Studio

The course is currently held in my own custom-built TV training studio in Central London, UK.

Set over two floors in Kensington Gardens, this private, state of the art, multi-camera facility mirrors all the key elements in a typical broadcast studio with full remote lighting grid, production gallery area, live virtual set technology and a relaxing Green Room.

The Day

You’re thrown right in at the deep end with a day that’s almost 100% practical. It runs from 9.30am to approximately 6.30pm and refreshments throughout the day are provided.

Course Numbers

We put a lot of effort into totally focusing on each individual participant, concentrating on their own specific wants and needs. Therefore, we have a maximum of only 3 clients on each course.

Typical Participants

The course attracts participants of all ages and backgrounds. From complete beginners to established presenters wanting some objective coaching. From celebrities looking to make a transition to presenting to CEO's needing to present their company's promotional video.

To date, individuals from more than 20 countries have made the trip to the UK to take part, sometimes recording much of their material in their native language.

We don't tend to attract - or encourage - the "I just want to be famous" brigade. Our clients have typically thought long and hard about investing in our training and most arrive at our door through personal or industry recommendation.

Your Showreel Footage

The total amount of your recorded work will vary slightly from person to person, but expect to take away around 20 to 30 minutes worth of material.

We record in full HD and provide your footage on a USB stick. In addition, we can upload everything to a password-protected area online so you can download or view on your smartphone, tablet, PC or Mac.

Once your place has been confirmed, you’ll receive exclusive online access to our comprehensive Course Notes, crammed full of detailed information about the course and television presenting.

• As a “mini-course” in itself, your notes will answer most of the common questions we come across as well as taking you step-by-step through the day’s schedule
• This immediately enables you to get more “in depth” during the day, as well as allowing you to make any pre-course preparations you feel necessary
• Easy to read and logically structured, this comprehensive guide covers all sorts of topics from basic interview technique to deciding what to wear; dealing with dyslexia to coping with any nerves you might have!
• It features a wide variety of hints and tips and “tricks of the trade” which participants often refer to long after they’ve attended the course - particularly just before an audition
• You’ll also find plenty of background information including an invaluable glossary of technical terms, floor manager hand signal diagrams and directions to our studio
• You can make use of this guide in whatever way suits you best - whether you give it a quick glance before coming or absorb the lot, rest assured that everything will be covered during the course day itself
• It also means you don't have to do as much "note-taking" on the day, so you can focus fully on asking additional questions and absorbing information
• And, don't forget we'll be in regular contact before the course to make sure that you're all set and ready to go

We cut to the chase with coaching in some of the solid basics of presenting. Not a mere list of "do’s and don'ts", but some of the core beliefs and attitudes entirely applicable to every type and style of presenting - stuff we've picked up from successfully coaching thousands of individuals over the past 30 years.

So valuable is this information, many have remarked this alone was "worth the price of admission".

Things you'll learn include

• Why you sometimes feel so nervous in front of a TV or video camera - and the answer may surprise you...
• How to instantly overcome those nerves without resorting to the likes of mumbo-jumbo "breathing exercises" or airy-fairy visualisations
• The little known reason why someone who may be the “life and soul” - or considers themselves to be extremely confident - goes to pieces on-camera. Once you know and understand this secret, your on-screen confidence and persona will soar
• Why, contrary to popular belief, if you’re an obsessive “gesticulator” or hand-mover, you mustn’t try and stifle this on-screen - as long as you stick to one simple rule...
• Why those with acting experience are surprised to find being a TV presenter is often much more difficult than they thought - and why radio presenters find it even harder. If it affects you, we’ll show you how to overcome it
• The three psychological elements top presenters - often unknowingly - incorporate into their presentational style allowing them to appeal to more members of the viewing audience. And how you can take advantage of this information for yourself
• How to come across as a "natural" in an "un-natural" environment
• How understanding the conclusions of a little known study can dramatically impact your on-screen persona and power
• How to make it seem "effortless"
• How to really "connect" with your audience down the camera lens
• Why practice doesn't necessarily make perfect and why being "perfect" will often result in an audition but not the job

In case you didn’t know, “Autocue” is a name commonly given to the computerised prompting system used by presenters. It's also known as a "teleprompter" or "teleprompting system".

