I think it would be cool to be a radio DJ, or a tv personality. Does anyone here work in media industry?

How did you get into it? Was it hard to find a job and what requirements did you have to have?

 

My wife used to be a Chinese radio news anchorwoman. I'd listen to her on the way home from work

She got into it because she really liked doing broadcasting - Her BA was in Radio/TV Broadcasting, and her MA was in Mass Communication.

It's a tough lifestyle though - you may not get the best time slot (graveyard shift), or you may get assignments that would danger yourself and your crew or assignments that bore you to death. The turnover for pretty faces like yours is also pretty high - unless you have some extremely unique talent or at the top of your game (like Connie Chung or Barbara Walters).

If you want to do it, go for it.

 

I work for a movie company here in Calgary, as head of the special effects department... I know it's not exactly what you're into, but how I got into it was a keen interest in the field, and being at the right place at the right time

 

I also majored in Mass Communication w/ a specialization in advertising. I really wanted to be a copy writer (I was good dammit), but it's really tough right out of college and I ended up working in media sales for the monopoly of the cable sales ad world in NYC. If anything can make you hate advertising, it has to be media sales. Well, a few months later my supervisor recommended that they open a position in the IT group (computers have been my hobby since 8y.o.) and I got the heck out of dodge.

 

Vagabond, where do you work?

I know Colin Cunningham who use to work at CORE and then a few other places after that... lots of people I work with are Canadians as well. I'm down here at ILM.

 

I own SparkReality Productions, subsidiary of 2B Productions, here in Calgary. So far I've only worked on one movie.

 

After I got out of the Navy, I was waiting for school to start, so I could get my B.S. degree, and a friend of mine offered me a couple of days of work striking a set (tearing it down and removing it).

I liked it, and I ended up working in the business for about six years, doing set design and construction, set dressings and props, and paint dept. I was one of only a couple of people that worked the whole job from start to finish.

Everyone that I knew in the business got into it by knowing someone.

I knew nothing about the business, and I had no prior experience, but because I knew someone, I got right in, and they started me at $125/day for 10 hours (it was 1983). When I left the business, I was making around $350/day. The real money is in the overtime, it was HUGE, but that's why so many people burn out on it, like me.

I guess I should also mention that now I get a wonderful sense of personal satisfaction, and many thanks, as well, working in the health care field. The film/TV industry is cutthroat and thankless, for the most part, and not at all glamorous (at least behind the camera).

Get some skills: make-up, hairdressing, wardrobe, carpentry, whatever. Or just apply everywhere as a production assistant (no experience necessary). You'll be an A.D. in no time.

Get out there and meet people. Go to bars and restaurants around the studios. You're a female- use it to your advantage. Unfortunately, shmoozing means a lot. How about moving here to Hollywood? -Good luck!

 

my little sister was behind the desk as an anchor person for the for a korean tv station out in korea and did special reports in the area for cnn for the last 5 years. shes now back in nyc and works for NY1 news as a producer. from what she tells me is that the pay is shit, and the work is even shittier. she had to fight her way all the way to the desk, trampling over people and proving to everyone that she was worthy.

i have another friend who works for sony music and before that time warner, and he's worked with hype williams, mariah carey, wyclef jean, etc.. he's rubbing elbows with celebrities every day, but what does he get? nothing. he's still waiting for his big break to create his own video.

it's a hard industry to get into, and even harder to be successful in. it takes a lot of luck, and i hate to say it but, you need to be amazingly beautiful in the public's eyes.

good luck.

 

I think she's amazingly beautiful

 

I worked for Nationwide Communications, then to Citicasters which became Jacor then Clear Channel Radio for about 12 years. I started out as a board operator during my sophomore year in college then worked my up. I was the Research Manager for Clear Channel Columbus' 5 stations for the last four of those years. I now own an advertising agency in Columbus and I much prefer this side of things.

It's tough to be a personality with the conglomerates. You'll need to start out in a small market which is tough because you'll make no money. Companies like Clear Channel also make their larger market jocks voice track the smaller markets to save money. Then if your lucky or talented enough to move into a large market you'll likely work some odd shifts like overnights or fill-in. Eventually one of the regular daypart people will leave and you'll have 200 people trying for that job.

TV works almost the same way except that you have to also look decent if you are a female.

You really have to have a passion to want to be in this industry. it is very cut-throat with the money being made by the few in the key on-air positions. Support people, weekend anchors and most jocks outside of the top 50 markets make poor salaries. The money is in the sales side. A good sales rep in Columbus can start at $75k and make $120-$150k.

PM me if you would like more info.