3 Networking Tips to Get Producers to Choose YOU!

I just got back from five wonderful days in Vermont at ITVFest where I came away with so many wonderful nuggets of information. I met some great new people while improving my writing in the colorful mountains of Dover, Vermont. I ate too much food too, but that’s beside the point.

The biggest thing I came away with and heard a zillion times was this: (and I quote):

“Don’t be an a**hole while networking.”

Surrounded by industry leaders, writers, directors and producers (including the founder and CEO of Stage 32, Richard “RB” Botto, who was a panelist at the festival, hooray!) One thing was abundantly clear: If you want to stand out and make an impression so producers choose you, you need to be the most authentic version of yourself.

It’s true that when we see a director or producer that is part of a television network that we think would be the best fit for our show, we want to trip over ourselves and push everyone else out of the way to get to them. I’ve seen it. It’s not pretty.

I showed up at ITVFest as part of the Jacob Krueger Studio Writer’s Retreat. Jacob and his team of writers and educators drilled the concept of being real and authentic into our heads a hundred times. You think I’m exaggerating, but I’m not and if he and his team weren’t reinforcing…