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If you are a doctor or lawyer looking to do more TV, click here.
TALENT: Because of many recent placements, we are once again searching for people who have not reached
their ultimate level.
We
look at ALL tapes and dvd's, so feel free to send!
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- We get jobs for TV Anchors, Reporters,
Meteorologists and Sports types.
- We place 90% of our clients within four
months of starting a search.
- We make a resume, dvd, tape and web page
(with streaming video) for you.
- The only time we don't answer our phone is
when we are sleeping, eating or exercising.
Persons
interested in representation should send tape, resume and short cover
letter to our office in North Carolina (DVD, DVCPRO, DVCAM, mini DV or
VHS only--- no BETA, please):
Steve
Swienckowski
DCA
124 Ammons Drive
Raleigh, NC 27615-6501
please read our DCA
FAQ (frequently asked questions).
(Every time someone asks us a question, we
answer it here).
MORE KUDOS FROM MANAGERS REGARDING OUR DVD PACKAGES:
Steve:
Have I mentioned to you how much I like the way you guys package your
DVD’s these days? Very sharp.
Cheers,
Forrest Carr
News Director
WFTX-TV Fox 4
Cape Coral, FL
From:
Kathy.Williams (ND at KRIV, Houston)
Subject: May
I just say ?
To:
steve@davidcrane.com
That of all
the agencies, yours has the best packaging of everyone ! Nice
envelopes---well done!"
NEW: DCA Joins Collective Talent
click here for more info
See instant videos and resumes on your desktop of qualified
TV news talent
Don't drag your feet!
If
you're near the end of a contract or facing unemployment, and you're
thinking about signing with an agency (even if it's not us), do it now!
Why? Because time's a wastin'.
We
often get tapes from people who are near the end of their ropes. By the
time they sign, we have little or no time to improve their look or
on-air performance.
Lesson
learned: It's much easier to find a job while you're already working.
Don't wait until the last second. Those last few months or weeks on a
job can help us tremendously as we work to improve your skills and get
you a better situation.
It is our experience that our
clients sign with DCA for one or more of several reasons:
- Most
people don't have time to look for a job (finding a job is nearly a
full-time job in itself).
- Most
people don't know how to
properly assemble a good tape and resume.
- Most
people don't have the contacts
and connections we do ("It's not what you know...")
- Most
people don't feel comfortable representing themselves in a negotiation
situation.
- Most
people don't know the difference
between a good contract and a bad one.
- Most
people don't have a friend who's been through this before and will be
there to
help when they need it.
We
understand that some agents do not produce a master tape for you---they
actually have their clients make the master! For all DCA clients, a DVD
master is produced using all-digital, non-linear editing technology.
That means from the raw material sent to the agency to the VHS tape
sent to a news director, only one generation of quality is lost due to
dubbing. A small color photo is also added to each client's paper
resume, and a photo/label is place on each tape, to enhance their
effectiveness. We also stream your video to news managers direct to
their desktops and we produce a web page for you (click here to see an
example).
During
a panel discussion of job search techniques at NorCal RTNDA, a news
director from San Francisco displayed one of our tapes as the best
example of how a resume tape should be packaged.
DCA likes to say it offers the Three C's:
Coaching, Connections, and Contract Savvy.
COACHING
Our
teaching
experience, on-air success and award-winning performance skills
translate
into meaningful and insightful critiques for you.
CONNECTIONS
Although we
do subscribe to all the major trade publications and on-line job
listings, the best job leads inevitably come to us directly from
managers. Many times a news director will
tell us about an opening weeks before it is ever listed elsewhere.
Sometimes a job opening is never listed (or listed after
it is filled), so the only persons who may ever know about it are the
agency and its clients.
CONTRACT
SAVVY
When it
comes time to negotiate, only experience will lead to a deal that's
best for you. Steve has been negotiating contracts on behalf of clients
since the 80's.
PLUS!
We are
available! We hear complaints all the time about how people
can't reach their reps. We like to joke that the only
time you won't get us is when we're eating dinner OR when
we're sleeping. We invite our clients to call us ANY time: after
midnight, on weekends---you name it. We'll be there for you.
