Most people think that being in the news and entertainment industries equal fame and fortune among other things, but that’s not always the case. There are a few misconceptions that I’m here to squash.
False: If you work in TV, you are rich.
True: Contrary to popular believe, you won’t be making a whole lot of money right off the bat. As a model, there have been times when I’d actually work for free in order to get tear sheets, which are magazine clippings for my portfolio in the beginning of my career. I also took extra roles in how to videos, where I received little or no money in order to gain experience and get credit for union membership.
When I started my career in the news business, I applied for out of state jobs that would pay a twenty something thousand dollar yearly salary. Even though many of these states offered a cheaper cost of living, I still had New York bills. That meant taking any of these positions would probably be a bit of a struggle. Plus, the farther away from New York meant the more costly it would have been to travel back and forth. There have even been times when I’d pay more in travel than I would get paid for the job.
False: Being pretty will get you the job.
True: That may ring true in some cases, but there’s more to it than that. Beauty may get you in the door, but the “it factor” is what will land you a job. In other words, employers like to see that you have something unique to offer. Do you speak multiple languages? Are you multi-talented? I’ve seen people get jobs because they can relate to the people within the market.
For example, you’ll have a leg up in markets like New York City, Miami, Texas, and California if you can speak Spanish. If you’re able to write, produce and report, you’re likely to get the job over a better looking candidate because the station would be able to utilize your skills more. Plus, it would be more cost effective to hire you rather than employ more than person to cover those skills.
False: You need an agent in order to get hired.
True: Not necessarily. Prior to having an agent, I was able to land gigs on my own through research and word of mouth. If you’re just starting out in your news career, you should be able to get work on your own just by going to station websites and apply on line.
With social media the go to avenue for a lot of businesses, some models are being hired from their Instagram photos. Networking is also extremely important when it comes to job search. There are model searches, and all sorts of conferences that can lead to job opportunities. The same rings true for actors. I used to read about castings and open calls in Backstage.
False: In order to work, a company has to hire you.
True: You’d be surprise by the way people are able to forge their own paths these days with the help of social media. Have you ever heard of Necole Bitchie? She wanted to break into the entertainment industry and decided to move to NY to pursue her career, but couldn’t get hired anywhere. So, she started an entertainment blog that led to many job opportunities. Necole was able to leverage her site into making dollars.
False: You need to start in a small market before making your way to a larger market.
True: That was the formula years ago. In fact, I can recall my professor telling me that it would take about ten years to make it back to New York. That may be the case for some folks. However, I’ve managed to remain in the New York market throughout my career thus far. I do think it’s important to explore opportunities, but don’t feel that you have to follow a particular format. What may work for someone may not work for another.
In the modeling world it’s completely opposite. Most models move to larger markets to build their career. I actually traveled to Milan, Italy which is considered one of the fashion capitals. I wanted to test out the market. Since New York was saturated with ethnic women who had my similar look, I thought Italy would have had less competition, allowing me a better chance at getting jobs.
When it comes to acting, most peeps move to either New York City or Los Angeles. Both places are the go-to-cities for getting roles in movies and TV shows. But, most people interested in theater go to NY.
False: It’s glamorous working in the news and entertainment industries.
True: Have you seen any of my storm coverage posts? Basically, my colleagues and I couldn’t leave the confines of our news station because the bridges and roads were shut down because of Sandy. So, we had to sleep at the station. It’s actually pretty fun having slumber parties with my buddies, but I wouldn’t consider it glamorous.
Some people are also surprised when they hear that some reporters have to shoot, edit, and write news stories. They’re referred to as one-man-band reporters or multi-media journalists (MMJ). It’s not easy doing all the work and look cute at the same time, especially working in extreme conditions. But, there are a lot of people who make it look easy.
Back in my modeling days, being a video vixen was a sought after gig. But what a lot of folks don’t know is that those video shoots sometimes lasted all day and night. Also, going on go-sees (casting calls) isn’t as glamorous as you think. It can actually become exhausting. Being a model may also mean a whole lot of traveling abroad and living out of your suitcase. If you’re in a model apartment, you’re probably sharing it with a bunch of other models which can get pretty crowded.
As far as acting is concern, some people see the way stars like Brad Pitt, Will Smith, and Halle Berry live and believe that’s what being an actor is all about. But there’re a lot of people out there who are waiting tables and practically homeless hoping for a call from Hollywood.
This post isn’t meant to discourage anyone from trying to breaking into the news or entertainment industry. I just want to shed some light and put an end to some misconceptions. If you want a job in any of these fields, you have to ask yourself why? Do you eat, sleep, and breathe news? Do you enjoy putting on plays and act out scenes? Do you love writing? Do you follow fashion and modeling? If you just want to be rich and famous, you may want to reconsider your career goals.
If you really want it, then go for it! You may start off broke. But if you are committed, the money and fame will eventually follow.
I also talk about this topic in my Talent Series on Periscope. If you haven’t already signed up for Periscope, you should! Please be sure to follow @weatheranchorma.
