Getting into….. TV Presenting

So becoming a TV presenter is your burning desire. But what kind and how? There are loads of different TV presenters from newsreaders to chat show hosts, T4 to Tomorrow's World. Each presenting style requires different talents.

Where do you begin?

Presentstars!
You are not alone! Thousands of young people want to be a TV presenter. If you thought Popstars was a competition from Hell, then be prepared for more of the same. Making it as a TV presenter can be equally as tough. But TV land is changing. There are more and more TV stations and programmes so the opportunities for wannabe Presenters has never been better. And everyone is desperate to uncover the next BIG THING - the face of TV's future.

So what does it take to become a TV presenter? Talent? Ambition? Contacts? Perseverance? Nerve? Being in the right place at the right time? Plain old luck?

In truth, it's a mix of all of these. There is no golden route to TV Presenterdom.

Do yourself a favour!
Start watching the box. But this time, study the shows that are fronted by presenters. Which type of programmes do presenters work on? How are these put together and how does the presenter fit in? Do they link items together or control the direction of the show? How is Driven different to Top Gear?

How do the presenters 'talk' to the camera? How do they dress? How do they speak? What do they have in common and how do some stand out? How do they take a boring topic and make it interesting and engaging? How do they cope with the unexpected?

The more TV you analyse, the better idea you'll have of some of the key attributes you'll need, different presenting styles, some of the problems…

Practise makes perfect
Although TV presenters differ from show to show, channel to channel, they do share some common approaches and skills. The more of these you are aware of, and practise, the better your style will be and the greater chance you'll have of impressing!

Key things to practise are:

• Reading out loud: Ahhh, the Presenter's saviour… the Autocue. A key skill is reading a script aloud from a computer screen. The trick is to look like it's all coming off the top of your head. Make up your own piece - say, 45 seconds on your favourite film - and practise presenting it as if you were on Moviewatch. Work on talking as if you are having a conversation and not reading from a script. Think about the way your voice sounds, how your head moves and the way your eyes interact with the camera and your audience. Get your friends and family to listen to you and be ruthless in their criticism - and don't take it personally!
• Learn to ad-lib freely: Try deviating from the script- unless you're practising reading the news - you are supposed to be communicating NOT reading. This is a crucial skill when doing live TV. What if the unexpected happens? What if the Autocue breaks down in the middle of your link? You'll need to cope and make the link appear relaxed and seamless.
• Check out the on-screen YOU: Try to get hold of a cam-corder and take at peek at what you look like on camera. Don't be surprised if the lens shows a different image of you than you expected! Compare how you look and act on screen with other presenters. Start by just talking to the camera about yourself. Keep it to 2 minutes and get a friend to give you hand signals at every 30 seconds and count you down the last 10. Practise finishing cleanly and calmly on zero - you'll soon get to know how long 10 seconds really is! Make sure you bring your talk to a natural conclusion rather than stopping dead because you've run out of time. Presenters do this all the time, so it's a great technique to master. If the words dry up, just say what you're thinking. And have fun - it will come across on camera.
• Dress for success: If you want to present pop music shows, then a trendy image will be essential so that you look like you are one of the audience. A serious look is essential for news reading. It can help you to build a rapport. Make sure you feel comfortable and look the part.
• Using props: Try using everyday items when you practise presenting - this could be a photo, brochure, toy…Presenters often use a prop so if you can feel at home talking to camera with any prop, then you're off to a head start.
• Earpieces: Presenters typically wear an earpiece so that the Producer can communicate directly with them. They will speak to you while you are talking which can be off-putting. At least practise wearing an earpiece so you get used to the feel. Think of it as eavesdropping on someone else's conversation. Perhaps wear headphones with the radio on and practise listening and talking at the same time. It's not quite the same as a flustered Producer screaming in your ear to say something, ANYTHING but you will develop a feel for it.
• Interviewing Technique: you can try your hand at interviewing with a friend. Get them to be Robbie Williams or William Hague… or just themselves. Try being serious with one and humorous with another. Work it out beforehand. The golden rule is LISTEN and let your interviewee TALK! You are there to get the most interesting information from your guest and maybe to coax something out of them that they wouldn't normally say. Your questions should be interesting, strong - even controversial! Keep the interview lively - if it's bland, then it's boring.

Last, but by no means least: BE YOURSELF! Don't develop a different personality just for the camera. This is likely to just make you look a fake and unprofessional. And viewers will quickly see through it. Everyone has their own style, so just let it happen - in fact capitalise on it! Smile - enjoy it, have confidence in yourself and let your personality shine through.

Do your research
Which production companies use a lot of Presenters? How is TV changing? What challenges does it face? What kind of Presenters are in demand?

All this will help you understand the TV world better. You can also keep up-to-date with all the TV news by checking out magazines like Broadcast and Monday supplements in the Guardian newspaper.

Getting your Big Break
Some of the big TV channels and production companies run Talent initiatives looking for new faces. They often want to see your showreel to see if you've got what it takes. A showreel is typically 4-5 minutes long showing you at your presenting best. Perhaps talking about yourself, doing a mock interview, a link etc. You can get these professionally made, but they cost. Alternatively you can make your own.