The David
Crane Agency was founded in San Francisco in 1980. Prior to that time,
David Crane had been a founding partner of Entertainment Response
Analysts (ERA), a television news consulting firm. One of David's
partners at that time was the legendary Don Fitzpatrick. In 1979, ERA
merged with another company to form a new research and consulting firm
called Audience Research and Development (AR&D). Soon afterward,
David sold his interest in the firm and started the David Crane Agency,
specializing in placement of broadcast news talent. He and his wife,
Barbara, retired in 2005 to Olympia, Washington.
Steve
Swienckowski joined DCA in 1999. He started his job-finding and
coaching agency in 1989 after hearing complaints about other "talent
agents" from news directors and talent alike. Steve's TV career
includes stops at CNN, the Cartoon Network, KTVU in San Francisco,
Kansas City, Sacramento and Raleigh.
His broadcast career began in 1977 in radio as an on-air personality.
He last worked on-air in Los Angeles radio before making the
move to television. Steve also served as Chief Instructor for The
Broadcast Workshop, a private post-secondary broadcasting school
in Southern California. He worked as a Weather Anchor, a Feature
Reporter and a Sports Anchor before returning to college at the
University
of Kansas to pursue meteorology. In 1999, Steve won the top prize at
the International Festival De Meteo (Weather Festival) held in Quebec
City. (Click here
for photos and more information about the festival.)
Sun Pak
joined the agency in 1999. Sun is a Certified Public Accountant with a
background in auditing, corporate financial analysis and systems
implementation. She has worked for several major corporations and Duke
University. She collects the money!
We are not like other agencies out there who represent TV
news pros. We are not lawyers based in New York
or Hollywood. We are experienced news people who have
been there.
The DCA
client base is nationwide and in markets of all sizes. The agency has a
total of 90 clients, and about a third are currently seeking new
positions. Persons interested in representation
should send tape and resume to our office in North Carolina (DVCPRO,
DVCAM, mini DV or VHS only--- no BETA, please) :
Steve
Swienckowski
DCA
124 Ammons Drive
Raleigh, NC 27615-6501
email: steve@davidcrane.com
NOTES ABOUT
SENDING MATERIALS: if you are sending vhs, make certain your dub was
recorded at SP, the fastest speed. If recorded at
the slower LP or SLP, your tape quality will suffer (especially the
audio). Also, be sure to ship your tape in a padded envelope or box!
You would not believe how many tapes arrive here damaged.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR CLIENTS
DANNY HARNDEN now shares Primary Sports Anchor duties at WGHP, Greensboro.
VALERIE ABATI to Evening Meteorologist, WLWT, Cincinnati.
MACE MICHAELS to Chief Meteorologist at KGAN in Cedar Rapids.
Meteorologist DAVID ERNST to Weekends at WSAV, Savannah.
TISHA POWELL, Primary Co-Anchor, WTVD, Raleigh-Durham.
DAN GODWIN,
Noon Anchor and Morning Reporter/Anchor, KDFW, Dallas.
DAVE TRYGAR
to Freelance Meteorologist, KDKA, Pittsburgh.
PATRICK
McKEE to Morning Meteorologist, WSLS, Roanoke.
GLENN
RICHARDS, Chief Meteorologist, WOFL, Orlando.
ANDREW
CHUNG to Weekend Morning Meteorologist at KVIA in El Paso.
JoDEE
KENNEY, Morning Anchor, Capital News 9.
Meteorologist
TODD BOREK to Mornings, WKYT, Lexington.
KERRI
O'HARA
to Early Evening Anchor and Reporter, WMBF, Myrtle Beach.
CLICK HERE TO GO BACK TO TOP OF PAGE
Dubbing Services
THESE
SERVICES ARE NOT FOR OUR CLIENTS! If you are a client, you pay nothing
for dubbing and shipping.
We
can make a digital copy of your tape, make dubs to VHS or DVD, and
place them in sleeves with windows at the following prices (not
including shipping):
tape
length (no more than) cost each
5 mins. $1.75
10 mins. $2.25
15 mins. $2.75
We
can also print custumized labels on each, if you like, for an
additional $1 each.
Minimum
order: $50.
Our Philosophy (some of it)
"PATIENCE, GRASSHOPPER . . ."
For those of you too young to remember, that line was made famous by
the old TV show "Kung Fu". As the young apprentice (nicknamed
"Grasshopper") was learning from his Master, the Master was often heard
saying, "Patience, Grasshopper."
We hear this a lot: "What's taking so long? It only took me three weeks to get my last job!"
