New Experts & Last Night's Election Debate

I've just sent out my udpate to the TV industry with details of new experts - from BBQ Masters to Money Hunters (did you know that most people are entitled to a £2000, tax free bereavement payment from the state?) - and a topical TV Pt of View. This week it's Liam Hamilton, Director of Business Development at DCD Media, on last night's election debate. Let the experts inspire you and read what Liam has to say here.

Could you be a TV expert? Here's the first question you have to answer.

The TV industry is always on the hunt for talent, ideas and the next big thing. So could you be a TV expert? Well here's the first question you have to answer: what is going to make TV producers, broadcasters and (ultimately) viewers sit up and take notice of you? And if you want to know what else you should be thinking about if you're interested in promoting yourself to the TV industry, come along to my 'Could you be a TV expert?' seminar and find out! Details in post below.

"Could you be a TV expert?" seminar

What do producers of factual TV programmes need to create a new, successful series? New & engaging experts!

Think of Location Location Location, SuperNanny, The Choir, Grow Your Own Drugs, The Apprentice, Grand Designs, How Clean is Your House, You are What You Eat and The House of Tiny Tearaways, to name but a few. They all needed new experts when they were devised – and so will many future shows.

Find the right experts and combine them with a great format and everyone’s a winner: the broadcaster, the viewer and the experts, of course. Because being a TV expert raises your profile, increases your income and gives you the chance to help and/or inspire a huge number of people. But how does the TV industry find new experts? And could you be one?

These are some of the questions that will be answered at the ‘Could you be a TV Expert?’ seminar on Thursday, 10 June from 5-6pm (Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, W1D 3NE).

The seminar will be hosted by Claire Richmond, series producer of some of TV’s most popular shows - including BBC’s Changing Rooms, Ready Steady Cook & Don’t Get Done Get Dom - and founder of www.findaTVexpert.com, the online database of experts for members of the media on the hunt for new talent.

”Being a TV expert isn’t a privilege that’s bestowed on an elite few,” says Richmond. “It’s an opportunity that’s available to all experts. But a lot of experts don’t realize that their knowledge, their passion or the projects they’re working on could be exactly what the TV industry is looking for. And many don’t know how to approach the TV industry. These seminars will shed valuable light on that,” adds Richmond.

The “Could you be a TV expert?” seminar will give experts an insight into:

- The importance of experts on TV - and why the industry is always on the hunt for them
- What makes a good TV expert – and could you be one?
- The kind of experts the TV industry is currently looking for
- How the TV industry finds experts / How experts can promote themselves to the TV industry
- The programme making process

”The TV industry finds new experts in many ways,” says Richmond. “If you’re lucky you might be in the right place at the right time – it’s how Jamie Oliver got his break - but the more pro-active you are and the more structured your approach, the better. Joining findaTVexpert is one way of getting on the TV industry’s radar but there are others. And these seminars will help potential new TV experts understand the process.”

Tickets cost £25 and must be purchased in advance (places are limited). For more information or to book your place, call or email Claire Richmond directly:

claire@findatvexpert.com / 020 8742 2541.

Claire Young - The Apprentice

It's great to welcome Claire Young, of BBC1's The Apprentice fame, to the team of experts. When TV opens a door for you, you have to take advantage of it. And Claire most certainly has. She's using her fame, passion and business expertise to help back young Britain by working with the Prince's Trust, UK Youth, Business Link and several youth enterprise organisations.

Be Unashamedly Persistent

I read an article about Vanita Parti, founder of Blink eyebrow bars in the Times earlier this month - How I Made It - and loved her advice to would be entrepreneurs: "Be unashamedly persistent. That really got me through the first six months where I had the phone slammed down on me. I thought no, this is going to work and I'm going to convince you."

The same applies to the TV industry: whether you're trying to get into TV, get onto camera or get a programme commissioned. If you've done your research and you really believe you have what it takes - or you have a groundbreaking programme idea - you have to keep going. It might take time. You might get knocked back along the way. But you have to be unashamedly persistent.

TV Insider

Find out who's joined the team of experts, which experts have caught the eye of the TV industry, how to increase your chances of getting on TV, etc by signing up to the findaTVexpert updates. Just add your email to box on the right.

Success stories: experts being seen, heard and read about!

TV&Media companies find experts for their shows and articles in lots of different ways: via google, University websites, TV agents, associations, word of mouth, contacts - and findaTVexpert of course! Here are some of the latest success stories.

Mike - Medical Historian, War Wounds & Trauma Surgeon: has just done some filming with Cloud One productions for a new BBC series called History of the World.
Deborah - Historian, Toys & Women Inventors: contacted by Lion TV re a new series and in discussions with enteraction TV re a history series.
Craig - Classical Historian: also in discussion with enteraction TV re a history series.
Hannah - Expat Money Expert: interviewed by BBC Radio Wales re the financial issues that have to be taken into account when retiring to the sunshine.
Jonathan - Freesourcing, How to start a business with no money: congratulations to Jonathan for making the final shortlist of a new BBC Business series. And commisserations for being pipped to the post.
Sue - Armchair to action, get out of your comfort zone: being featured in Essentials magazine in February.
Graham - Dog Trainer, the man who speaks dog: has been approached by TwoFour productions re a project and was on Talksport Radio.
Gina - private investigator: interviewed for TalkSport re private investigations in the workplace and in relationships.
David - vocal coach: has just done some filming for a new Biography Channel series which will TX in January. And still in discussions with Love Productions.
Bill - food critic, writer, broadcaster: contacted by Five News to be interviewed re making Christmas dinner on the cheap (but he was on holiday in the Philippines!)
Kirsty - consultant clinical and forensic psychologist: has been contacted by BBC1's The Big Questions team to discuss appearing on the show.
Dr Pete - scientist & author: interviewed for TalkSport re the vaccination programmme for Swine Flu.
Tara - Wine Expert: Tara wrote a treatment for a programme idea which I thought ticked the right boxes, so I discussed it in several of my meetings with TV companies and enteraction TV are interested in developing it further, which is great news. It's only the beginning of a long process (which is why patience is a virtue!) but it's a start.
Debi - Power of Positivity: interviewed on STV re how to manage your bank balance over the festive season. And has been booked back for the 4th january to do a session on unwanted christmas gifts, which is great news.
Keren - Relationship Expert & Midlife Muddles Guru: interviewed by Essential magazine for the March issue.
Jackie - Financial Lifecoach: interviewed by Top Sante magazine for a Career & Finance article.
Maggy - Priest, Prosperity is your birthright: interviewed by TalkSport Radio re forgiveness after the case of two bullies who drove Rosimeiri Boxall to kill herself.
Simon - Teacher, Youth & Familial Issues: interviewed by TalkSport re the link between divorced parents and poor adolescent behaviour.