Your Stage : The latest in my NATPE "How to Pitch TV" series: Stop Pitching to the Wrong Outlets by Heather Hale

How does a newbie pitch to a major network or cable station with 0 TV experience and expect to be paid/given the keys to a Ferrari and know what they are doing? Im 100% against "how to sell TV series" webinars and seminars . It s just a scam. Only way I know is paying dues, work your way up the ladder, from Staff writer to Showrunner power seat. Or be a successful novelist, playwright- some sort of track record of success.

Thanks John! Yes, indeed! ;-) It is a learnable skill - that does seem to expand weekly! LOL! :-) You have the right attitude! Happy New Year! ;-)

In response to Dan MaxXx... (which I almost didn't even bother but...) 1) You might want to check yourself before you start slandering people throwing about words like "scam." Aside from offending people you might be better served networking with: it's illegal. Especially when it's FALSE and PUBLIC. So...check yourself. 2) You might also want to CHECK your FACTS. To make sure you know what you're trolling about. THIS WHOLE SERIES IS FREE. And it's blogs not webinars or seminars. And it's endorsed/COMMISSIONED by the National Association of Television Program Executives - THE NON-PROFIT Trade UNION - that REPRESENTS CONTENT CREATORS (producers, executives, distributors, etc). Not to mention, it's a SERIES of INTERVIEWS with not "just" subject matter experts" but...with BUYERS. The actual, legit PROFESSIONALS you'd be pitching TO - TODAY - and what THEY want to hear, see - and what they are LOOKING FOR...to BUY - NEXT WEEK, even, at the NATPE MARKET. But maybe none of this is of interest to you? But that doesn't mean it isn't of interest to professional content creators looking for help on the many ways to PITCH all the different formats and genres of TV. And who said it's targeted to NEWBIES? Did'j'a read ANY of the article(s)? So...to say it's on the up and up - to support and EMPOWER "our people" is an understatement. 3) Basically what you're saying here is that you're 100% against the industry looking out for its own. Educating and empowering the creatives and the independents - which is what Stage 32 is all about. And me, too. And lots of good non-scamming folk in the industry. How - exactly - is offering FREE INFORMATION a scam? I was the Vice President of NATPE over a decade ago and HAVE worked my way up the ladder with 50 hours of credits, a Lifetime Movie, two PBS series that have won a couple of Emmys, syndicated programming that has won "Best New Series Pilot," Tellys, Ace Awards etc. What have you done? And in regards to your cynical first sentence: It happens every year. Every. Year. Usually from people who educate themselves. And network. And DO THE WORK. And NO ONE gets handed the keys to the Ferrari. They get paired with veteran ShowRunners who know the lay of the land that the financier/distributor has worked with before and trusts or who have the track record in a similar genre format to develop the project to fruition -- but...of course, you must know all this with your vast credits and expertise. I'm 100% against your self-righteous / all knowing attitude - that I don't think is EARNED or warranted. If you don't need the FREE resources you're slamming, move along. And try to be a little more welcoming to people trying to HELP you. And try to have a Happy New Year.

Hhmm... How many FIRST TIME writers do YOU personally know that sold their FIRST scripts THROUGH an agent, John? Honestly? Maybe their first script sale ATTRACTED an agent to them - and their brand new rep negotiated the deal they got on their own but ... it's not so much a "Can Do" attitude as a real world 2017 reality.

I didn't say you were, John. I asked how many 1st X writers you knew that had their 1st sale originated/secured by their agent. Usually they get their 1st sale themselves - which is what gets them their 1st agent. That's all I'm saying. And shorts being produced are different than features.

???? I don't know what you mean. How am I tap dancing?

I think Ms Hale is sharing her knowledge about pitching with anyone who wants to learn a new skill. I don't think she's saying writers have to pitch their own work. I am sure there are some writers want to learn about this process and some who want to write and partner with some who can pitch on their behalf. I am good example. I write but also do business development. I have pitched and sold VOD licenses to Amazon and Viewster for a sci fi comedy created and produced by someone else but I have three pages of my own ideas for tv shows and movies I plan to pitch myself.

Thanks John. Congrats on your success. ;-) Pitching is part of being a professional writer.

Who knows the origin of tap dancing? :O)

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