This time around, the competition will be more fierce. The talent
you're up against with will be better than the last time around.
Also, there won't be as many jobs that you'll be willing to take.
The higher the salary level, the fewer jobs.
Three things need to happen before the phone rings for you:
1) there needs to be an opening (and it needs to be in a market desirable to you)
2) they need to be looking for your "type" (gender, age, experience, hair color, build, skills, etc.)
3) they need to like your stuff (makes no difference how good you are, so this last one is totally subjective, NOT objective ).
Those are all things pretty much out of your control, but they are the
major hurdles between you and the next job. That said,
concentrate on improving things which are within your control: writing,
appearance, vocal skills, etc., and try to ignore all the market
factors over which you have no control.
Typically, it takes us about three to four months to get you an offer that you really like.
Our Negotiation Only Services
Perhaps
you don't need any coaching or job search services. Maybe you have an
offer on the table and you just don't feel comfortable representing
yourself. Call us about our negotiation services: 919-870-9121. For a
one-time fee, we will attempt to secure the best possible deal for you.
The one-time fee is 1% of the first year's salary.
CLICK HERE TO GO BACK TO TOP OF PAGE
DCA FAQ (frequently asked questions)
Q:
What's your placement rate?
A: We place 90% of our clients within four months. To do that, we need
to be a bit selective in whom we choose.
Q:
Do you specialize in Meteorologists?
A: No. Currently, about
one fourth of our clients are mets. We don't specialize in any
particular job category, nor do we specialize in
any particular market size or location. We have clients in large
markets and small markets, from Boston to Bakersfield.
Q:
What do you look for when considering an applicant?
A: We ask ourselves two
things:
1) has this applicant reached their ultimate level (or do they have the
best job possible for their skills), and
2) do we have anyone like this person on our current client list?
Q:
What is your commission scale?
A: It can vary from 1 to 8%, but never more than that. Our accountant
tells us
the average is between 4 and 5%. The numbers vary depending on such
things as your salary, how long you've been with us, how long you've
been at a particular station, etc. We never collect a commission
forever and ever indefinitely. And, we do
not take a full commission if you send out a tape yourself and end up
getting a job from that mailing! If you re-sign at a station and you've
been paying us a full commission, you pay us just HALF on the renewal
contract. If you sign a third contract, you
can retain us for just 1% or say "good-bye" forever.
Q:
What if I already have an offer and just want you to rep me and
negotiate the deal?
A: click here for the answer
Q:
Why do I need someone to help me find a job?
A: click here
Q:
Where do I send my tape and resume?
A: click here
Q:
Could you please give me the names and numbers of a few clients so that
I may talk with them about you and your services?
A: Absolutely. Email us and we'll send you that info: steve@davidcrane.com. Also, you
can see some of our clients listed at TVJobs.com.
Q:
Can you help me with an idea I have for a TV show?
A: Yes. Although we do not handle show "pitches" to network execs, we
have a good Hollywood connection for you. Click here to send
us an email and get his info.
Q:
Do you help find work for models, actors or child models or actors?
A: No.
Q:
What are your contacts like in the Midwest (or South, or West, or where
ever)?
A: We do not specialize
in any particular region. We have clients (and contacts) all over the
country, from Los Angeles to Boston to Miami and all points in between.
Q: What if I send you a
tape and you do not want to represent me?
A: We send you an email
saying so.
Q:
What do you want me to put on my tape to send to you?
A: Whatever you feel is
a good representation of who you are and what you do.
Or, if you've been sending out tapes to others, let us see that.
Q:
What if you get me a job offer and I do not accept?
A:
We keep trying.
Q:
If you get my tape, am I automatically in contract with you for your
services?
A:
Huh? How does sending us a tape imply a contract between us? IF we sign
an agreement to rep you, THEN you are "in contract".
Q:
When you receive my tape, do you call me with a critique? For charge?
For free?
A:
We shy away from critiques of people we do not want to rep. We have
found many people do not take well negative criticism.
Q:
What is a typical market increase for your clients. For example: I am
in market 199, can you get me a job in market 50, if I have the skills?
A:
We don't think in terms of market size: we think in terms of money (or
any other parameters you have outlined for us). An increase in market
size does not necessarily mean a like increase in salary. We have
placed people in small markets for six figures, and we have also placed
people in top ten markets for $40k (and vice-versa, of course). Typical
increase in salary is thirty to forty percent. Rarely does anyone
double their salary, but it can happen, especially if you're making
$40k or less.
