Are there TV production recruiters in NYC?

April 23, 2012 12:52 PM

Help me find recruiters/headhunters in NYC for TV production jobs!

I'm trying to help my partner do some leg work as he starts his new job search. He said that there aren't that many (if any) recruiters that work with TV production jobs (think - writers, producers, tv promotions, line producers, etc) and that most of the recruiters are for print or other forms of media. He's mostly looking at TV production (think Viacom, NBC/Universal, etc, etc...)

Are there individuals or companies out there? My google-fu has failed me so far, but I thought I'd turn to the bright minds of MeFi to see if I've overlooked something!

Thanks!

posted by carmenghia to work & money (7 answers total)

My friend who works in this industry in NYC says you should be looking for an agent, not a recruiter.

Here's a few links from him:

New York Office

Pipeline Talent
posted by functionequalsform at 1:25 PM on April 23, 2012

...and one more.

Paradigm Agency

He also says that these are fairly big agencies that deal with established talent. I can't tell how far into a career your partner is, but if they're relatively new to this, my friend recommends that your partner just go on Craigslist and start interning for TV production to build up credits and recommendations. Then go to one of these agencies.
posted by functionequalsform at 1:29 PM on April 23, 2012

Thanks for the links! He has over 12 years of experience and a fair body of work, but he's primarily worked for specific companies (not as a freelancer), and was looking to get another job at a new network or media company. I figured that a recruiter or headhunter would have been what he was looking for, since the jobs he's looking at are primarily staff/office creative jobs with specific networks and companies.

He's never had an agent for the type of work he does, but I'll pass long the information to him.
posted by carmenghia at 1:55 PM on April 23, 2012

I've been in film and TV for over 20 years, and with the exception of news directors or high-ranking suits (executives) I've never heard of a head-hunter for production types. Writers, directors, producers (and even reality producers) have agents, but agents don't exactly beat the bushes to get you jobs--they make the deals or sell or package your script, pitch etc..

What kind of work does he do? Does he have an IMDB listing that's current? Feel free to MeMail me if you like.
posted by Ideefixe at 2:31 PM on April 23, 2012

It would help A LOT to know what your husband does now, what his experience is in, and what EXACTLY he hopes to do.

What is his 12 years of experience in? If it's in production, I find it hard to believe that he doesn't already have a sense of the answer to this question. If it's not in production, it might as well be 12 years of experience digging ditches for all the good it'll do him.

If he's a technician, the name of the game is the unions. I'm not sure how this works for broadcast news or "media companies" (whatever is intended by that), but in TV/film production, you pretty much have to be union to work steadily and develop a career. If he's camera, that's IATSE local 600 in New York. Electrics and Grips are part of IATSE local 52. Scenics and Art Directors are IATSE local 829. Sound is.... something....? Wardrobe, Hair, and Makeup have their own unions as well. Googling IATSE and whatever it is your partner does will probably get him in the right direction. Note that having 12 years of experience in an unrelated field may or may not carry any traction. It really depends on the union and the particular skill set.
posted by Sara C. at 7:43 PM on April 23, 2012 [1 favorite]

Oh, and if he's entry level (e.g. his experience is in anything else but TV/film production and maybe broadcast news or print media in some specific cases), maybe try the Mayor's Office. That said, unless he qualifies for their PA training program, that wouldn't be a recruiting situation but a resource to find out what productions are currently shooting in New York. From there he would have to cold call to find work, which is an extreme long shot at the best of times. At best, he might score an informational interview.
posted by Sara C. at 7:47 PM on April 23, 2012

Thanks everyone. I guess my original question was a little too vague and far reaching as 'TV Production' is a pretty broad brush and while I'm more familiar with the actual production side of things (and understand how it works) it seems like in his little pocket of production, things are done differently.

He works in on-air promotions for a network right now, writing, editing and producing on-air promos for their various brands. He's looking to move to new network or company, doing similar work. Since most of this positions are staff/office type of jobs, I figured that the larger media companies (Scripps, Viacom, NBC/Universal, etc) would use recruiters in the same way other companies do.
posted by carmenghia at 7:18 AM on April 24, 2012