It may come as no surprise to you that casting agents use social media to find talent, but you might be shocked to know what they are looking for in their expert guests.
I talked to, Sandra Philippeaux, a producer and casting director for well known networks like Paramount and MTV. She gave me what they are looking for straight up and it was no surprise to hear that everything we’ve been preaching for years is exactly what they’re looking for.
Here’s what you've go to do if you want to get booked...
You Have to have a Clear Niche
Nobody got famous by being generic.
You can’t be asked to be an expert on a show if you don’t have an expertise in anything. One way to think about this is what phrase would someone search on google or in TikTok to find you.
Remember this goes beyond demographics and job titles, it’s the cross-section of what you want to talk about, what you are most qualified to talk about, and what people want to hear. The way we help our clients discover their niche is by, you guessed it, posting content!
Social media content allows you to test your ideas with a real live audience. It’s also serves as a virtual resume that lets casting directors to see how you perform, which leads to my next tip...
Create Video Content and Go Viral
Do people actually enjoy watching you? Prove it!
You can't be out here saying you want someone to put you on T.V. when you aren't using the social channels provided to every Tom, Dick and Harry. You've got to bet on yourself and make content with your face at the center. You don't need to look perfect or have on false lashes, but you've got to have the numbers & virality to prove you've got the star power producers are looking for.
People say you never know what’s going to go viral. 90% of our clients have at least one video with 10,000 views or more. It's safe to say, we’ve cracked the code.
So the first step you need to take is:
Be Authentic, Not professional
Professionalism worked in school but it will sink you on social
Producers want to see that you’re comfortable talking about yourself in a way that is fun, engaging and vulnerable. For many of the professional Black women we work with, this is easier said than done because professionalism is a mask they have worn as protection for years. When you are the only person that looks like you in the room, choosing your words just so and controlling your emotions is critical, but it's what holds you back from getting on T.V. I hate to sound like a broken record, but content is one of the ways we work on this. Bonus TIP: Sandra stressed the need to grow into your roles. For example, book a few morning shows to get your feet wet. Here’s our client Sharea Farmer LCSW on her first T.V. spot. We are proud to have helped her book it.
If you’re ready to take your bid for T.V. seriously AND build your own audience on social along the way, book a consult and see if we’re the right fit for you.
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