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Want to be a presenter- help!

14 replies

KingCatMeowInSpace · 04/08/2020 23:35

My son wants to be a tv presenter - talks non stop about it - anyone offer any advice or words of wisdom about what I should advise him to do - he's halfway through high school.

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omg35 · 04/08/2020 23:38

He likely needs to be in stage school and have been there for a while. Can he see if he can intern at any local stations?

LegoMaus · 04/08/2020 23:45

Stage school. Amateur theatre groups (when they reopen after Covid). Start doing interviews now, via Instagram. Try to get unpaid jobs as a compere or host, even if only for the experience. Make a backup plan because it’s difficult to be successful as a presenter.

june2007 · 04/08/2020 23:55

Perhaps go into journalism. May be worth writting to tv companies see if they do work experience days/placements and also find out what they are looking for.

brushandmop · 05/08/2020 00:02

I would recommend he joins debating classes and anything that could help him with public speaking. If there is a broadcasting school, that would be a good start.

A lot of television presenters start in kids tv. Then move onto other areas when they are older.

janinlondon · 05/08/2020 09:52

What sort of presenter? The routes are myriad....

CorianderLord · 05/08/2020 14:27

Then he needs to go into either acting or broadcast journalism. It's ruthless to get into though.

blurpityblurp · 05/08/2020 14:33

How old is he? If he’s 16, get him to join Arts Emergency and apply for a mentor.

arts-emergency.org/

Making YouTube or tik-tok videos is a good way to become comfortable in front of the camera and potentially build an audience base.

LIZS · 05/08/2020 14:34

What field? He needs experience, perhaps through school events, maybe drama school or journalism route (both of which are academic first). Or researcher. Ideally with a demonstrable area of passion such as sports. Even getting a foothold is very competitive.

Whiskyinajar · 05/08/2020 15:52

Depends what he wants to present...local radio stations will often offer work experience.

My friend’s MIL is a political editor for the BBC and presents a local news programme occasionally
Her study was journalism though and she also took courses in politics.

PastaAndPizzaPlease · 09/08/2020 11:09

Have a look at GoThinkBig for opportunities. But lots of internships needed - more likely to be in with a chance with smaller local stations/channels to start with. YouTube news or documentary channels as well. Unfortunately will be unpaid to begin most likely so a PT job to save funds for travel might be useful.

Could also look at being a TV extra if there’s anything which films by you.

Would second stage school idea!

Is there a college radio station he could get involved with?

KingCatMeowInSpace · 19/08/2020 16:52

Thanks everyone so far/ he's 14 and would like to do shows like quiz shows or programmes like would I lie to you, task master- light hearted tv I guess you'd say. He does lots of tik tok and YouTube videos but I'm aware that so do most teenagers.

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houselikeashed · 21/08/2020 17:57

Most of the shows you mentioned are hosted by (I think) celebrities. To start off as a presenter on tv, he should be going to a drama / theatre school and taking any experience on offer to perform or record.

It's not the sort of job you fill an application out for. He needs to be forming a network of contacts.

Does Hospital radio still exist? Or start a school radio station at lunch time??

Longtalljosie · 04/09/2020 19:08

University radio certainly exists, and starting a podcast is possible. The best advice I can give is to look at who he admires, and to study their careers together. So for Would I Lie To You, the backbone there is Radio 4 comedy. And the backbone of R4 comedy is stand up or in the case of Victoria Coren, newspapers. He needs to scaffold his career - it’s great to have that as a final outcome but how will he get there? I would suggest BBC local radio as a potential first step (the competition to be a broadcast assistant is fierce though, and many are journalism graduates)

KingCatMeowInSpace · 04/09/2020 22:32

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions - shall look into them all

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