Q: Is my tape sent out with your other clients on one big reel?
A: No. Never. You are the only person on your tape.
CLICK HERE TO GO BACK TO TOP OF PAGE
DCA JOINS COLLECTIVE TALENT
In an effort to better market our available clients, we have teamed
with Michaels
Media in their innovative new effort called "Collective Talent". The
online talent database launched in January of
2006 with support from major media groups and a number of talent
representation firms. The new service is designed to give news managers
quick access online to video and resumes of available talent --- all at
just one Web site.
"There are 30 different
talent agencies out there, large and small. Who wants
to take the time to go to 30 different Web sites (that are
all built a little differently) to start searching for talent?" says
Michael Bille of Michaels Media. He feels news managers today simply
don't have the time to do that.
"The idea that we are still shuttling VHS tapes (and DVDs) all over the
country
in our search, research and hiring process doesn't make sense anymore.
There must be a better way," says Bille. People download music, buy
books, airline tickets, and just about anything they want to online
these days. "The whole world has migrated to the Internet," he says.
The project has been in
the works for about 18 months. Bille and partner Michael Von Ende
worked with agents and station groups to develop an online system that
would meet their needs. Bille compares Collective Talent to the
Multiple Listing Service used by realtors. The MLS collects all the
properties listed with brokers in a
particular area into one big database. "No matter what realtor you use,
you have access to all the homes listed in your community," he
explains. "In the beginning, some real estate companies were
wary of the idea. They felt they knew their business and they didn't
want to share the information with others. They soon found out if
they were not part of the MLS, they were missing out on business," he
adds. Bille says he is doing the same thing with talent. "We are
creating an MLS for the talent business. The talent agents are like the
realtors and the TV stations are like the home buyers," he explains.
Agents will bear the majority of the cost, just like the real estate
agents bear the cost of the MLS. The TV stations will get the basic
service free. A premium service will be available in coming weeks for
a fee. "The station executives will have the ability to post jobs and
have the agents respond to those jobs at no cost to the station," says
Bille. The site will also have the ability for stations to post "blind
box" ads, so managers can look for new talent without making it general
knowledge.
The process begins by a
station posting a job opening. It can be a detailed description with an
anticipated start date and station contact information. Station
managers and news directors will have
a user name and password and can log into the database. Job postings
are sent to all of the agents in the system. Agents respond by
sending a client resume, a QuickTime video file, and a personal
note with additional information, such as when the talent is
available. On the station's personalized talent portal, the manager can
review videos and resumes sent to them and post or remove job
listings. On the talent review page, the manager can track which clips
they've viewed and assign an icon that indicates their level of
interest. On the talent's full profile page, the manager can write
notes about the talent and send the agent an e-mail requesting more
information or tapes showing more of the talent's work. On the agent's
account page, the positions open are listed with the name of the person
at the station to contact. Whenever a station executive clicks to
view a video, the agent is notified with an e-mail alert. One of the
most time-consuming aspects of a talent agent's business is making
numerous calls just trying to find out if a news director has looked
at a tape yet. With this, the agent knows right away when the video
is viewed. Eventually, there will be a portion of the site for students
graduating from journalism schools to post their tapes twice a year.
"There will be a system
in place for the smaller markets that have the majority of their staffs
not represented by talent agents. They will be able to connect with
graduating students in an electronic format," Bille says. For a fee,
students and non-represented talent will be able to access the site's
job listings. However, they will not be able to post a resume, attach a
video clip or contact the station directly. Those features are reserved
for the agents who are supporting the service. DCA clients will benefit
from this service at no extra charge.
Although the expense to
join Collective Talent is hefty, we believe this innovative idea has
the potential to become an industry standard. We are hopeful that our
participation at the inception will reap great rewards for us and our
clients.
Click here to
see the Collective Talent website.
We are not the best fit for doctors or lawyers who do some TV now and
want to do more. Please do not contact us. Our business is
more "meat and potatoes": Anchors, Reporters and Meteorologists.
CLICK
HERE TO GO BACK TO TOP OF PAGE
DCA
Raleigh, North Carolina
TV news
talent agents job placement
employment agency tape duplication
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