You may also have to audition, which can be a nerve-racking experience. Just go for it - but these are seriously over-subscribed and competition is fierce, so don't be too disappointed if you don't make it. Find out why they didn't want you this time and work out how you could improve.

Train, train...
You might want to get some training in TV presenting skills or TV skills in general - the more you have, the greater your chances. Presenters' courses come in different packages. Normally they include interviewing techniques, voice training, reading autocue and wardrobe advice. Make sure you choose one that gives you a showreel at the end. They do cost - you can shell out anywhere between £60 - £700 with no guarantee that you'll succeed - check out the London Institute for examples.

Few presenters come direct from courses but the good ones will give you useful training, a showreel and insight into what's involved in the biz. They can help - Liz Fraser did a one day course and went on to present for Children's BBC and the Holiday programme. Also, check out the trade organisations like PACT and books like Making it as a radio or TV presenter: an insider's guide by Peter Baker. There are a few organisations like YCTV (http://www.yctv.ort.org) that specialise in training young people in TV. Also your local college and training provider, as well as a growing number of universities, run a variety of TV and media courses from the very theoretical to the highly practical.

T4's Margherita Taylor studied media and communications at university, concentrating on video production. But it was when she entered Search For A Star, run by a Birmingham radio station, that she got her big break.

Make your showreel the best you possibly can so it really shows what a cool and professional Presenter you are when reading from autocue, interviewing, linking items, etc. Then mail it to those programmes and production companies that involve the presenting you want to do, along with a cover letter that illustrates your passion for presenting. Be determined and persistent and you can make it! CBBC's Ana Boulter has been everything from waitress to chemist assistant before sending her showreel directly to the editor of CBBC and landing her dream presenting job.

Agents
You could try and get yourself an agent. Again a showreel will be needed as well as a desire to succeed. If the agent is excited by what they see, they may take you on. But don't be too disappointed if that life-changing phonecall doesn't come. This is a longshot for an unknown aspiring TV Presenter!

Alternatively, you could come up with your own programme idea with - surprise, surprise - you as the frontman. Good TV ideas are hot property, and the more ideas you can come up with, the better. Again, this is a longshot, but it may just work for you.

Gopher it!
Rather than starting as a presenter, you may want to just try getting into TV as anything. Many presenters start as a runner with a production company, expected to do everything and anything. If you're really lucky you'll be paid but expect to turn up for nothing. See it as a learning curve - you can check out how programmes are put together and what the presenter has to do on and off screen at first hand. Make sure you are punctual, enthusiastic and flexible - you want to be on hand when the Presenter is off sick so that you can fill in! But watch out for the exploiters out there - if you're still only making the tea in, say, 6 months time then maybe it's time to move on. T4's Dermot O'Leary worked his way up the TV ladder from being a 'warm-up man' - the person who gets TV audiences in the right mood before a show - to one of the hottest Presenters on TV.

How do you find a production company? Occasionally, they do advertise in the press, but competition will be tough, and you are much more likely to get your first runner job by contacting the company direct. PACT produce a yearly handbook of their production company members which is a good starting point. Also do web searches, check out who is advertising for production staff and offer yourself as a runner. Note down companies that make programmes you watch with presenters you like and send them your CV.

Review all your skills and knowledge and target those production companies that specialise in making programmes that you have particular knowledge in - you will have more to offer them.

Be persistent and don't take no for an answer.

What if you hit a dead end?
Some charities like Greenpeace, the Media Trust and the Big Issue have production arms - offer to work for free as a volunteer. Schools, colleges, universities and community groups often run video projects - volunteer to work on them. You may be able to try presenting. At least, you'll gain valuable experience and skills which make it easier to get that big break. You'll also have something to show other potential employers. You could even approach them with your own idea and see if they will back you?

Maybe an indirect route may work. Think about starting as a secretary, marketing officer, assistant, etc for a big TV channel or production company. Or maybe radio or the Internet is a good starting point. Some charities and community groups that specialise in the media may also be worth checking out like Children's Express and YouthNet. You may then be able to move sideways into that presenting post that you always wanted. You'll also build up valuable contacts within the industry as well as valuable knowledge and skills.

But you could be a secretary for a long time so don't lose sight of where you want to be. Live and Kicking's Katy Hill began working as secretary to the Head of BBC Children's Programmes. Whilst there, she submitted her showreel to the editor of Blue Peter. After getting some direct TV experience with Nickelodeon, she got an audition for Blue Peter, and the rest, as they say, is history!

Finally, be prepared to network. Join groups and clubs, check out Internet discussion groups and mailing lists like Shooting People and Exposure … or start one yourself. The more skills and contacts you can develop, the better.

Goodbye… and see you next week
TV presenting jobs are like golddust. Unfortunately, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of young people chasing a handful of presenting jobs. If you're not mega-lucky and walk or fall into a presenting career - and some do - then be prepared to graft. Work on your technique, skills and contacts. Get experience anyway you can, cultivate contacts and network, network, network.

Be ready for disappointments and rejection. But don't get disillusioned, loads of young people across the country are in exactly the same boat as you. If want to be a TV presenter badly enough and are prepared to work for it, then you might just make it.

by Kiminder Bedi