectar Operator | IATSE | IBEW
Here’s my advice for breaking into live sports television… It’s not easy. Television is a VERY small industry. Do everything you can to get yourself in front of the right people. So how do you do that? Connections matter. Getting to know the production teams is the #1 way to get regular sports work. How do I do it? I started by working regional sports visit shows for 6 years. This was huge, because it put me in front of a lot of different directors across the country very quickly. If you have pro teams in your market, find out who crews the broadcast, then reach out to the crewer. Don’t ask for work or give them your resume, they get these emails daily. Tell the crewer what position you are interested in, then ask them what positions they have the most trouble filling. You need to solve their crewing challenges, otherwise you won’t get much further. Ask if you can shadow someone for a day. This is huge, because you can have conversations with the people you want to work with. If there is a hub studio in your market, or a 3rd party packager(Broadcast Management Group, Rush Media, LMG, etc…) ask to shadow there. If you are in a position to solve a problem when there is an open crew position, you will get hired. Ultimately the director still approves TDs, but other positions like V1 are easier to get by just getting to know a crewer. #careeradvice. #broadcasting #remoteproduction
It’s also becoming a “who you know not what you know”. Get on board with schedulers, technical producers and especially directors (who often have a crew preference). But start at the bottom, shadow and get familiar with the crews (and key people).
Mike Lacey
1w
Lots of times the best ability is availability.
Great advice. Also become good at what you do, but also be a team player who they want to be on their crews. Come in with a great attitude, sometime they want to be around. Those are some long days in the trenches.
I love this advice. Question though. I worked in sports broadcasting in Utah for 6 years and then moved to NW Ohio. I’ve tried for over a year to figure out how to contact the Crewer for the Detroit Pistons and other smaller local companies. I even just went up to the broadcasting truck after a local football game one day but never got a response from the email I was given. How do you suggest finding actual contact info for various brewers in your area? Any advice is appreciated!
Todd Harris
1w
Great Advice. Also NOW HIRING an adjunct professor in Atlanta to teach hands on live production (esports specifically but other live production experience helpful) https://georgiafilmacademy.edu/jobs
Being a stagehand for corporate events can be a stepping stone into sports television. Most importantly, there is almost no barrier to entry.
John Naylor
1w
I find this thinking helpful: Broadcast is a global industry with 1000 jobs and 999 people. Let me know how / if I can help.
Robert Toscano
17h
Insightful
Alex Macleod
1w
This is fantastic advice - couldn't agree more
Lighting Designer at Fullerton Productions
1wThe one thing I can say is. Once you do get a chance . No matter what the job is. Give 100 percent of your effort into it. Once you are done with a task, go up to the person in charge of you and say” I am done that job you asked, what can I do next for you!” You going up to them rather then them finding you will make you stand out. We all started in low level jobs, it’s luck, attitude and timing and your personality that move you along . Some of these you do not control, but some you do.