Your script appears as a reflection over the camera lens, but the viewers can’t see it - accomplished Autocue users give the impression they’re just talking naturally.

You can generally see 4 or 5 lines of your script and it scrolls upwards as you talk. The Autocue operator follows your script and ensures no matter how fast or slow you’re talking, the Autocue keeps up with you.

But if you don’t use it convincingly, your presenting will look flat and stilted, so...

• You’ll be versed in the art of reading Autocue, with 1 to 1 coaching throughout
• You’ll present two separate pieces to camera
• These pieces will have been previously written by you before the course, with additional help and editing from our team
• The subjects can be anything you like but they'll probably reflect the on-screen areas you’d like to pursue
• For example, each one could be a news bulletin; a children’s link; the sports headlines; an “MTV”-style review; a science slot; a short vlog... in fact, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination
• We’ve got a selection of special effects and gizmos at our disposal to make your pieces as original and visually authentic as possible - in fact, we'll typically pre-prepare three custom backdrops or sets for each piece and then choose the best ones on the day

Things you'll learn include

• How to perfect the illusion of making it look like you’re talking unscripted
• How to make someone else’s words sound like your own
• How to keep it fresh no matter how many times you do it
• How to sit or stand for the most flattering effect
• And, the most common mistake made by presenters when using Autocue at an audition

After rehearsing, several takes will go down on your showreel.

The climax of your day is presenting not one but TWO of your very own magazine-style shows - complete with custom-designed title sequence featuring the show’s name and music, multiple cameras, videotape inserts, an interview and more...

• For this extremely ambitious project you’re working with three cameras simultaneously
• You’ll also be working with radio talkback - in other words, you’ll wear an “earpiece” through which you might get timings, instructions from the director, last-minute updates etc.
• It’s recorded as if it was a live show. So, once the show’s started there’s no going back and you’re in the driving seat!
• And because it’s “live”, there’s always the possibility things may not go totally to plan - for example, you could lose your Autocue, a film clip may break down, or you could suddenly be called upon to ad-lib. In fact, we may even throw a spanner in the works on purpose...
• Prior to the show, you’ll have time to prepare and familiarise yourself with an individual authentic studio script provided by us, as well as research your guests
• Remember though, this script is just a framework - therefore, if you wish, it’s a simple matter to slightly deviate from it, enabling you to stamp your own personality, uniqueness and style on the shows
• Your script will be your own - every participant has a different script, different title sequence, different music etc. so your show won't be identical to everyone else
• There’s a thorough briefing on each programme’s structure and content before we go “on-air”, as well as the opportunity to discuss any additional thoughts or requirements you may have
• Everyone will have an “on-air time”, so if you’re not ready at the appointed hour, we go without you - just like the real thing!
• First of all, there’s an opening title sequence featuring the show’s name, accompanied by moving pictures and music
• On cue, you'll then introduce the programme and launch into a brief feature or review, taking your words from Autocue
• Following a “countdown” through your earpiece, you then give a short link into a video clip, which illustrates your particular feature - e.g. a clip from a film or television show
• After the clip, you’re back on-camera with a short conclusion of your feature or review before moving into a “talk show”-style interview with another member of the course
• Constantly monitoring instructions via your earpiece from the director, you must wind the interview up on time, thank your guest and then - as the closing music starts - “trail” next week’s programme, finishing on time to the second
• And then there’s a short break, before you do the whole thing again, only this time you’ll have a different guest and the running time of your second show will be slightly longer
• Both magazine shows are recorded so you'll have plenty of footage to choose from
• You’ll find this the most challenging and exciting part of the day, since it brings together the wide range of skills you’ve been introduced to
• It's also a very advanced exercise - in fact, many professional presenters have never had the benefit of such "live" presenting experience
• And - as past participants always seem amazed to discover - by using the studio’s resources to the full, the finished product looks just like the genuine article