Be a TV expert

I've just got back from a meeting with the website designers - Zero One Design. Following the suggestion of an expert who joined findaTVexpert.com recently (Rebecca Page from www.skinaid.org.uk) I'm going to create a landing/home page that is aimed at experts and spells out the benefits of joining findaTVexpert: how it works, the fact that it's run by a TV producer with 15 years experience who understands the needs of the industry, what I do to promote it to the industry (weekly mtgs with TV production companies and updates that get sent out to over 1500 TV researchers, producers, commissioning editors, etc), online PR and marketing, TV tips, links to showreel makers and media training companies, etc. In keep with findaTVexpert.com it will be called beaTVexpert.com. Watch this space!

Success Stories

findaTVexpert continues to do what it set out to do: help experts get onto the industry's radar and the media's map. Below are some of the most recent success stories:
1. Stephanie Moore - Nutritionist, Health & Stress Coach: has done a screentest for Endemol (for a C4 show) and is doing a screentest for Flame TV.
2. Sue Hayward - Money, Consumer, Shopping & Property: has just done some filming for BBC Watchdog for the new series.
3. Dr Abigael San - Doctor of Clinical Psychology: interviewed by Daily Telegraph journalist re Jaycee Lee Dugard case - read article here - and contacted by Endemol to assess suitability of two contributors who want to appear on a show about food addiction.
4. Hannah Beecham - The Expat Money Expert: booked as a guest on BBC's Working Lunch last week.
5. Rowan Black - Hands on Property Development & Mortgages: has done a screentest for the BBC.
6. Agnes Chii - Science & Technology: is meeting a development producer at the BBC next week.
7. John Gregory Smith - Cook, food prep & recipe writing: has done some filming for UKTV's Market Kitchen and is doing a 'viral' Bacardi Mojito ad.
8. Sarah Pennells - TV&Radio Money & Consumer Expert: interview with Glamour re Credit Crunch.
9. Richard Fenton - Debt Doctor: interview with Glamour (as above).
10. Jean Smith - Social Anthropologist & Flirtologist: did a piece with Bliss magazine re celebrity body language.

New TV Experts, New TV Ideas

I can't believe it's been over a month since I last blogged. August came and went in a busy flash and brought a lot of new experts and ideas - all of which I'm passing on to the industry. To see a copy of my most recent updates, click here.

The Key to a Successful TV format

As I speak to experts everyday, I have more programme ideas now than I did when I was working in production. And if you want to know what the key to a successful, re-commissionable TV format is, I'll tell you. In a word: simplicity. Think of Property Ladder, Escape to the Country, Cash in the Attic, 60 Minute Makeover, Changing Rooms, Wife Swap, Would Like To Meet, How Clean is Your House, etc. The format is so straightforward that you could almost watch it without volume. Because the pictures do the talking and engage you. So if you've got an idea for a TV series, think about whether it would pass the 'low volume' test. And good luck!

The Expert Academy Media Training Day

It's great to see another part of my business plan taking shape. Teaming up with Media Trainers was always part of the plan - and it's happened. Today's the first Expert Academy Media training day with Alfi Media. It's designed to help prepare experts for TV&Media interviews and develop their x-pert factor - and is packed with practical exercises, tips, mock interviews, etc.

The best thing about running your own business

There are so many great things about running your business but one of them has to be this: at the end of a long day you can walk out of the office and go for a long run - instead of a long commute home on a crowded tube.

And you don't have to take a day off work to wait for the delivery man who can only narrow it down to 'between 8am and 5pm'!

Meet the TV Experts

I've just got back from a meeting with the head of development at a TV production company. We're going to organise a 'meet the experts' day - speed dating style. Each expert will have 15 minutes to pitch themselves/their programme idea. Watch this space.