As Seen on TV... You!
So. You're a food creator and you want to start booking TV gigs? Here's how to do it.
Would you be surprised to hear that I had a speech delay and stutter as a child, AND a horrible case of social anxiety that lasted through high school? I gravitated towards activities where I could be creative and not speak. Like, not speak EVER. Never ever. Naturally, Ballet was the perfect hobby-turned-career for me, and I reveled in the “silent art” of dance for more than 15 years as a professional ballet dancer.
Fast forward to now; I am a food writer, lifestyle creator, floral enthusiast, and shake up a mean cocktail on camera for a living. I teach, talk, and make easy banter with co-hosts on TV as part of my job on a weekly basis. But, how did I get from there to here? More importantly, how can I get YOU, the food creator/writer/photographer amped up and infront of the camera? How about making contact with producers? How to shake off your nerves and show the world just how awesome you are… well, I’ll teach you. If this former-shy-girl-turned-chatty-food-maven can do it, so can you!
Why You Should Book TV Segments and What Types of Content are They Looking for?
Stations are looking for a variety of content and interesting people to share it. It’s a wonderful opportunity to boost your brand and publicity, as well as strengthen your connections within the viewing community. For creators new to the format, I always advise them to start by looking into regional lifestyle programs that feature human interest stories, food or cooking segments, or even stations that share written stories or online features with their viewership. These sort of media opportunities provide free promotion for your business or offerings as well as drive clicks or calls to your website in hopes of receiving even more business.
Segments tend to fall into different categories, such as;
Informative (Example; What to look for in a professional photographer for a holiday shoot? How to incorporate more veggies into your next dinner recipe.)
Entertaining (Example; How to wrangle rowdy kids for a family portrait session, Stories about holiday cooking bloopers.)
Aspirational (Example; Showcasing a tablescape with high end products or explaining how to create a 3 course dinner.)
How Do You Know You’re Ready?
Well, are you an expert in your field? Do you have enough knowledge to pass on to an audience and inspire them to dive into your passion? Do you have a unique point of view that people in your circle are dying to hear about and you think the world could too? Part of knowing if you’re ready to jump into guesting on TV segments is identifying what you specialize in and if the public wants to hear more about it. Waaaaay before you reach out to a producer or program host, figure out what you’re good at and make sure you have that like/trust factor (or sometimes we say, “specialist credibility” in the food blog world) before jumping in. Can you talk credibly on your topic, for at least 4 minutes?
Almost as important as your background knowledge and expertise is articulating and capturing the interest of the host (and through them, the at-home audience) with your skills. Can you create excitement around your recipes or instruction? Can you verbalize the facts and banter in-between? If the answer is a “maybe”, and you want to bring it up to a “YES”, keep reading. I’ll get to my tips for boosting your confidence and your speaking on camera chops.
How to Book Segments without an Agent
This is the most common question I’m asked when I chat with other food bloggers and food creators. There are several ways to reach out and actually be noticed by producers, hosts, and directors, but fundamentally, approach all potential interactions from a place of service. How can I help? What can I offer? Be useful and humble. Here are a few avenues I use to make contact and get gigs on lifestyle and morning shows.
Mine your contacts; Look to your circle and see if you already know someone working on the program or TV station. Maybe your best friend’s brother is a camera guy on Good Morning Austin, or your fellow food creator friend has a name of a producer. Having an organic “in” is very powerful and can help make sure your pitch lands in front of the right set of eyes.
Helpful outreach; Always, ALWAYS, approach potential TV station collaborations from a place of service. How can you help them? An excellent way to make contact with a TV station’s booking person is to follow and then DM the lifestyle or morning program’s instagram account. Keep in mind that not all channels have a dedicated social media director, so you may be speaking to an intern or even a host. Be polite, succinct, and helpful. Explain who you are, what your focus is, and ask if you can help provide them with your expertise. Leave your contact information and sign off. Short and sweet.
Share videos on social platforms and tag them; I share a lot of short form content on Instagram, and I know many also share on Youtube and TikTok. Another great way to catch the attention of show staff is to share relevant content and tag them. If the station’s accounts show interest, follow up with a direct message offering your services.
Getting Comfortable in Front of the Camera
Some people are natural performers and others need a little bit more coaching. It’s alright to be a little intimated by the idea of working and speaking on camera! Just like anything else, the more practice you get, the better you’ll be!
Being a little camera shy is natural. Don’t be put out! Try practicing these techniques;
Start small; Hop onto an Instagram live with a plan to show a recipe or photography tip. Write a script or at least some bullet points to stay on track. The beauty of an IG Live is it’s supposed to be casual! People will pop in and out, comment and interact. Be prepared with enough material to speak for 7-10 minutes. This is a nice way to get comfortable in front of the camera, while also building your confidence.
Be a Guest on a Podcast; I know, I know, podcasts are typically audio only, but they are excellent for practicing your speaking skills and ability to pivot from one topic to another with ease.
Try YouTube; Short form videos, such as a quick recipe demonstration, are all the rage on YouTube. Set up your camera and record yourself. Make sure you are in frame and have a decent audio plan (I like using a clip on mic). The videos can be as savvy or as simple as you want. The key is to get the segments done and dusted. Post or don’t post, you’ll still have a great learning tool at your fingertips.
A Little Highlight Reel of a TV Segment Visit
Thank you to Great Day Connecticut on CBS Channel 3, for having me! See the full segment HERE
Coming Next Week in Part II!
You’ve booked the show, now what? What questions to ask ahead of time.
How to choose the right recipe to showcase?
Planning and Flow; Time savers and that magic of TV moment!
How to utilize your appearance on social media?
Answering your questions (put them in the comments!)!
Me too, Jessie! To overcome a tongue thrust that caused server lisping, I was in speech therapy for 12 years.