How to Become a TV Host, Part 1
How do you become a host..well that’s a loaded question.
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Hosting – Hosting Reels
Hosting Reels
by: Maureen Browne
Having a good reel is crucial to your hosting career. Good headshots and a strong resume will only get you so far. It’s your reel that Casting Directors use to determine whether or not they want to bring you in for an audition, or even better, a “general” meeting. I’ve cast several shows where I never held auditions – I only looked thru hosting reels to determine who I would then call in as a “callback.” Your reel is your calling card. If you don’t have one, make one!
Hosts Tell All: Part 3
Breaking into hosting can be challenging and at times even downright frustrating. I’m sure you’ve all experienced it at one time or another and if you haven’t yet felt that way, you will. It’s all part of the process. In Part Three of ‘Hosts Tell All’ Jeannie Mai, Brian Corsetti and Lance Smith give aspiring hosts some more career advice and a little extra inspiration to keep handy on the journey to becoming a successful host.
Hosts Tell All: Part 2
There is no better way to discover the steps to becoming a host than to talk with hosts who have made it themselves. Brian Corsetti, Jeannie Mai, and Lance Smith break down the in’s and out’s of having representation, branding, and how they market themselves.
Hosts Tell All, Part 1
In this first part of “Hosts Tell All” I had a chance to sit down with Jeannie Mai, Brian Corsetti and Lance Smith, three hosts that I greatly admire. I had the pleasure of meeting Jeannie several years ago when I was casting for E! and Style. Jeannie recently told me she was living up in the Bay Area, yet drove down to LA whenever we called her in for an audition – which back then, was often. Who knew she ever drove so far… yet she always bounced into the room, full of personality and positivity. Her personality was infectious. I completely understand why Jeannie is so successful today. Read more
MTT Hosting Reels, Part Two
In my previous article, I discussed some of the do’s and don’ts of hosting reels. In my video, “Hosting Reels Part Two” found at www.mastertalentteachers.com, I show you what I think is an example of a good hosting reel in its entirety. It’s from a great host, Brian Corsetti. Brian starts off with his name and get right into a couple solid standups. Even though his standups are short – about 7 seconds long – I can immediately see that Brian has good hosting skills. His standups also vary – he goes from riding a motorcycle while delivering his standup to donning a tux on the red carpet doing an entertainment piece. Immediately I see his range and as a Casting Director, that’s important for me to see — especially if I may only watch the first 30 seconds of a reel.
Hosting Reels
Having a good reel is crucial to your hosting career. Good headshots and a strong resume will only get you so far. It’s your reel that Casting Directors use to determine whether or not they want to bring you in for an audition, or even better, a “general” meeting. I’ve cast several shows where I never held auditions – I only looked thru hosting reels to determine who I would then call in as a “callback.” Your reel is your calling card. If you don’t have one, make one!
Casting Directors have so much on their plates that they’ll determine in the first 15 – 30 seconds whether you’re right for their project or network. Yes, seconds! As a former Casting Executive at E! Entertainment Television and the Style Network, we’d receive hundreds of submissions, both in the mail and online. We’d devote time each week, ideally each day, to viewing the reels that came in so we could find the next Brooke Burke or Greg Kinnear. Thankfully we found Joel McHale.
