Top Non-Entertainment Careers In Entertainment

Black Enterprise, Dec, 1999 by Keisha Anderson

Producers are responsible for pulling all aspects of a production together, whether the work be for film, music, news, television or theater.

Requirements:

Since there are several types of producers, from the creative to business side of a production, various educational backgrounds may be useful. A bachelor's or master's degree in journalism with a focus on TV, radio or film production is just as useful as an MBA in management or finance with a focus on media. Similarly, a fine arts degree is appropriate for theater.

Salary:

Depends upon the industry.

Entry level: 518,000-522,000/year (assistant)

Midlevel: 530,000-$40,000 per year

Executive: 565,000 (executive producer/head writer)

Resource:

Radio-Television News Directors Association
1000 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 615
Washington, DC 20036
202-659-6510

MEDIA BUYER

A media buyer usually works within an advertising firm to negotiate advertising time or space for all forms of media from TV and radio m print and outdoor billboards. Many are now "unbundling," or branching out to open their own firms however. Currently, ad sales are growing steadily, and there is a strong job market with advertising agencies. Some self-employed media buyers charge clients a percentage to handle their business. Television buys for 30-second national and syndicated commercials can vary. At an ad firm, an individual buyer usually gets a salary rather than a percentage of the buy and, most likely, a commission.

Requirements:

A bachelor's degree in mass communications with a focus on public relations is desirable. Internships in the media industry (e.g., PR or advertising firm, TV or radio station) will help.

Salary:

Entry level: $17,500-$30,000 (assistant media buyer)

Midlevel: $45,000-$90,000 (media director)

Executive: $70,000 and more; can also make between $70,000-$100,000 in commissions

Resource:

American Association of Advertising Agencies
c/o Martha Brown, Communications Manager
405 Lexington Ave., 18th Floor
New York, NY 10174-1801
212-682-2500

SIBRENA STOWE | Media Buyer

In the music business, publicity can make or break an artist. Luckily, record labels can hire a media buyer like Sibrena Stowe to negotiate with networks and radio stations for optimal commercial time. Stowe Communications, a three-year-old media buying and public relations firm, was incorporated after an injury forced Stowe to leave her job as an independent contractor with Gellwick Advertising in New York. "I didn't want to be employed by somebody and have them put a cap on how much money I could make. [Working independently] I make my own hours, get my own accounts and am my own boss," says the 30-year-old. She secured her first accounts from Universal Records and Kedar Entertainment, and has been buying media placements for record labels ever since, generating sales of $500,000 to $2.5 million quarterly. "I know the urban market," says the Philadelphia native.

COSTUME DESIGNER

Head of the wardrobe department, a costume designer acquires and/or designs clothing for the cast members of a film, television or theatrical production. Besides setting a budget for the project, the designer reads drafts of the script, meets with directors and producers, and is on the set during production to handle any last-minute changes. A costume designer can easily work 12-hour days. It is highly desirable--and, in some instances, mandatory--to be a member of one of the costumer's unions to get work as a designer.